Ray Wylie Hubbard

Ray Wylie Hubbard
Hubbard receiving "Songwriter of the Year" award at 2018 Austin Music Awards
Hubbard receiving "Songwriter of the Year" award at 2018 Austin Music Awards
Background information
Born (1946-11-13) November 13, 1946 (age 77)
Soper, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Years active1965–present
LabelsBordello (Thirty Tigers), Rounder
Member ofLost Gonzo Band
Websiteraywylie.com

Ray Wylie Hubbard (born November 13, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter.

Early life

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Hubbard was born on November 13, 1946, in Soper, Oklahoma.[2] His family moved to Oak Cliff in southwest Dallas, Texas, in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey.[3] Hubbard graduated in 1965 and enrolled in North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) as an English major. He spent the summers in Red River, New Mexico, playing folk music in hootenannies with a trio known as Three Faces West.[4]

Career

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1970s

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During his time in New Mexico, Hubbard wrote "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother"[4] first made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker's 1973 recording, and covered by a wide variety of other artists since.[5] Bolstered by the success of the song, he was signed by Warner Bros. Records. Hubbard then assembled a band of friends and locals and, in 1976, released Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies.[6] Unbeknownst to Hubbard, producer Michael Brovsky had decided to "Nashville-ize" the sound by adding overdub mixes and female backup singers to the recordings. The result was "a botched sound" that Hubbard disapproved of vehemently, but the album was released despite his attempts to block it.[4]

1980s

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Hubbard then recorded albums for various other labels for the next decade, but struggled with the sales of his mix of country, folk and blues.[7] The last album he recorded in the 1980s was Caught in the Act (1984) on his newly formed Misery Loves Company record label.

1990s and beyond

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Hubbard performing in 2009

He returned to recording in the early 1990s, and released his album Lost Train of Thought in 1992,[4] followed by Loco Gringo's Lament in 1994. Eventually a steady following began to re-discover Hubbard's music and he has been recording steadily since.

He describes his 2017 album Tell the Devil I'm Getting There as Fast as I Can as rock & roll, though his style has become associated with outlaw country.[8]

Discography

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  • 1975 Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies – Warner Bros. Records[6]
  • 1978 Off the Wall – Lone Star Records/Mercury/Polygram[9]
  • 1979 Something About the Night – Renegade Records
  • 1984 Caught in the Act – Misery Loves Company Records
  • 1992 Lost Train of Thought – Misery Loves Company/DejaDisc Records
  • 1994 Loco Gringo's Lament – Misery Loves Company/DejaDisc Records
  • 1997 Dangerous Spirits – Rounder/Philo Records[10]
  • 1998 Live at Cibolo Creek – Misery Loves Company Records
  • 1999 Crusades of the Restless Knights – Rounder/Philo Records
  • 2001 Eternal and Lowdown – Rounder/Philo Records[11]
  • 2003 Growl – Rounder/Philo Records[11]
  • 2005 Delirium Tremolos – Rounder/Philo Records
  • 2006 Snake Farm – Sustain Records[12]
  • 2010 A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is No C) – Bordello Records (Thirty Tigers/RED)
  • 2012 The Grifter's Hymnal – Bordello Records (Thirty Tigers/RED)[13]
  • 2015 The Ruffian's Misfortune – Bordello Records (Thirty Tigers/RED)
  • 2017 Tell the Devil That I'm Getting There As Fast As I Can – Bordello Records (Thirty Tigers/RED)[8][14]
  • 2020 Co-Starring – Big Machine Records
  • 2022 Co-Starring Too – Big Machine Records – Released March 18, 2022

Books

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  • A Life... Well, Lived (biography and memoir published in 2015)[7][8][15][16]
  • The Messenger: The Songwriting Legacy of Ray Wylie Hubbard by author Brian T. Atkinson was published by Texas A&M University Press in 2019. The book includes forewords by Jerry Jeff Walker and Hayes Carll.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kelly, Lauren (July 16, 2020). "Ray Wylie Hubbard talks new album, collaborations, getting kidnapped by Willie Nelson". Houston Life. Retrieved July 25, 2023. His sound is described as outlaw country blending sounds of country, rock and roll, blues and folk music.
  2. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Ray Wylie Hubbard biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  3. ^ Temple, Georgia (November 15, 2011). "Ray". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Tucker, Chris (March 1993). "THE SECOND LIFE OF RAY WYLIE HUBBARD". dmagazine.com. D Magazine.
  5. ^ "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother written by Ray Wylie Hubbard". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Ray Wylie Hubbard & the Cowboy Twinkies [extended]". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Ray Wylie Hubbard with Thom Jurek (November 7, 2018). A Life....Well, Lived [Print Replica] Kindle Edition (2018). Amazon Digital Services LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Gage, Jeff (August 22, 2017). "Ray Wylie Hubbard on New Album: 'I Still Enjoy Being a Smartass'". RollingStone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  9. ^ 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"
  10. ^ Steinberg, Brian (1997). "Ray Wylie Hubbard – Dangerous Spirits – 1997 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
  11. ^ a b Wooldridge, Robert (2003). "Ray Wylie Hubbard – Growl – 2003 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
  12. ^ Gottlieb, Bob (2006). "Snake Farm : Ray Wylie Hubbard". AcousticMusic.com. Peterborough Folk Music Society.
  13. ^ Dansby, Andrew (March 2012). "Q & A : RAY WYLIE HUBBARD – The Wylie Lama on life, death, damnation, Beatles, blues, and the fine art of grifting". LoneStarMusicMagazine.com. Lone Star Music. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  14. ^ Clarke, Tom. "Review: Ray Wylie Hubbard gives the devil run for money". TahoeOnstage.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  15. ^ from an interview on Americana Music Show #254, published July 7, 2015.
  16. ^ Bloom, D.C. (November 17, 2015). "BOOK REVIEW: "A LIFE … WELL, LIVED" by Ray Wylie Hubbard with Thom Jurek". LoneStarMusicMagazine.com. Lone Star Music. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
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