Gary Hobbs
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Gary Lee Hobbs (born January 5, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Called "
Tejano music Tejano music ( es, música tejana), also known as Tex-Mex music, is a popular music style fusing Mexican and US influences. Typically, Tejano combines Mexican Spanish vocal styles with dance rhythms from Czech and German genres – particular ...
's
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...
", he has been widely recognized for his resonant
baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...
vocals, characterized by their emotive quality, and is considered a pioneer within the genre. Hobbs played a significant role in the expansion of Tejano music during the 1990s and became one of the most popular Tejano singers of the 1980s and 1990s. Hobbs started playing piano and guitar at seven or eight and played the trumpet in high school. He played with local groups before forming the Hot Sauce band with Brando Mireles, recording songs for Hacienda Records, and taking the role of lead vocalist in 1983. At the 1984 Mike Chavez Music Awards, Hobbs received the award for Most Promising Vocalist. His songs, "Mentiras" and "Las Miradas", achieved commercial success and critical acclaim. By the late 1980s, Hobbs became one of the most popular Tejano singers following "La Miradas" ascending to number one on the Tejano Singles chart in 1991 and signed with
EMI Latin Capitol Latin (formerly EMI Latin) is a brand of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group. Previously, it was a subsidiary of EMI. History In 1989, José Behar, the former head of CBS Discos, signed Selena to E ...
. ''Ta Vas a Acordar'' (1993), was certified gold for reaching sales of 50,000 units, and its titular track peaked at number one on '' Radio y Musica''s Tejano Singles chart for nine weeks, the second-most weeks a song spent atop the chart in 1995. In a strategic endeavor to promote Hobbs in Mexico, EMI Latin rebranded his band from Hot Sauce to Grupo Mezquite in August 1994. ''Te Vas a Acordar'' ended 1994 as the 13th best-selling Regional Mexican Album in the United States. Hobbs released ''Soy el Mismo'' in 1995, while it received a mixed response from
music critics Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
, it peaked at number seven on the US ''Billboard''
Top Latin Albums Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all ''Billboard'' album charts, the chart is based ...
chart and number three on the US ''Billboard'' Regional Mexican Albums chart. "Por Favor Corazon" peaked at number 18 on the
Hot Latin Songs The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart rankings are based on digital sales, rad ...
chart and number 15 on the
Regional Mexican Songs Regional Mexican Airplay (also referred to as Regional Mexican Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994, with "La Niña Fresa" by Banda Zeta being the first number-one so ...
chart, and ended 1995 as the second-best Tejano single on ''Radio y Musica'', while "Tu Me Haces Sentir" ended the year as the 13th-best Tejano single of 1995. Following the release of ''Corazon Ardiente'' (1996), Hobbs became a spokesperson for
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
. During a period of decline in the popularity of Tejano music and decreasing sales within the genre, Hobbs created his own record label and studio, Faith Digital Recording Studio and AMMX. After his contract expired with EMI Latin in 1998, Hobbs signed with
Sony Discos Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC (often referred to as Sony Music Latin) is a record label owned by Sony Music. The label focuses on artists of Latin music. History In 1979, CBS Records (now Columbia Records) ended its partnership with ...
. The singer received the BMI Songwriters Award in 1998 for "Buscando Un Amor" and "Corazon Ardiente" and in 1999 for "Comprendeme". By 2001, Hobbs became independent and released subsequent albums through his AMMX label. At the 2020 Tejano Music Awards, Hobbs won Male Entertainer of the Year, after years of being nominated. On August 31, 2021, Hobbs launched his podcast ''Hanging With Gary'', with co-host Johnny Davila. On April 20, 2022, Hobbs signed with
Freddie Records Freddie Records is an American independent record label founded in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 1, 1969, by musician Freddie Martinez. Initially operating as a recording studio and distributor for Martinez, he expanded his roster to include ...
, citing the label's ability to secure radio airplay for their artists as his reason, and released ''Sin Fin'' that December. In 2019, Hobbs received recognition from the
Texas State Legislature The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful arm ...
, represented by Poncho Nevarez, for his contributions to Tejano music. In recognition of his humanitarian contributions, Hobbs was awarded the Humanitarian Award by the Tejano Entertainers and Musicians Association Awards (TEMA) in 1999.


