Founded in 1970, in Paw Paw,
West Virginia, Asleep at the
Wheel has been part of the
American roots music
landscape for more than 50
years, The arrived in Texas in
1973 and have become a
cornerstone of the Austin,
Texas music scene. Their
music is a combination of
Western Swing and Honky-
Tonk Country. They have
remained a staple of the music scene for over 50 years.
Ray Benson at 19, had a dream to form a band to bring the roots of
American pop music into the present. It was a very ambitious goal for
one so young, but he managed to bring his dream to life when he
formed Asleep at the Wheel. Although the members have changed
over time, Benson’s mission never did. Their success is built on the
fact that they have managed to merge the past with the present.
“I’m the reason it’s still together, but the reason it’s popular is because
we’ve had the greatest singers and players,” says Benson. When new
members come on board, he tells them to learn all the stuff that’s been
done, then add your own interpretation to it. Benson also says, …I’m
just a singer and a songwriter, and a pretty good guitar player, but my
best talent is convincing people to jump on board and play the music.”
From their very first gig, Asleep at the Wheel steadily built a fan base
and word spread to other artists. Eventually Van Morrison, who loved
country music, heard them and asked to play a show with them. About
this time Van was interviewed by Rolling Stone and asked if he was
excited about any new bands – he named Asleep at the Wheel.
Benson recalls that was when the “L.A. record companies came
running.”
When asked how he kept the music going, Benson replied, “Well,
you’ve got to have some young people. If young people aren’t doing
this, then we’re just a museum – and I don’t want to be a museum.