‘Twas a time in the 1980s wherein blues fell off the mainstream pop culture map during an era (error) of MTV fueled pomp and circumstance over substance. Akin to the punk invasion a decade previous, two torrid Texas ensembles came on the scene to set the rock and roll record straight once again:  Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds!

Anchoring the T-Birds at the apex of their commercial success was bassist Preston Hubbard. An swingin’ upright and electric pocket player, Preston honed his craft with Room Full of Blues, and The Alley Cats with Tinsley Ellis– and even turned down an offer to join SRV’s incendiary trio.

Aside from his tenure with the T-Birds, Hubbard anchored tracks, slabs, and/or gigs with Bonnie Raitt, The Vaughan Brothers, Duke Robillard, Etta James, Professor Longhair, Carlos Santana, Albert King, Albert Collins, Nick Curran, and The Blues Brothers among others.

Sadly Hubbard’s career was derailed by substance abuse, however his legacy lives in his grooves!

Preston Hubbard Sound & Vision…

Fabulous Thunderbirds:

“Tuff Enuff” https://youtu.be/EcXT1clXc04

“Wrap It Up” (official video) https://youtu.be/51270i8F3mU

“Wrap It Up” by KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore with testimonial  https://youtu.be/OjoN0Paq_fQ

“It Comes to Me Naturally” https://youtu.be/Y5XSzUGcmIk

“Stand Back” https://youtu.be/FDp195RuPjA

“Powerful Stuff” https://youtu.be/hzQ2Extfvj4

The T-Birds with Duke Robillard: https://youtu.be/r-bU7ZPwoUI

Bonnie Raitt: “The Road’s My Middle Name” https://youtu.be/cxoIXHiE9Q8

Courtesy of Fabulous Thunderbirds Com