Career


1960-1982: Early life and career beginnings

Gary Lee Hobbs, Jr. was born two months prematurely on January 5, 1960, at the
Amarillo Air Force Base Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. ...
in
Amarillo, Texas Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County ...
. He grew up in
Eagle Pass, Texas Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 28,130 as of the 2020 census. Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across th ...
, the son of Gary Lee Hobbs, who served in the
Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...
, and his mother, Anita Hobbs (
née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
McLemore Sanchez), who was a ''música trío'' and
mariachi Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music that dates back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, t ...
singer of Mexican Scottish and Irish decent. Hobbs' maternal grandmother, Lucia, lived on a ranch in
Monclova, Coahuila Monclova (), is a city and the seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. According to the 2015 census, the city had 231,107 inhabitants. Its metropolitan area has 381,432 inhabitants and a ...
, while his maternal grandfather played the
trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...
. During his youth, Hobbs often watched his mother perform as a singer, and was exposed to
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...
. At the age of seven or eight, Hobbs started playing the piano and later learned to play the guitar. He also played the trumpet in his high school choir and was a soloist for his church's choir in 1971. Before performing with Brando Mireles, a former
keyboardist A keyboardist or keyboard player is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instr ...
from
Mazz Mazz is a Tejano band originally from Brownsville, Texas. The band was known for their idiosyncratic and innovative form of Tejano cumbia which made them distinguishable among their counterparts. Mazz became one of the most popular Tejano music b ...
, between 1977 and 1980, Hobbs played with local groups such as Chicano Breed and Starlight. Together, they formed the Hot Sauce Band and began recording songs for Hacienda Records in May 1983. Hobbs took on the role of lead singer and later learned to play the keyboards. The name "Hot Sauce" came about when Mireless suggested it while adding
hot sauce Hot sauce is a type of condiment, seasoning, or salsa made from chili peppers and other ingredients. Many commercial varieties of mass-produced hot sauce exist. History Humans have used chili peppers and other hot spices for thousands of years ...
to his food, realizing that the group did not have a name for an upcoming show. Initially, Hobbs didn't like the name and considered it "the stupidest name I ever heard in my life".


1983-1990: Early success with Hacienda Records

Promoters referred to Hobbs as "the lady killer" of
Tejano music Tejano music ( es, música tejana), also known as Tex-Mex music, is a popular music style fusing Mexican and US influences. Typically, Tejano combines Mexican Spanish vocal styles with dance rhythms from Czech and German genres – particular ...
. At the 1983
Tejano Music Awards The Tejano Music Awards (TMA) is an accolade created by former arts teacher and musician Rudy Trevino in 1980. The accolade recognizes outstanding performers of Tejano music, a German polka-based Latin music genre recorded in Spanish or English-la ...
, Hobbs won Most Promising Vocalist, and was nominated for
Male Vocalist of the Year Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization. A male organism cannot reproduce sexually without access to a ...
, and Male Entertainer of the Year. At the 10th Mike Chavez Music Awards in 1984, Hobbs was awarded the Most Promising Male Vocalist, while his Hot Sauce group was nominated for Most Promising Band, and his single "Se Acabo" received a nomination for Best New Song by A New Group. At the 1984 Tejano Music Awards, Hobbs received a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, while his song, "Confidencias de Amor", was nominated for Song of the Year. In 1985, Hobbs released ''Mentiras'', with its eponymous track initially overlooked, it gradually amassed recognition over the course of two years. Eventually, the titular song gained substantial commercial and critical acclaim. ''
Corpus Christi Caller-Times The ''Corpus Christi Caller-Times'' is the newspaper of record for Corpus Christi, Texas. History There has been a newspaper in Corpus Christi for almost as long as there has been a town. In 1883, the ''Caller'' was started in a frame buildi ...
''s Rene Cabrera, hailed "Mentiras" as an "expertly crafted"
sentimental ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...
, showcasing Hobb's adeptness. The song was recorded under a licensing agreement with
RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...
and subsequently featured on
EMI Latin Capitol Latin (formerly EMI Latin) is a brand of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group. Previously, it was a subsidiary of EMI. History In 1989, José Behar, the former head of CBS Discos, signed Selena to E ...
's compilation, ''Five Branding Irons'' (1992). The track was intended for inclusion on Hobbs' ''Solo Estas Noche'' (1992), though was omitted from the final tracklist, a lucrative misstep according to Cabrera. Hobbs recorded the song after listening to
Lupita D'Alessio Lupita D'Alessio (, born Guadalupe Contreras Ramos on 10 March 1954 in (Mexico City, México) is a Mexican singer and actress. She is nicknamed ''La Leona Dormida'' (a title of one of her songs, which translates to "The sleeping lioness"). Biog ...
's rendition. Hobbs was nominated for Best Male Vocalist at the 1988 Mike Chavez Music Awards. At the
1989 Tejano Music Awards The Tejano Music Awards (TMA) is an accolade created by former arts teacher and musician Rudy Trevino in 1980. The accolade recognizes outstanding performers of Tejano music, a German polka-based Latin music genre recorded in Spanish or English-l ...
, Hobbs amassed nominations for Single of the Year with "Quiero Ser Tu Amor", Song of the Year for "Ensenar a Querer", Male Entertainer of the Year, and ''Un Momento'' was nominated for Album of the Year - Orchestra. By 1988, Hobbs became one of the most popular Tejano singers. At the
1990 Tejano Music Awards The 10th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1990. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians. Award winners Vocalists of The Year ...
, Hobbs was nominated for Male Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. By 1990, promoters dubbed him "the blue-eyed sensation". On the week ending December 13, 1990, "Vas a Pagar" made its entry into the Tejano Singles chart at number ten, as did "Las Miradas" the following week. "Las Miradas" reached number two for seven nonconsecutive weeks beginning in the week of January 24, 1991, before peaking at number one on the week ending June 20.


