Courtesy of Freddie Records
Tejano music legend Gary Hobbs has officially released his long-awaited new album, Soy Libre, marking his second full-length project with the iconic Freddie Records label. The album dropped just one week after Hobbs celebrated an incredible 42-year milestone in the Tejano music industry on May 19, adding to the significance of this special release.
The 12-track album features a blend of Hobbs’ signature sound and creative musical explorations that showcase both tradition and innovation. In a statement shared via social media, Hobbs expressed deep gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the project to life.
“We want to thank God for all His blessings on allowing us to complete this album,” Hobbs wrote. “Thank you Freddie Records, the Martinez brothers, Mariano Herrera, Eli Molina, Ram Serna, Producer Hector Gutierrez, The Usual Suspects and guest musicians for all your support and participation. Very special thanks to Stefani Montiel, Juan Trevino and Boni Mauricio for collaborating with us. You are all amazing singers and musicians!”
Hobbs also praised his partnership with Freddie Records, highlighting the label’s commitment to excellence and support throughout the creative process.
“It is phenomenal, going to someone like Freddie Records with all the resources, and by that, I mean not just the equipment, the studio, but their engineers and people that work at the label,” said Hobbs. “It’s been quite interesting and exciting at the same time.”
The album boasts impressive collaborations with powerhouse vocalist Stefani Montiel, two-time Latin Grammy winning songwriter Juan Treviño—who penned the emotional title track “Soy Libre”—and Conjunto legend Boni Mauricio on accordion. Gary also thanked Gabriel Zavala for his musical contributions and Jaime Zamago for vocal production. The visual side of the album, including graphics, design, and photography, was crafted by Jorge Slomski.
In a recent interview Hobbs spoke about the creative process behind Soy Libre:
“I think you’re always wanting to give your audience a little bit different stuff and we’ll certainly try to do that on the second one. But we’re Tejanos. We have Tejano rancheras. We’re keyboard orientated, but we’re always trying to figure out things. But a lot of it comes from the writers and a lot of it comes from the musicians.”
Soy Libre is now available on all major digital music platforms, offering fans a heartfelt and richly produced album that honors Hobbs’ Tejano roots while embracing new artistic directions.
With over four decades of contributions to the genre, Gary Hobbs continues to be a beloved and influential figure in Tejano music. Soy Libre is not just a new album—it’s a celebration of freedom, faith, collaboration, and an enduring passion for the music that defines generations.
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