Honka Monka

The Honka Monka was a nightclub in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York.[1] It was originally opened by Marvin Gray in 1969 as a Latin club, but soon rock and soul acts were booked for the club.[2] Acts who performed at the club include Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, and Aesop's Fables.[3][4]

History

Marvin Gray opened the Honka Monka on Queens Boulevard near 40th Street in January 1969. In 1970, Gray was co-founded a record company, Grande Records, which specialized in rock and soul music.[5] He sometimes promoted acts from the label at the club.[6] Gray spent six months designing the club whose name derived from a hotel at which he had visited in Japan.[3] He intended the Honka Monka to be a Latin club after producing Latin shows in nearby theaters, but the audience who came were unfamiliar with Latin dances so he switched booked rock bands instead.[3]

In July 1970, Ike & Tina Turner performed at the club. They were photographed by Bob Gruen who was yet to launch his career as a rock photographer.[7]

Returning to his first love of Latin music, Gray imposed a Latin policy which from Friday through Sunday, Latin bands only performed. Eddie Palmieri's orchestra and the LeBrón Brothers orchestra are some bands that performed at the Honka Monka.[3]

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References
  1. Bosworth, Patricia (March 7, 1971). "Honka Monka and Roseland, Dancing Their Troubles Away". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  2. "Finding the Latin Action". New York Magazine: 72. November 24, 1969.
  3. Wilson, John S. (February 21, 1971). "For a Nightclub in Queens, It's Rock No". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  4. "After Dark: Rocking 'N' Rolling". New York Magazine: 14. April 21, 1969.
  5. "Grande Productions Opens in New York" (PDF). Cash Box: 9. June 13, 1970.
  6. "Image and Reality Acts to Push Disks" (PDF). Billboard: 44. July 4, 1970.
  7. Gruen, Bob (May 21, 2018). "Bob Gruen's Electric Photos of Ike & Tina Turner". PleaseKillMe.
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