1991-1998: Commercial success with EMI Latin

In 1991, Hobbs signed a six-figure contract with EMI Latin. At the
1992 Tejano Music Awards The 12th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1992. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians. Award winners Vocalists of The Year ...
, "Las Miradas" was nominated for both Song of the Year and Single of the Year. The singer's eponymous album received a nomination for Album of the Year, while Hobbs was a contender for Male Entertainer of the Year. In May 1992, Hobbs released ''Solo Esta Noche'', which featured "Amame y Besame", which peaked at number one on the Tejano Singles chart on the week ending August 20, 1992. It garnered the nomination for Song of the Year, while Hobbs received the nomination for Male Entertainer of the Year, and ''Solo Esta Noche'' received the nomination for Album of the Year. Hobbs recorded "Recordemos" and "Paz Esta Navidad" for the Christmas compilation, ''Christmas in Texas'' (1992). Suzy Banks of ''
Texas Monthly ''Texas Monthly'' (stylized as ''TexasMonthly'') is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Downtown Austin, Texas. ''Texas Monthly'' was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy and has been published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. since 1998 and is ...
'', noted that comprehending the emotional pleas conveyed in "Paz Esta Navidad" does not necessitate an understanding of the Spanish language, as listeners can apprehend Hobbs sentiments through his vocal delivery. In April 1993, ''Gary Hobbs Live'' was released. In March 1994, Hobbs recorded a
pilot episode A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television network or other distri ...
of ''Camino de Lagrimas'', a Tejano
telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
that producers aspired to pitch to Spanish networks. ''Ta Vas a Acordar'' (1993) reached sales of 50,000 units and receive a gold certification in June 1994. Its singles, "Voy a Amarte" reached the third position, while "Te Vas a Acordar" peaked at number one on the Tejano Singles chart. In an effort to promote Hobbs in Mexico, EMI Latin endeavored to alter the singer's band name from Hot Sauce to Grupo Mezquite in August 1994, believing that Hot Sauce would not resonate with Mexican audiences. Hobbs perceived the name change as the second "dumbest thing I ever heard in my life", second only to Hot Sauce. According to Hobbs, Mezquite, the Spanish term for the
mesquite tree Mesquite is a common name for several plants in the genus ''Prosopis'', which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas. They have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under grou ...
, flourishes in his hometown and symbolizes his heritage. The singer commenced negotiations with Apodcada Promotions to secure management and booking arrangements in Mexico. As a jest, Hobbs would refer to his band as "the usual suspects", a phrase from the film ''
Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
'' (1942), which reminded him of the constant turnover of its members. At the
1995 Tejano Music Awards The 15th Annual Tejano Music Awards were held on February 11, 1995, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of Tejano musicians from the previous year. Award win ...
, "Te Vas a Acordar" garnered nominations for Song of the Year and Single of the Year, while Hobbs received a nomination for Male Entertainer of the Year, and ''Te Vas a Acordar'' was nominated for Album of the Year. By May 1995, ''Te Vas a Acordar'' had sold 90,000 units, and its titular track spent nine weeks at number one on '' Radio y Musica''s Tejano Singles chart, securing the second-longest song that year, behind
Selena Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
's "
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is a song recorded by American Tejano singer, Selena. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). Originally written about a cheerful fish swimming freely in the ocean, the son ...
" (1994), which spent 13 weeks at the top spot. Within the album, "La Miradas", features a lyrical narrative that depicts the captivating gaze a woman employs to ensnare a man's affection, while the title track delves into the intricacies of lost love. ''Te Vas a Acordar'' ended 1994 as the 13th best-selling regional Mexican album and the 34th best-selling Latin album in the United States. "Tu Me Haces Sentir" made its debut at number 49 on the US ''Billboard''
Hot Latin Songs The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart rankings are based on digital sales, rad ...
chart, the week ending September 16, 1995, and became known as one of the most popular Tejano singers. Hobbs released ''Sol el Mismo'' on March 7, 1995, and by May 1995 it sold 35,000 units. At the
1996 Tejano Music Awards The 16th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1996. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians. Award winners Vocalists of The Year ...
, ''Soy el Mismo'' was nominated for Album of the Year. Hobbs, along with composer Carmen Ravenna, received the BMI Latin Songwriter award for their work on "Chiquitita, Chiquitita". In the music video for "Por Favor Corazon", Hobbs portrayed an outlaw from the 19th century, captured at the 64,000-acre Tinkler Ranch located in
