Today we’d like to introduce you to Billy Hubbard
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a Tennessee based Americana/Country Singer/Songwriter, former Regional Director of A&R for Regenerate Music Company whose catalog was acquired by Capitol Records in 2014 after we published a Grammy winning song. I’m currently producer/co-host of the popular podcast ‘My BackStage Pass’ that features interviews with legendary artists friends, independent artists, and others in the music industry. I’m also the co-founder and venue developer of the iconic venue ‘The Station’ in East TN. My YouTube channel has had over 3.5 million viewers and my podcast at MyBackstagePass.com has been averaging over 5000 downloads/listeners a day.
The music in my family goes back several generations. My mother’s band the “Tennessee Pardners” toured the southland in the 1940s and 50s with many great artists of their day. I started writing songs and playing guitar in my teenage years and played in my first band in the late 1970’s.
In 2013 I composed and played guitar on my classic Christmas song “No Greater Love (A Christmas Song)” featuring vocalist Lauren Joseph that went viral around the world at the time on social media after author/movie producer Angus Buchan (Faith Like Potatoes, Ordinary People) posted on Facebook how much he was enjoying it. Some churches turned the song into their Christmas play for the holidays. In 2013 I also released the single “Johnny Law” and “Sittin’ on a Rock.” In 2014 I released the single and music video “All The World’s Gone Crazy.” In 2015 another artist Asiah Mehok also released my song “No Greater Love (A Christmas Song).” In 2017 I released the single “Waitin’ on the Wind,” a song I wrote based on true events about my and Neil Young’s cousin ferrying a sailboat from the Dominican Republic to Key West.
In 2022 I produced an album of my 10 best songs spanning 40 years with a few of my top Nashville musician friends. The album was mixed, mastered, and recorded at Nashville’s Welcome to 1979 Studio. I then signed a deal with Spectra Music Group, the largest indie label in the US, who released my album in October 2023. My Americana/Country album of songs solely written by me has garnered rave reviews from several music publications, and can be streamed or purchased on all major platforms through Spectra Music at this link https://orcd.co/billyhubbard
My album features many great friends such as Country Music Hall of Fame Grammy winning artist Charlie McCoy (harmonica on 4 songs), Grammy winning artist Shawn Camp (fiddle and mandolin on 2 songs), Travis Anderson (Upright bass/electric bass), Ryan Sise (co-producer/lead guitar), Bethany Jean Smith (vocals on two duets), Casey Green (Drums), singer songwriter Scarlett Egan (background vocals), and Richard Hill (background vocals).
In honor of my late mother, Arlene Hubbard of the “Tennessee Pardners,” Shawn Camp played my mom’s 1940’s vintage Gibson mandolin on the last track of my album “Goodbye Waltz” as I played the same acoustic guitar I played with mom for many years. I wrote the song based on my last goodbye to mom before she unexpectedly passed away.
You can find me online at https://BillyHubbard.com
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Most of my songs tell a story, so the struggle for me is telling a story in a 3 – 4 minute song….fortunately 3 minute radio songs aren’t as important in today’s world of streaming music.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Actually I answered much of this in the first question, but one thing that sets me apart in Nashville is that every song on my new album was written solely by me. Today in Nashville it’s rare to have one writer on a song…most songs today have 2-5 songwriters.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
When someone gets and understands my songs : )
Contact Info:
- Website: https://orcd.co/billyhubbard
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billy_hubbard_music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19bMSW8JPP/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: https://x.com/BHubMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyBackstagePassPodcast
- Other: https://www.billyhubbard.com
