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Ray Wylie Hubbard

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Ray Wylie Hubbard
Hubbard in 2018 at the Austin Music Awards
Hubbard in 2018 at the Austin Music Awards
Background information
Born (1946-11-13) November 13, 1946 (age 78)[1]
Soper, Oklahoma, United States
GenresAmericana, Country, Blues rock, Country Rock
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1965–present
LabelsBordello Records (Thirty Tigers), Rounder
Websitewww.raywylie.com

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

Early life

Hubbard was born in the town of Soper, Oklahoma.[1] His family moved to Oak Cliff in southwest Dallas, Texas, in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey.[2] Hubbard graduated in 1965 and enrolled in the University of North Texas as an English major. He spent the summers in Red River, New Mexico, playing folk music in a trio known as Three Faces West.[3]

Musical career

1970s

During his time in New Mexico, Hubbard wrote "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother"[3] first made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker's 1973 recording, and covered by a wide variety of other artists since.[4] Bolstered by the success of the song, he was signed by Warner Bros. Records. Hubbard then put together a band of friends and locals and in 1976 released Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies.[5] 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.[3]

1980s

Hubbard then recorded albums for various other 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 albums, by 1985 he left the music scene after struggling with personal problems.[6] The last album he recorded in the 80s was Caught in the Act (1984) on his newly formed Misery Loves Company record label.

1990s and beyond

He returned to recording in the early 1990s, and released his album Lost Train of Thought in 1992,[3] 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. His guitar technique uses a strumming by the left (fretting) hand that is very old, but not frequently seen a double time without changing right hand beat.

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,[7] which he makes fun of in the song Lucifer and the Fallen Angels singing "Why go to Nashville knowing you never, ever gonna be mainstream? It’s better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."[7]

Discography

  • 1976 Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies – Warner Bros. Records[5]
  • 1978 Off the Wall – Lone Star Records, Polygram[8]
  • 1980 Something About the Night – Renegade Records
  • 1984 Caught in the Act – Misery Loves Company Records
  • 1991 Lost Train of Thought – Misery Loves Company Records
  • 1994 Loco Gringo's Lament – DejaDisc Records
  • 1997 Dangerous Spirits – Rounder/Philo Records[9]
  • 1998 Live at Cibolo Creek – Misery Loves Company Records
  • 1999 Crusades of the Restless Knights – Rounder/Philo Records
  • 2001 Eternal & Lowdown – Rounder/Philo Records[10]
  • 2003 GROWL – Rounder/Philo Records[10]
  • 2005 Delirium Tremolos – Rounder/Philo Records
  • 2006 Snake Farm- Sustain Records[11]
  • 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)[12]
  • 2015 The Ruffian's Misfortune – Bordello Records
  • 2017 Tell The Devil That I'm Getting There As Fast As I Can – Bordello Records[7][13]

Books

  • A Life... Well, Lived – A biography and memoir published in 2015.[14][7][15][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Ray Wylie Hubbard biography". Allmusic. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  2. ^ Temple, Georgia (November 15, 2011). "Ray". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Tucker, Chris (March 1993). "THE SECOND LIFE OF RAY WYLIE HUBBARD". dmagazine.com. D Magazine.
  4. ^ "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother written by Ray Wylie Hubbard". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Ray Wylie Hubbard & the Cowboy Twinkies [extended]". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b Ray Wylie Hubbard with Thom Jurek. "A Life....Well, Lived [Print Replica] Kindle Edition (2018)". Amazon Digital Services LLC. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d Gage, Jeff. "Ray Wylie Hubbard on New Album: 'I Still Enjoy Being a Smartass'". RollingStone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  8. ^ 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"
  9. ^ Steinberg, Brian (1997). "Ray Wylie Hubbard - Dangerous Spirits – 1997 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
  10. ^ a b Wooldridge, Robert (2003). "Ray Wylie Hubbard - Growl – 2003 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
  11. ^ Gottlieb, Bob (2006). "Snake Farm : Ray Wylie Hubbard". AcousticMusic.com. Peterborough Folk Music Society.
  12. ^ Dansby, Andrew. "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 1 March 2012.
  13. ^ Clarke, Tom. "Review: Ray Wylie Hubbard gives the devil run for money". TahoeOnstage.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  14. ^ from an interview on Americana Music Show #254, published July 7, 2015.
  15. ^ Bloom, D.C. "BOOK REVIEW: "A LIFE … WELL, LIVED" by Ray Wylie Hubbard with Thom Jurek". LoneStarMusicMagazine.com. Lone Star Music. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
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