Fort Stockton Fort Stockton is a city in and the county seat of Pecos County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 10, future Interstate 14, U.S. Highways 67, 285, and 385, and the Santa Fe Railroad, northwest of San Antonio and southeast of ...
. Hobbs revealed that the horseback riding scene proved physically challenging, resulting in some bruises, as it had been some time since he last mounted a horse when he was in high school. "Por Favor Corazon" debuted and peaked at number 18 on the US ''Billboard''
Hot Latin Songs The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart rankings are based on digital sales, rad ...
chart and number 15 on the US ''Billboard''
Regional Mexican Songs Regional Mexican Airplay (also referred to as Regional Mexican Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994, with "La Niña Fresa" by Banda Zeta being the first number-one so ...
chart, on the week ending May 20, 1995. "Chiquitita" peaked at number 34 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, on the week ending February 11, 1995. "Por Favor Corazon" ended 1995 as the second-best Tejano single on ''Radio y Musica'', while "Tu Me Haces Sentir" was the 13th-best Tejano single of 1995. "Por Favor Corazon" was nominated for Song of the Year while Hobbs was nominated for Male Entertainer of the Year at the 1996 Tejano Music Awards. Writing for ''
Fort Worth Star-Telegram The ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'' is an American daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. It is owned by The McClatchy Company. History In May 1905, Amon G. Carter acc ...
'', Ramiro Burr expressed his disappointment with ''Soy el Mismo'', labeling it as a disheartening letdown due to its tedious nature, largely attributed to the monotonous keyboard-
synthesizer A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
melodies. In contrast, Cabrera acknowledges Hobbs as an artist who crafts songs that leave a lasting impression on ''Soy el Mismo''. Tracks such as the cumbias "Por Favor Corazon" and "Tu Me Haces Sentir" and the
ranchera Ranchera () or canción ranchera is a genre of traditional music of Mexico. It dates to before the years of the Mexican Revolution. Rancheras today are played in virtually all regional Mexican music styles. Drawing on rural traditional folk music ...
s "Quiero Que Vuelvas" and "Esperando Tu Amor", showcase Hobbs' ability to deliver captivating melodies infused with heartfelt emotions, as noted by Cabrera. Paul Verna of ''Billboard'', recognizing the comparatively lesser media coverage received by Hobbs in comparison to his contemporaries, noted that ''Soy el Mismo'' made "a strong debut" at number 20 on the US ''Billboard''
Top Latin Albums Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all ''Billboard'' album charts, the chart is based ...
chart. ''Soy el Mismo'' rose to number seven and debuted at number three on the US ''Billboard''
Regional Mexican Albums Regional Mexican Albums is a genre-specific record chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart was established in June 1985 and originally listed the top twenty-five best-selling albums of mariachi, tejano, no ...
chart, taking the greatest gain in sales for the week ending April 1, 1995. Chito de la Torre of ''
La Prensa ''La Prensa'' ("The Press") is a frequently used name for newspapers in the Spanish-speaking world. It may refer to: Argentina * ''La Prensa'' (Buenos Aires) * , a current publication of Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz Bolivia * ''La Prensa'' (La Paz ...
'', found the album's title ironic, considering the singer's transformation in image and the renaming of his band as part of his pursuit to establish a presence in Mexico. According to de la Torre, this transition became apparent when the singer donned Western attire at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards. Following the release of Hobbs' album, ''Corazon Ardiente'' (1996), Cabrera perceived a departure from the customary style that Hobbs typically imbues into his musical offerings, finding ''Corazon Ardiente'' to surpass ''Soy el Mismo'' in terms of its impact. The
lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...
, "Buscando Un Amor", was released on June 27, 1996. Cabrera characterizes Hobbs' signature style throughout the album as melodic, polished, and engaging, exemplifying his artistry. At the
1997 Tejano Music Awards The 17th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1997. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians. The Hometown Boys entered the awards cer ...
, Hobbs was nominated for Song of the Year for "Buscando Un Amor", while its album received the nomination for Album of the Year, and Hobbs was nominated for Male Vocalist and Male Entertainer of the Year. In 1996, Hobbs signed a contract with
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
, who subsequently became sponsors for his tours. "Buscando Un Amor" peaked at number 24 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and number 11 on the Regional Mexican Songs chart, in the week ending September 7, 1996. "Corazon Ardiente" peaked at number 41 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, in the week ending August 3, 1996. In 1997, Hobbs secured a role in the film ''Lost Cowboy'', and in April 1998, he released ''Solo Es Un Sueno''.


