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
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
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]
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.
^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.
^ a bAnkeny, Jason. "Ray Wylie Hubbard biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
^ a b c dTucker, Chris (March 1993). "THE SECOND LIFE OF RAY WYLIE HUBBARD". dmagazine.com. D Magazine.
^"Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother written by Ray Wylie Hubbard". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^ a bChristgau, Robert. "Ray Wylie Hubbard & the Cowboy Twinkies [extended]". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
^ a bRay 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.
^ a b cGage, Jeff (August 22, 2017). "Ray Wylie Hubbard on New Album: 'I Still Enjoy Being a Smartass'". RollingStone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^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"
^Steinberg, Brian (1997). "Ray Wylie Hubbard – Dangerous Spirits – 1997 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
^ a bWooldridge, Robert (2003). "Ray Wylie Hubbard – Growl – 2003 (Rounder)". CountryStandardTime.com. Country Standard Time.
^Gottlieb, Bob (2006). "Snake Farm : Ray Wylie Hubbard". AcousticMusic.com. Peterborough Folk Music Society.
^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.
^Clarke, Tom. "Review: Ray Wylie Hubbard gives the devil run for money". TahoeOnstage.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
^from an interview on Americana Music Show #254, published July 7, 2015.
^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.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Official website
THE SECOND LIFE OF RAY WYLIE HUBBARD from D Magazine (1993)
A Country Music Outlaw, Resurrected NPR July 24, 2006
Hubbard's Path: 'Redneck Mother' to 'Wylie Lama' NPR September 17, 2006
The Resurrection of Ray Wylie Hubbard: The Turnstyled Junkpiled Interview (2012)
Ray Wylie Hubbard at The Kessler Theater in Dallas, TX : Ray Wylie Hubbard celebrated his 70th Birthday Bash with special guests Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams by David Simers in National Rock Review (November 24, 2016)
The 25 Best Ray Wylie Hubbard Songs by Thomas Mooney in Wide Open Country (March 2018)