Ray Wylie Hubbard | Artist

Ray Wylie Hubbard is an American country singer, guitarist and songwriter born 1946 in Soper, Oklahoma. After he graduated in 1965 from North Texas State University as an English major, Hubbard spent time in Red River, New Mexico playing folk music in a trio known as Three Faces West. During his time in New Mexico, Hubbard wrote "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother" first made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1973, and covered by a wide variety of other artists since. 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. Hubbard then recorded albums for various other labels for the next decade, but struggled with the sales of his mix of country, folk & blues. The last album he recorded in the 80s was Caught in the Act (1984) on his newly formed 'Misery Loves Company' record label. 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. Eventually a steady following began to re-discover Hubbard's music and he has been recording steadily since. Hubbard hit a late career high with a string of superb albums between 1997-2006, including Dangerous Spirits, Eternal and Lowdown, Growl, Delirium Tremelos, and Snake Farm. 2015's The Ruffian's Misfortune is also highly recommended, as is Live at Cibolo Creek Country Club from 2000. Hubbard has a characteristic guitar technique, strumming with the left (fretting) hand that is very old, but not frequently seen in double time without changing right hand beat. Ray Wylie Hubbard received the "Songwriter of the Year" award at the 2018 Austin Music Awards.

Artist Website: raywylie.com

Featured Albums: Ray Wylie Hubbard

Related Artists: Jerry Jeff Walker, Three Faces West

Video Clips: Snake Farm, Mother Blues, Rock Gods