Lubbock: Cotton Club

The Cotton Club in Lubbock wasn’t just a dance floor—it was a cultural crucible where Western swing, country, and early rock ’n’ roll collided. Over four decades, it hosted legendary performers and facilitated key connections (like Elvis meeting Buddy Holly), shaping the musical landscape of West Texas and beyond.

Opened in 1938: The club was originally housed in a renovated army quonset hut at 5214 Southeast Drive, the Cotton Club quickly became a celebrated dance hall in West Texas.

Massive dance floor: It boasted one of the region’s largest ballroom spaces, with space for up to 1,600 dancers alongside dining accommodations.

Musical diversity: Began with touring big bands and orchestras, soon followed by Western swing led by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Later, national stars such as Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Charles Brown graced the stage—transforming the venue into a rock ’n’ roll hotspot.

Historic moment: Elvis performed there in October 1955, famously meeting Lubbock’s own Buddy Holly—making it a nexus for mid-century musical legends.

Resilience and change: After a 1958 fire destroyed the original building, owner Ralph Lowe rebuilt the venue. It remained a cultural hotbed—where cowboys, hippies, and musicians like Waylon Jennings converged—until its closure around 1980.