 Here's Hugh in his plaid phase fronting The Magnificent Seven. Photo: David Banks |
In 1994, Hugh joined up with drummer Jeff Thomas, the ace session player, guitarist J.D. Dragus, formerly of the Wildroots, and bassist Harrison Robinson, an alumnus of Vanessa Davis' hard driving R & B band, to form Wedge. A top club draw, Wedge earned rave reviews from The Chicago Reader, College Music Journal and others. Their debut record made CMJ's top ten most added album list in April 1996.
Later that year he performed at Nashville's famed Bluebird Cafe.
Hugh contributed the title track and eight other songs to the One Heart album by Chicago blues belter Vanessa Davis.
He has collaborated frequently with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Doug Hoekstra and soul diva Suzanne Palmer
While launching a career as a freelance writer Hugh crafted Work Songs. The solo debut, recorded at Chicago's Rax Trax Studios, serves up tales from the front lines. A 9-to-5 guy falls for a stripper (Sway). A temp worker vents (One Day Mule). A cabbie yearns for the good life (Creme Brulee). Eleven songs in all, featuring Hugh on vocals, harmonica, Hammond organ and the Mighty Casio, plus guest turns by some of Chicago's finest guitar slingers.