Henry “Blues Boy” Hubbard, an influential Austin blues musician whose career spanned more than six decades, has died after an extended illness. He was 85. Hubbard was born in La Grange and moved to Austin in the mid-1950s to work as a jet mechanic at Bergstrom Air Force Base. He soon began playing at Victory Grill, Charlie’s Playhouse and other popular East Austin clubs of the era. Hubbard and peers like W.C. Clark, who still performs regularly, and T.D. Bell, who died in 1999, energized the area’s music community. His band, Blues Boy Hubbard & the Jets, helped to integrate Austin’s black and white communities as he continued playing through the 1960s and 1970s. The 1975 opening of Antone’s gave them a jump start. Hubbard continued to perform through his 70s and into his 80s at venues like the Skylark Lounge and was a regular at the annual Eastside Kings Festival. He influenced generations of Austin blues musicians, some of whom took lessons from him.

<p>Henry &ldquo;Blues Boy&rdquo; Hubbard, an influential Austin blues musician whose career spanned more than six decades, has died after an extended illness. He was 85. Hubbard was born in La Grange and moved to Austin in the mid-1950s to work as a jet mechanic at Bergstrom Air Force Base. He soon began playing at Victory Grill, Charlie&rsquo;s Playhouse and other popular East Austin clubs of the era. Hubbard and peers like W.C. Clark, who still performs regularly, and T.D. Bell, who died in 1999, energized the area&rsquo;s music community. His band, Blues Boy Hubbard &amp; the Jets, helped to integrate Austin&rsquo;s black and white communities as he continued playing through the 1960s and 1970s. The 1975 opening of Antone&rsquo;s gave them a jump start. Hubbard continued to perform through his 70s and into his 80s at venues like the Skylark Lounge and was a regular at the annual Eastside Kings Festival. He influenced generations of Austin blues musicians, some of whom took lessons from him.</p>

News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX

<p>News Briefs from the Austin American Statesman, Austin, TX</p>

Austin News Briefs - Austin American Statesman

Austin - Longtime Austin musician ‘Blues Boy’ Hubbard dies at 85

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