The Latest Episode Of DJ Bryan C’s Quarantine-Inspired ‘The HonkyTonk Jukebox Show’ Features More Than An Hour’s Worth Of Amazing, Forgotten Dallas Gems.

When Dallas County residents were first ordered to shelter in place last month, Bryan Coonrod knew he was suddenly going to find himself with a lot of time on his hands. But even with his regular gig schedule suddenly thrown out the window, Coonrod — a working Dallas DJ with 25 years of area experience under his DJ Bryan C moniker — wasn’t going to let the music stop.

So the walking record store of a man has spent his newfound time diligently converting his massive collection of honky tonk 45s into hour-long Mixcloud-hosted radio shows he’s been calling “The HonkyTonk Jukebox” — and at a steady clip of more than two episodes a week.

“Basically, I’ve been going stir crazy with this quarantine,” the DJ says of his new project. “So I decided to do a deep dig [on my collection of country 45s] and start making shows since I can’t DJ anywhere right now.”

Seven episodes in, his shows are a well-produced and welcome respite from modern-day malaise, given their focus on country music from a bygone era — the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s mostly — and the fact that these songs focus on, well, frankly, anything unrelated to global pandemics.

“I have been wanting to make a show like this for a while,” Coonrod says. “I just started pulling out records from my collection and realized I easily have enough for hours of shows.”

More than that, Coonrod now says he believes his collection is deep enough to boast hours of shows simply dedicated to Dallas-sprung songs — as is the focus of his show’s most recent episode. Because, hey, why not, right?

“I figured I might as well [use this opportunity to] share some Dallas music history of artists people may have never heard of before,” he says.

As is the case with each episode, Coonrod’s cut-ins for the Dallas-focused episode provide insights and perspective on the songs getting played — including notes on the labels behind the singles (such as the Longhorn Saloon’s old record label) and the big breaks the artists performing them got through legendary platforms like the Big D Jamboree. Which is to say they’re more than just a great listen; they’re also something of a history lesson on an oft-forgotten era of some phenomenal Dallas music.

Hit play on the below embed and join us on this wave.

The Honkytonk Jukebox Show #7 (The Dallas Edition) Track List:

1. Roy Head – Deep Elem Blues ( ABC ) 1976
2. Chuck Wood – The Bottle In The Hand ( Ambertone ) 1971
3. Curt Ryle – Mr DJ ( Longhorn ) 1985
4. Bill Lyon – Bright Lights Of Dallas ( Janis ) 60s
5. Billy Western – Worn Out Words ( D ) 1962

Break

6. David Lamar – Making Matters Worse ( Marlin ) 60s
7. Bob Gunnels – Ever Lovin Mind ( Dixie ) 60s
8 Will Sherman – Room 205 ( Del Mar ) 1963
9. Jack Carney – Big Boy Blue ( Echo 3 ) 60s
10. Jerry Abbott – Pad Inn ( Trace ) 70s

Break

11. Howard Crockett – Deep Elm Dave ( Smash ) 1961
12. Van Ray – Broken Hearted Birthday ( Rayvan ) 60s
13. Larry Riley – Cheater’s Love ( York ) 60s
14. Star Dusters – Ask Me No Questions ( Daco ) 1961
15. Frank Massey – On My Way To Nashville ( Purple Sage ) 60s

Break

16. Clay Allen – One Too Many ( Longhorn ) 1964
17. Eddy Ray – Once Upon A Time ( Longhorn ) 60s
18. Vern Stovall – Movin Around ( Longhorn ) 60s
19. Ray O’Daniel – What Goes Up Must Come Down ( Longhorn ) 60s
20. Lonnie Dean – Everybody Has a Price ( Longhorn ) 60s

Break

21. Jack Gulledge – Goin To Dallas ( Bullett )
22. Vince Murphy – Pretty Wild Women And Good Red Wine ( Carol ) 1968
23. Bill Lindsey – The Good Side Of You ( Devil ) 1966
24. Kenny D – Downtown Dallas ( Del Mar ) 60s
25. Jeannie C Riley – Back Side Of Dallas ( Plantation ) 1969

Cover photos courtesy of Bryan Coonrod. Follow “The HonkyTonk Jukebox” on Mixcloud, Facebook and Instagram.

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