1998-2000: Label change to Sony Discos

The popularity of Tejano music witnessed a decline in the aftermath of Selena's shooting death in March 1995, prompting major record labels to adopt a cautious approach in their dealings with Tejano singers, given the declining sales within the genre. In response, Hobbs established his own record label and studio, Faith Digital Recording Studio, circumventing the conservative strategies employed by major labels in response to the diminishing sales of Tejano music. In September 1998, Hobbs's contract with EMI Latin expired, leading him to sign with
Sony Discos Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC (often referred to as Sony Music Latin) is a record label owned by Sony Music. The label focuses on artists of Latin music. History In 1979, CBS Records (now Columbia Records) ended its partnership with ...
. Hobbs expressed his belief that Sony would offer him the professional support he needed as an artist, facilitating the realization of his personal aspirations. Hobbs received the BMI Songwriters Award in 1998 for "Buscando Un Amor" and "Corazon Ardiente", while he and Carlos Javier Castillon were awarded the 1999 BMI Songwriters award for "Comprendeme". Hobbs released ''Mirame a Mi'', his debut with Sony, featuring songs penned by Humberto Ramon with arrangement handled by Mireles. The singer was garnered sponsorship from Churches Fried Chicken and
Sears Sears, Roebuck and Co. ( ), commonly known as Sears, is an American chain of department stores founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald, with what began a ...
. At the
2000 Tejano Music Awards The Tejano Music Awards (TMA) is an accolade created by former arts teacher and musician Rudy Trevino in 1980. The accolade recognizes outstanding performers of Tejano music, a German polka-based Latin music genre recorded in Spanish or English-la ...
, Hobbs was nominated for Male Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Tejano music continued to experience a decline in popularity, Hobbs, along with other Tejano singers, encountered reduced airplay opportunities by 2000. "Mirame a Mi" reached number ten on the ''Radio y Musica'' Tejano chart. In 2000, the singer secured a role in Paul Mitchell's hair product ads. Hobbs released ''Sueno de Mi Corazon'', in September 2000. Hobbs expressed in the ''
Abilene Reporter-News ''Abilene Reporter-News'' is a daily newspaper based in Abilene, Texas, United States. The newspaper started publishing as the weekly ''Abilene Reporter'', helmed by Charles Edwin Gilbert on June 17, 1881, just three months after Abilene was fo ...
'' that he anxiously monitored its chart progression on ''Radio y Musica''s Tejano music chart as closely as the
2000 United States Presidential Election The 2000 United States presidential election was the 54th quadrennial United States presidential election, presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000. Republican Party (United States), Republican candidate George W. Bush, the gover ...
. The album's commercial impact instilled a sense of restlessness and was the first album to elicit concern from him. ''Sueno de Mi Corazon'' featured additions of the
saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...
,
accordion Accordions (from 19th-century German ''Akkordeon'', from ''Akkord''—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed ...
, and digitally altered vocals. While expressing a desire to explore
Latin Christian music Latin Christian music (Spanish ''Musica Cristiana Latina'') is a subgenre of Latin music and Contemporary Christian music. Christian music is well established in Latin America's Evangelical churches, but is also popular with the major Roman Catholi ...
, Hobbs lamented Sony's reluctance to allow the release of both a Tejano and Christian album simultaneously, citing the need to avoid overlapping ventures. "Sueno De Mi Corazon" garnered a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2001 Tejano Music Awards. "Simplemente Amigos" entered the top 20 on the Tejano Singles chart, while "Sueno de Mi Corazon" reached the top ten. "Dime Que Soy Tuyo" reached number four on the Tejano Singles chart, before peaking at number two in the week ending September 7, 2001.


