In this lively and heartfelt interview, Texas songwriting legend Ray Wylie Hubbard joins Greg Schultz to discuss his upcoming performance at Denver’s Bluebird Theater on July 10, presented by KGNU. Hubbard reflects on his early days busking through Colorado in the ’70s with a banjo-playing friend, his deep connection to places like Red River and Taos, and the joy of sharing the stage with his talented son and longtime collaborator Paul Pearcy. He also talks about his recent projects, including collaborations with music icons like Ringo Starr, Ashley McBryde, and Steve Earle, and hints at a forthcoming album produced with Mike Campbell. With stories full of grit, humor, and humility, Hubbard shares his enduring passion for songwriting and performing—still driven by joy and freedom after more than 50 years in music. (Interview: 6/28/25)

Greg Schultz: Ray, can you hear us?

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Hey man, I got you.

Greg Schultz: Technology works—even an old guy like me can handle it.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: I understand.

Greg Schultz: Hey man, go ahead.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: No, I’m looking forward to getting up there. I understand we’re gonna be up in Denver and around the area, and I’m looking forward to getting back up there.

Greg Schultz: Well, we’re just happy you called in and we’re looking forward to you coming to the Bluebird. He’s gonna be there on July 10th at the Bluebird Theater, which is a really cool spot. Have you played there before?

Ray Wylie Hubbard: No, I haven’t. You know, we’re gonna be down in Taos—we have a little place in Taos—so we’re gonna be there. I got old Paul Pearcy from the old Lost Gonzo Band. Oh man. I’ve been playing, so he’s gonna lay down some grooves with me. I’ve got my son on guitar.

Greg Schultz: Ooh.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: So, yeah, it should be a pretty good time. I’m looking forward to it.

Greg Schultz: Yeah, you Texas guys like hanging out in Taos. I know you spent some time down in Red River back in the day, and I read a little bit about that. I’m sure that was quite a time.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Well, right after high school, me and a fellow named Rick Fellow got in my old Ford Fairlane and went to Red River. Then we came—this was back in the early seventies—and we also went up to Colorado. We’d pull into places like Breckenridge, Grand Junction, or Estes Park, and find a little café around six o’clock at night. Rick would strap on a banjo and I’d put on a guitar, and we’d walk into these restaurants playing Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

All of a sudden, we’d play “Foggy” and everybody would look at us, and we’d stop. Rick would go, “I’m Rick, this is Ray—we’re the Self-Righteous Brothers.” It was a good name, wasn’t it? I loved it. We’d say, “We’d love to play some songs for maybe a hamburger and a place to stay.”

And everywhere we went up in Colorado, they would feed us and put us up. One night we stayed in a laundromat, but other than that, it was great. Colorado’s a very special place. You know, I was up there with B.W. Stevenson for a while. We traveled around Colorado, so I’m looking forward to coming back up there.

Greg Schultz: Well, we’re just looking forward to having you. That’ll be July 10th at the Bluebird. It’s a cool venue and I’m excited. I know a little bit about Paul Pearcy and your son’s from the Los Gonzo Band. And your son—how long has he been playing with you now? He’s a smoking guitarist.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Yeah, he’s been playing with me since he was about 14. He joined the band, which was great. About the first year he played with me, he found out the other guys in the band were getting paid. He’s really well-rounded, you know, being down here in Austin, hanging around some great guitar players like Seth James, Derek O’Brien. He even played with Joe Walsh and all those guys. So yeah, he’s got grit and groove—got some tone and taste. He’s a good kid, got his head screwed on straight. I’m really proud of him.

Greg Schultz: Yeah, you should be. I know he can really scream on guitar, and you’re right—those are some good people to learn from, even if you’re just sitting and watching.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Yeah. So we’re gonna be doing a little three-piece thing up there. I play an old Gibson Southern Jumbo with a pickup on it. We go through an amp. I never know what he’s gonna play, but I’m looking forward to it.

