Over the past five decades, Donn’s Depot has cemented itself as the go-to spot for a night of two-stepping, stiff drinks, and a flashback to Austin’s rockabilly roots. The man behind the always-swinging honky-tonk? Donn Adelman, a native Austinite whom you’ll still find behind the piano, crooning country ballads from an encyclopedic repertoire that includes George Strait, Bob Wills, and Merle Haggard. Famous for his wide smile and infectious energy, the 80-year-old has become an unofficial cultural ambassador for Austin’s golden years.

What was your first introduction to music?

I picked up the accordion when I was 10, but by 16, I’d gotten tired of dragging that 40-pound thing out of its case. So, I used the $75 I’d saved up from mowing lawns to buy a piano. It was a big ol’ heavy thing, a monster of an instrument. Unfortunately, I had to learn it on my own. I took one lesson before my teacher said, “You either stick to accordion, or teach yourself.” I guess he didn’t like the way I played, but I eventually found my way.

Where did you watch music around town when you were growing up?

Shit, I didn’t when I was young. There wasn’t any place to go until the Armadillo World Headquarters came around. I tried to see Jerry Lee Lewis down there one time, but when I walked in, the smoke that was in there—and you know what kind of smoke I’m talking about—was absolutely overwhelming. I said “No thank you, bye-bye. I can listen to his records at home.”

Who’s the first person you saw perform in Austin?

Elvis Presley, believe it or not—at the Palmer Auditorium in 1977, just a few months before he died. The man was pretty fat back by then and still singing well, but my god was he sweating a lot. Still, he put on a hell of a show, I’ve gotta say.

When did you start performing around Austin?

I played piano bars and clubs around town for years. My first gig was at The New Orleans Club on Red River every Sunday night. It was the kind of joint where people could drink beer or brown bag their liquor, so it was a lively place to play. Plus, I was in school at UT at the time, so I needed the $10 a night they paid.

This place wasn’t originally called Donn’s Depot, right?

Correct. It was called McNeil Depot when it opened in 1972. It was tiny back then—only the old train station that makes up the front section of what Donn’s is now. But it had the second mixed drink license in the entire county—so as you can imagine, it was a pretty hopping place. The dance floor was maybe 10 square feet. If there were two couples on the floor, one of ’em better not have tried to jitterbug.

How did you become the owner?

Well, I played piano here from the week it opened until 1978. One Saturday night after the bar closed, the owners took the Friday and Saturday nights’ receipts and hightailed it to Canada with a few months’ rent and utility bills left on the table. I went home to my wife and said, “Arlene, how would you like to own a nightclub?”

I’ve heard Jerry Jeff Walker used to guest sing. What other performers have taken the stage at Donn’s?

Years ago, George Strait’s piano player, Ronnie Huckaby, had his wedding reception here. After a while, George came in and performed with his full band for nearly an hour. Amazingly, some years later, I was playing in Las Vegas and swung by his sound check; the auditorium was basically empty besides me, but George looked up and, a little baffled, asked, “Donn? What are you doing around here?” I’ll never forget it.

Donn’s has quite the reputation for its lively dance floor.

What’s it like performing in front of that eclectic crowd? I love it. Playing somebody’s request, especially when I can get them out and dancing, is the best feeling there is. Whether they want to waltz, two-step, you name it—seeing people get out on that dance floor is a special thing to experience as a musician. It never gets old.

And your son, Matt, plays with you now?

He’s both the bar manager and the drummer in Donn and The Station Masters. He’s as skilled as they come with a drumstick. I played percussion in the Longhorn band while at UT, but Matt was 20 times better than me by the time he was in the 10th grade. It’s a daddy’s dream getting to share the stage with him.

What is the legacy of Donn’s Depot?

Keep Austin Weird. [Laughs] From the Chick Magnet [a bespectacled 92-year-old regular who’s always on the dance floor] to people who are in town for the first time, this place just draws in anybody and everybody. You can’t find anything else quite like it in Austin, and we take pride in that. This place is a congregating ground, a unique melding of generations, of lives.