2001-2022: Independent with AMMX

By 2001, Hobbs became independent and released subsequent albums through his AMMX label (abbreviated for ''Americano Mexicano''). Hobbs signed Laura Aguiree to his label, where he produced her debut album, ''Mi Corazon'' (2002), which was released through
Wal-Mart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
and other department stores. Aguiree remained under Hobbs's management for two to three years. Recognizing Hobbs' 19-year tenure as a Tejano Music Award nominee without a win, Nicole Brambila of ''
San Angelo Standard-Times ''San Angelo Standard-Times'' is a daily newspaper based in San Angelo, Texas, United States that was established in 1884. It is owned by Gannett. History The newspaper was established in 1884 by J. G. Murphy, the city's second mayor. Mr. Murp ...
'', hailed him as "one of the most versatile singers" in the Tejano market. Hobbs expressed to Brambila that the absence of a Tejano Music Award was "one thing that eluded me". Seeking to break new ground, the singer released ''Cosas del Destino'' on October 8, 2002, showcasing a fusion of norteño, '' grupo'', and Tejano styles. This approach was inspired by Hobbs's admiration of these fusions he witnessed during performances on
Univision Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...
and
Telemundo Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language Terrestrial television, terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a divi ...
. By October 2003, Hobbs expanded his business by taking on managerial roles for Tokante, a norteño and Tejano group. Amidst the production of ''Ayer y Hoy'', Hobbs shared with Rose Ybarra of ''The Monitor'', his sense of optimism and excitement, asserting that he felt "really good about it" and eagerly anticipated its completion. The album was released in February 2004, and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2005 Tejano Music Awards. Hobbs's subsequent release, ''Esperando Tu Llamada'' (2005), presented a collection of ballad-infused tracks, while ''Por Ti'' released in August 2006, showcased a return to a more traditional Tejano sound infused with "old-school influence". In 2007, Hobbs extended his label's roster by signing Da Krazy Pimps, solidifying a four-year contract. Hobbs garnered recognition in September 2011 at the Mike Chavez Music Awards, which returned after a 14-year hiatus, for his contributions to Tejano music. Hobbs released ''A Very Gary Christmas'' in December 2015. He recorded Christmas music standards "
Frosty the Snowman "Frosty the Snowman" is a popular Christmas song written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950 and later recorded by Jimmy Durante. It was written after the success o ...
", " Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer", "
I'll Be Home For Christmas "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song written by the lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent and recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby, who scored a top ten hit with the song. Originally written to honor soldiers overseas who longed ...
", "
Jingle Bells "Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and most commonly sung American songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title "The One Horse Open Sleigh" in September 1857. It has been claimed th ...
", and "
Here Comes Santa Claus "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" is a popular Christmas song written and originally performed by Gene Autry, with music composed by Oakley Haldeman. Autry's original recording (in which he pronounces Santa Claus as "Santy ...
". While Eduardo Martinez of ''The Monitor'' regarded the album as somewhat ordinary, he praised Hobbs' exceptional vocal abilities on the album. In 2013, Hobbs lent his voice to "La Barca" as part of
David Lee Garza David Lee Garza (born February 15, 1957) is an American Tejano musician and bandleader. Garza was born and raised in Poteet, Texas. Garza and his band have been responsible for jumpstarting the careers of numerous Tejano vocalists by way of coll ...
's ''Just Friends'' album, which won a
Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album The Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album was awarded from 1999 to 2011. In its first year the award was titled Best Tejano Music Performance and in 2000 it was awarded as Best Tejano Performance. The current title has been used since 2001. From 1993 ...
. The singer released ''Recuerdo...De Mi Madre'' in 2016, featuring recordings that his mother would often perform, dedicating the album to her. At the 2017 Tejano Music Awards, Hobbs was nominated for Song of the Year for "Amor Enterno" while he received a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. On September 23, 2019, Hobbs released "Lo Que Amo", the lead single from the album of the same name. In 2019, he collaborated with Rick Fuentes on "Toda Una Vida" for Fuentes' ''Tribute'' (2019) album. On April 17, 2020, Hobbs released "Tu Eres Mi Reina", John Henry Medina of Tejano Nation, praised it as an "upbeat nduplifting ranchera". Hobbs won Male Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 Tejano Music Awards, calling it a remarkable milestone that he checked off his
bucket list Bucket list may refer to: * A list of activities to do before dying ("kick the bucket") * Wish list * ''The Bucket List'', a 2007 comedy film * ''Bucket List'' (2018 film), a 2018 Indian Marathi comedy-drama film * "Bucket List" (song), a 2013 ...
. On August 31, 2021, Hobbs launched his
podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...
''Hanging With Gary'', with co-host Johnny Davila, through his website.


