Spectra Music recording artist and co-founder of the iconic venue ‘The Station’ in East Tennessee is making a country mile-sized splash with his self-titled debut album released in October of 2023.
Following in the footsteps of his late mother, Arlene, whose band, the “Tennessee Pardners,” toured the southland throughout the 1940s and ’50s, Billy Hubbard’s love for music began at an early age. After picking up the guitar in his early teens, Hubbard took on lead guitar duties for an all-female vocal group called “The Sunshine Singers” in 1970, who were featured on local television. Since then, Billy Hubbard has written and performed countless songs in the Americana tradition for over forty years, endorsed by Godin’s Simon & Patrick Guitars for over thirty. To those in the music business, Hubbard’s proficiency on guitar is no secret, nor is his uncanny ability to craft a memorable song.
In 2013, Hubbard wrote, composed, and played guitar on the classic Christmas favorite, “No Greater Love,” featuring the talented Lauren Joseph on vocals. After famed author and movie producer Angus Buchan (Ordinary People) took to Facebook to praise the performance, the song went viral worldwide on social media. Later, in 2013, Hubbard released two more singles, “Johnny Law” and “Sittin’ on a Rock,” followed by the single and music video for “All the World’s Gone Crazy” in 2014. In 2017, Hubbard released yet another single, “Waitin’ on the Wind,” a breezy ode to tranquility Billy wrote about his cousin (along with Neil Young’s cousin) sailing from the Dominican Republic to Key West. After releasing multiple singles, it became clear to Hubbard that the time had finally come to release his first full-length studio album.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Welcome to 1979 Studio in Nashville, Hubbard’s ten-song debut album features an all-star lineup including country music Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning artist Charlie McCoy on harmonica, Grammy-winning artist Shawn Camp on fiddle and mandolin, Mountain Heart bassist Travis Anderson on upright bass and electric bass, Ryan Sise on lead guitar, Casey Green on drums, Bethany Jean Smith on vocal duets, with Scarlett Egan and Richard Hill on backup vocals. As if Hubbard didn’t already have enough industry heavy hitters in his corner, the first music video from the album will be produced and directed by country music legend Pam Tillis. It’s clear that some of the biggest names in Nashville are behind Billy Hubbard, and it’s easy to see why.
A mid-tempo strummer, “Castin’ Away My Blues,” opens the album with a laid-back, sun-soaked vibe, perfect for floating down a lazy river with a cold drink in your hand. The undeniably catchy chorus recalls some of Jimmy Buffet’s most iconic songs and will surely have fans and newcomers raising a glass and singing along wherever they may be listening.
“Lonesome when I’m with you, miss you when you’re gone,” laments Hubbard in the melancholy ballad “Lonesome When I’m With You.” Showcasing Hubbard’s rough and raspy vocals reminiscent of a seasoned Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), this heartbreak duet also features Bethany Jean Smith’s alluring voice on female lead. The two singers complement each other quite well, particularly when joined in the chorus. Also featured on this track is a blazing, reverb-drenched guitar solo played by Ryan Sise, who also co-produced the album along with Hubbard. The feeling of lonesome isolation conveyed throughout this song is palatable and one to which most listeners will relate.
The follow-up track, “Got to be Real,” is an up-tempo burner that kicks into gear with an electric guitar riff that sounds something like a countrified version of The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine.” Featuring some tasty harmonica playing courtesy of Charlie McCoy, “Got to be Real” is a fierce shout-out to those who stay true to themselves and a track that will resonate with country, blues, and rock fans everywhere.
A few tracks on Hubbard’s impressive debut suggest a strong Willie Nelson influence, a welcomed trait in any artist’s repertoire. Namely, the heartfelt country ballad, “When I Look into Your Eyes,” with Bethany Jean Smith joining in once again on the skillfully crafted chorus, and the album’s closing track, “Goodbye Waltz,” a farewell ode Hubbard penned about the last phone call he and his mother shared before her unexpected passing. In her honor, Shawn Camp played her vintage Gibson mandolin on this track along with Billy on acoustic guitar. Hubbard’s genuine, heartfelt lyrics on this timeless ballad are delivered with an expressive phrasing and a sweet sincerity that recalls some of Nelson’s most beloved classics such as “Funny How Time Slips Away” and “Always on My Mind.”
With thoughtful lyrics, soulful vocals, and a style that blends elements of country, rock, and blues, Hubbard and his stellar band of musicians have assembled a collection of memorable songs that warrant repeated listens. The culmination of a life devoted to music and a fitting tribute to a woman whose love and passion for song lives on through her son, Billy Hubbard’s long overdue debut is entirely worth the wait, and one of which Ms. Hubbard would undoubtedly be proud.
Written by Michael Scanlon