Greg Schultz: Well, you’ve taught him well, because if you don’t know, that’s probably a good thing.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Yeah, like I say, he doesn’t show off—he just plays the song, you know? I think it works really well.

Greg Schultz: Well, we’re just happy and proud you’re coming through town. You’ve got quite a legacy—50 years of recording, traveling, and playing. You just keep going, and I’m happy for you that you’re continuing to make music and keep folks smiling.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: It’s still a joy to walk on that stage, you know? It really is a joy—to walk around and see people smile and sing along and groove and just dig it. There’s nothing really like it, and I still enjoy it.

Greg Schultz: Well, you’ve got a little bit of a tour. I see you’re playing around here and in Colorado Springs, and you’re gonna head back down to Red River. I saw you were just there. So it’s nice to see you playing some dates—and getting out of that Texas heat, I’m sure.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Yeah, we’re heading to Taos tomorrow.

Greg Schultz: Oh, beautiful.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: We still enjoy riding. We just finished up a record—went out and worked with Mike Campbell, which was a real thrill.

Greg Schultz: Oh wow.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Yeah, it was just a wonderful thing. We’ll probably put that out next year. I feel very fortunate. The last two records—Co-Starring and Co-Starring Too—I called up some friends and they all said, “Yeah, we’ll do it.” I didn’t have to use guilt or shame to get people to play on my record.

I’m not above using guilt and shame, but I didn’t have to.

Greg Schultz: Oh no.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: You know.

Greg Schultz: That’s part of my daily repertoire. But yeah, I don’t want to hold you too long. I just wanted to commend you for those two records, because I was wondering how you coerced all that talent—especially on the second one, with the newer, younger folks. You got Hayes Carll, James McMurtry, and Dalton Domino on that last tune. So many great young people want to write with you—and you want to write with them.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Tyler Bryant, Larkin Poe, and Aaron Lee Tasjan—those guys, yeah. I just kind of ran into ‘em and really enjoyed what they’re doing. They have an integrity about it. And before that, having Ringo, Joe, and Chris on there—yeah, I feel very fortunate. Having Ashley McBryde—what a thrill.

Greg Schultz: Geez.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: I called these guys up and said, “I got this song.” Like the Steve Earle song I did—Hell Bent for Leather. I wrote the song and asked Steve to do it. If he had said no, then I probably wouldn’t have put that song on the record. I can’t think of anybody else who could do it like that. So yeah, I feel very fortunate.

Greg Schultz: Well, you covered the gamut. You’ve got 80-something-year-old Ringo, and you’ve got some young kids—you’ve got maybe a 55–60 year gap between the folks you’ve recorded and written with. I know you worked hard and it was never easy at the beginning, but it must feel a little bit like you’re living a charmed life. I’m impressed, and I love the record. I was listening to some of it yesterday, and boy, I’ll tell you—Ringo? It is quite a lineup. Hats off to you, my friend.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Well, thank you very much. Like I say, the writing’s still very important to me. Writing the songs, making the records—I want to make, you know? That’s the thing. Having that freedom to write about—oh well, damn, there’s a snake farm. Just having that freedom. Or the song about Charlie Musselwhite. Having that freedom and not locking into one particular genre or anything.

Greg Schultz: I feel very—

Ray Wylie Hubbard: So we’ll have a good time.

Greg Schultz: Yeah, for sure. We’re gonna love having you here. Folks, Ray’s gonna be at the Bluebird, July 10th, 8 o’clock. Get your tickets. KGNU is presenting the show—we’re happy and proud to do that. We’re thrilled you’re coming to town. If I get back from my road trip in time, I’m gonna try to catch that show. Hopefully I can shake your hand if I get there.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Okay, you bet, Greg. I really appreciate it.

Greg Schultz: Alright, you take care, and we’ll see you on July 10th. Have a good day.

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Alright, safe travels.

Greg Schultz: Thanks.