Lubbock Christian University (LCU) welcomed the world-famous Flying J Wranglers for a Christmas concert Monday night.

The Flying J Wranglers were a staple in Lubbock during the Christmas season for many years, and after a short hiatus following the pandemic, they returned to Hub City to usher in the Christmas season. Hailing from the Flying J Ranch in the mountains of New Mexico, this Ruidoso-based group combines the best of classic western music and Christmas festivity. With amazingly talented instrumentalists, classic fiddling, legendary vocals, and the spirit of the old west, the bustling crowd ushered in the holidays with the Flying J Wranglers.

The Flying J Wranglers are led by LCU alumnus James Hobbs (’75) and his wife, Cindy, who dreamed of the Flying J Ranch over 40 years ago. Their hard work and ability to attract and retain a truly amazing collection of talented musicians has proven to be the recipe for success. With a troupe of truly gifted entertainers, their mix of classics and original songs are brought to life by their keen sense of humor and their genuine passion for sharing their gift of music.

As a student, James was a member of the Acapella Chorus for three years and played guitar in the Misty Morning Singers in 1973-74. He was also a member of the legendary Hard Travelers during his senior year in 1974-75. Hard Travelers was a very popular LCU musical group during the decades of the early 1970’s and early 1980’s with a long and storied history of using a trio of student musicians who sang popular cover songs as a means to recruit students to LCU.

The Flying J Wranglers performed a 45-minute set of country songs followed by an hour and a half of Christmas songs that sparked the Christmas spirit in the hearts of concertgoers. The concert was enjoyed by hundreds of guests from across the South Plains who filled the McDonald Moody Auditorium on LCU campus. A portion from the sale of each ticket were donated to the LCU Student Scholarship Fund.