2022-present: Tenure under Freddie Records

On April 20, 2022, Hobbs signed with
Freddie Records Freddie Records is an American independent record label founded in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 1, 1969, by musician Freddie Martinez. Initially operating as a recording studio and distributor for Martinez, he expanded his roster to include ...
, despite having his own label, he recognized the track record of Freddie Records in securing radio airplay for their artists. In September 2022, Hobbs collaborated with Kary Karina on the recording "Que Lastima". Hobbs released ''Sin Fin'' on December 30, 2022, his first album with Freddie Records and his first recording in three years. The lead single, "Que Daria", a mid-tempo Tejano cumbia track, was released in December 2022. "Que Daria" garnered acclaim for its
catchy Catchiness is how easy it is for a song, tune, or phrase to be recalled. It is often taken into account when writing songs, catchphrases, advertising slogans, jingles etc. Alternatively, it can be defined as how difficult it is for one to forget ...
sing-along
chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
, Hobbs' vocal performance, and the production value that featured layered brass, keyboards, and accordion fills. The music video was released on April 20, 2023. Hobbs and Kary Karina received a Collaboration of the Year nomination for "Que Lastima" at the third Premios Tejano Mundial in 2023.


Personal life

In 1980, Hobbs married Diana, and together they had a son named Gary Lee Hobbs III, born in October 1983, as well as a daughter Kimberlee Diane, born in October 1985. Hobb's son started playing the congas and other percussions for him in 2003. The singer was often sporting cowboy boots and blue jeans, but when his son gifted him a black western hat in 1995, he received negative reactions from fans who assumed he was emulating
Emilio Navaira Emilio H. Navaira III (August 23, 1962 – May 16, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter of Tejano and country music. He is the winner of one Grammy Award and one Latin Grammy Award. Known to most by the mononym Emilio, he charted more than ...
for amusement. Hobbs runs a ranch in his hometown where he enjoys raising horses and beefmaster cattle. Hobbs drew inspiration from Latin Breed, the Royal Jesters, Jimmy Edward, Adalberto Gallegos, and David Marez. Apart from music, he also has a passion for playing baseball. Called "Tejano's
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...
", Hobbs is recognized for his
baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...
vocal range Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...
, expressive, and resonant vocals, and is considered to possess the "smoothest voice" in the genre. He is regarded as a pioneer in Tejano music, contributing to the genre's growth throughout the 1990s, and one of the most popular Tejano singers of the 1980s and 1990s. His songs often feature compelling romantic narratives, characterized by a smooth, nightclub ambiance featuring relaxed yet rhythmic and enticing melodies. Hobbs frequently performs cumbia, ranchera, and old rock songs transitioning between swooning love songs and lively cumbias. Known for his versatile role as a producer, composer, musician, and vocalist, he is known for enticing fans with his Tex-Mex rhythms and pop arrangements. His band is known for delivering captivating performances on stage.


