Asleep At The Wheel
Bio
The stars aligned in 1970 when three friends Ray Benson, Lucky Oceans, and Leroy Preston moved to Paw Paw, West Virginia (it’s not a made-up place, you can look it up). It was there that their dream of forming a band began after a mutual friend gave them access to his uncle’s cabin on an apple orchard just outside of town. The three friends began to—quite literally—woodshed and found others who would join them in their mission to play old-style roots/Americana music. This was long before the genre even had a name. After a trip to the outhouse, Lucky lived up to his name and suggested the band be called Asleep at the Wheel and so it was to be for the next 50 years.
Since inception, Asleep at the Wheel received 10 GRAMMY® Awards, was cited by the Country Music Association as 1976 Touring Band of the Year and were given the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Americana Music Association. They have released 31 albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country charts. Billboard commented on the band’s catalog most succinctly: “Everything this act has ever released is simply spectacular.”
Most recently, Asleep at the Wheel has been in the studio working on a new record to be released in early 2021. Asleep at the Wheel have demonstrated convincingly that they are more relevant, enjoyable, and musically nimble than at any time in the band’s 50-year history. The 6’7” Ray Benson has been the one constant in Asleep At the Wheel since 1970. He notes, “I've been told that I'm relentless, so I guess I am… I’m just doing what I believe I’m meant to do—I’m singing and playing and writing better than I ever have. My role and concept of leading a band has never changed. It’s gathering the best musicians I can find or convince to play to the best of their ability, and I just try to make the best decisions possible and kick some ass every night onstage. I’ve made it this far and don’t feel like I or the band will be slowing down anytime soon.”
Select Press
Texas Highways - “The Cowboy Spirit Is a Way of Life for These Texas Jews”
Rolling Stone - “Asleep at the Wheel to Mark 50th Anniversary With Collabs With Willie Nelson, George Strait”
Austin360 - “Asleep at the Wheel 50th anniversary album to feature George Strait, Willie Nelson, more”
Billboard - “Asleep at the Wheel Marks 50 Years With George Strait, Willie Nelson & More on New Album: Exclusive”
Vintage Guitar Magazine - Ray Benson Cover Article
The Boston Globe - “Asleep at the Wheel goes round and round”
Marketplace - “Bands are small businesses, too”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - “On band’s 50th anniversary, Asleep at the Wheel looks ahead to better times”
CBS Austin - “Music Monday: Ray Benson performs to celebrate Asleep at the Wheel's 50th Anniversary!”
American Songwriter - “Asleep At The Wheel Arrive at ‘Better Times’”
Austin360 - “Austin360 On The Record: Wayne Sutton, Tee Double, Asleep at the Wheel, more”
Fox 7 Austin - “'Tuning In' with Asleep At The Wheel”
Variety - “Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson on Keeping the Texas Band Alive, Alert and Swinging for 50 Years”
Brooklyn Vegan - “Asleep at the Wheel celebrating 50th anniversary with Austin City Limits special (watch a clip)”
American Songwriter - “‘Austin City Limits’ to Celebrate Asleep at the Wheel with 50th-anniversary Retrospective”
CBS Austin - “Taylor Ellison chats with Ray Benson about 50 years of music and his legendary career”
Austin-American Statesman - “Asleep At The Wheel celebrates 50 years with PBS special”
Music Row - “Austin City Limits Teams With Asleep At The Wheel For Retrospective Episode”
Austin 360 - “Asleep at the Wheel digs into 50th year with October events”
Cowboys & Indians - “Music News From Mickey Guyton, Asleep At The Wheel, and Tyller Gummersall”
