Hugo started playing drums with Hank Thompson at the age of 21 (just out of the Navy) where Hank found him playing with the Starlighter Band. Hugo recorded with Hank in the 60's and was with the Brazos Valley Boys for five of the fourteen years that the band was voted the Number 1 Western Swing Band. He left the band for three and a half years and played with Ray Price. After that, he returned to the Brazos Valley Boys and played off and on as needed until Hank's death in November, 2007.