Philantrophy

Hobbs participated in the charitable event held at the Red Bluff Studios in September 1989, contributing to the fundraising efforts dedicated to supporting youth programs and scholarships for
Mexican American Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexica ...
s. Hobbs and Elsa García, performed at the 1989
Houston Gay Pride Parade The Houston Gay Pride Parade (or often called the Houston Pride Parade) is the major feature of a gay pride festival held annually since 1979. The festival takes place in June to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and t ...
, aiming to generate funds for organizations fighting
AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
and scholarships benefiting
LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is a ...
Hispanics. In July 1991, Hobbs performed for the
Southwest Voter Registration Education Project The Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), founded in 1974, is the oldest and largest non-partisan Latino voter participation organization in the United States. SVREP was founded by William C. Velasquez Jr. SVREP has registered ...
(SVREP), engaging in a statewide campaign to promote citizen registration and encourage voting. In April 1994, Hobbs took part in a benefit dance organized for The Head Start P.T.O. In October 1995, Hobbs performed for The United Students Club fundraiser at Austin Junior High and advocated for a drug-free lifestyle. In recognition of his humanitarian endeavors, Hobbs was awarded the Humanitarian Award by the Tejano Entertainers and Musicians Association Awards (TEMA) in 1999. Since 1999, Hobbs has consistently performed at
H-E-B H-E-B Grocery Company, LP, is an American privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 340 stores throughout the U.S. state of Texas, as well as in northeast Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an u ...
's annual Feast of Sharing on Christmas Eve, an event based in
Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi (; Ecclesiastical Latin: "'' Body of Christ"'') is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat and largest city of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patrici ...
, where they provide meals for 10,000 people each year. Hobbs collaborated with other Tejano artists for a free concert aimed at senior citizens held at the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center on February 20, 2000. In 2006, Joe Lopez (of Mazz) received a prison sentence of 20 years for multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor. He became eligible for parole on October 26, 2016. In June 2016, Hobbs took part in a fundraising dance event to assist Lopez's parole appeal. In 2019, Hobbs received recognition from the
Texas State Legislature The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful arm ...
, represented by Poncho Nevarez, for his contributions to Tejano music. In 2021, Hobbs appeared as a guest artist on Tejano America, a program sponsored by
AARP AARP (formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons) is an interest group in the United States focusing on issues affecting those over the age of fifty. The organization said it had more than 38 million members in 2018. The magazin ...
. In April 2023, Hobbs delivered a live performance at the Baile Del Sol, a free concert held in
Brownsville, Texas Brownsville () is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Mexico. The city covers , and has a population of 186,738 as of the 2020 census. It ...
.


Discography

*''Muy Caliente'' (1983) *''Maniac'' (1984) *''Mentiras'' (1985) *''Salvame'' (1986) *''Miradas'' (1990) *''Solo Esta Noche'' (1992) *''Te Vas A Acordar'' (1993) *''Soy el Mismo'' (1995) *''Ardiente'' (1996) *''Sólo Es Un Sueño'' (1997) *''Mirame A Mi'' (1998) *''Después De Ti'' (1999) *''XVII Sueno'' (2000) *''Ayer y Hoy'' (2004) *''Esperando Tu Llamada'' (2005) *''Por Ti'' (2006) *''Recuerdo...De Mi Madre'' (2016) *''Lo Que Amo'' (2019) *''Sin Fin'' (2022)


See also

*
List of Hispanic and Latino Americans This is a list of notable Hispanic and Latino Americans: citizens or residents of the United States with origins in Latin America or Spain. The following groups are officially designated as "Spanish/Hispanic/Latino": Mexican American, ( ...
*
Music of Texas The U.S. state of Texas has long been a center for musical innovation and is the birthplace of many notable musicians. Texans have pioneered developments in Tejano and Conjunto music, Rock 'n Roll, Western swing, jazz, punk rock, country, hi ...


Notes


References


Works cited

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External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbs, Gary 1960 births 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 21st-century American singers American Latin pop singers American male actors of Mexican descent American male film actors American male television actors American mariachi musicians American musicians of Mexican descent American people of Scotch-Irish descent American performers of Christian music American philanthropists American ranchera singers Capitol Records artists Christian music songwriters Cumbia musicians EMI Latin artists Hispanic and Latino American musicians Latin music songwriters Living people Male actors from Texas Musicians from Amarillo, Texas People from Eagle Pass, Texas People from Texas Record producers from Texas Sony Discos artists Singers from Texas Songwriters from Texas Spanish-language singers of the United States Tejano musicians