Ray Wylie Hubbard

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Hubbard performing in Austin, Texas 2009
Background information
Born (1946-11-13) November 13, 1946[1]
Soper, Oklahoma
Genres Country, red dirt, folk, rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1965–present
Associated acts Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Guy Clark
Website www.raywylie.com

Ray Wylie Hubbard (born November 13, 1946) is a Texas country singer and songwriter.

Early life

Hubbard was born in the town of Soper, Oklahoma.[1] His family moved to Oak Cliff in south Dallas, Texas in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey.[2] Hubbard graduated in 1965 and enrolled in college, at the University of North Texas, as an English major. He spent the summers in Red River, New Mexico playing folk music.

Musical career

1970s

During his time in New Mexico, Hubbard wrote "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother", made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker's 1973 recording. Bolstered by the success of the song, he was signed by Warner Bros. Records and he then put together a band of friends and locals and in 1976 released Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies. Unbeknownst to Hubbard, after he had finished recording his version of the album, producer Michael Brovsky took the sparse yet heartfelt recordings and decided to "Nashville-ize" the sound by adding larger overdub mixes than necessary and female backup singers to what should have been a more intimate sound as first envisioned. The end result was "a botched sound" that Hubbard disapproved of vehemently, but despite his attempts to block it, it was still released.

Despite the anticipation of a successful debut by the label based on the new recordings, sales were poor and refused to let Hubbard go out and perform the album on tour in support of the album. Soon after the label dropped him from their roster and Hubbard has since distanced himself from the album, saying, "It sucked then and it still sucks. If you have any shred of compassion at all in your heart for me or any musician who got screwed by some jerk in authority at a record label, then don't buy this mistake."

1980s

Hubbard then recorded albums for other various labels for the next 10 years but struggled with sales; his mix of country, folk and blues elements did not find an audience. Although he recorded several well-written and produced albums (to little to no success), by 1985 he left the music scene after struggling with personal problems. His last album was Caught in the Act - Misery Loves (1984) (on his newly formed Company Records label).

1990s

He returned to recording in the early 1990s, and released his album Lost Train of Thought in 1992, followed by Loco Gringo's Lament in 1994 and eventually a steady following began to re-discover Hubbard's music and has been recording steadily since.

2000s and beyond

Sales of his albums have resurged, he tours constantly, and as of 2005 he has website titled www.raywylie.com where he shares commentary with friends and fans alike with new releases, and comments on his events and life through his Twitter handle @raywylie. From his home in Wimberley Texas,[3] near New Braunfels, Texas, Hubbard hosts a Tuesday night radio show called "Roots & Branches," where he plays Texas rock, country and Outlaw music.[3]

Discography

Videos

Filmography

Books

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "Ray Wylie Hubbard biography". Allmusic. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ Temple, Georgia (November 15, 2011). "Ray Wylie Hubbard headlines Alpine's ArtWalk Saturday". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  3. 1 2 from an interview on Americana Music Show #254, published July 7, 2015
  4. ↑ Kurt Wolff, Orla Duane - Country Music: The Rough Guide 2000- Page 359 1858285348 "During the mid-'70s he and his band recorded tor Atlantic and Warner Brothers, then Hubbard cut a solo album, OFF THE WALL, for Willie Nelson's Lone Star label"
  5. ↑ from an interview on Americana Music Show #254, published July 7, 2015.
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