Singer/songwriter/guitarist Greg Humphreys assembled Hobex in the late 90s, inspired by the music-with-a-message of Stax/Motown era funk and soul. The band released three independent CDs to strong regional sales and critical acclaim. Hobex spent much of 2001 recording "U, Ready Man?" their debut fro Tone-Cool Records, in Chapel-Hill NC with producer/engineer Robert Sledge, former bassist of Ben Folds Five.