RB: The old joke was, “What’s a musician without a girlfriend? In 1970, Benson, a Jewish [4] native of Philadelphia, formed Asleep at the Wheel with friends Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston in Paw Paw, West Virginia. I’ve already done a little bit of politicking on the medical side. Some of the songs you can dance to and some of the songs you can smoke a joint, drink a beer, whatever. Ray is the founder of the world-renowned Western swing band - Asleep at the Wheel. 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 … And that’s not even taking into account law enforcement. Be sure to tune in to PBS on October 31st for “ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel” check your local listings! We have that technology, but it’s not everywhere. Watch the teaser video for the upcoming single "I Got Rhythm" from Deborah Silver with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel! Ray Benson, leader of Grammy-winning country band Asleep at the Wheel, is updating fans about his condition after he tested positive for the coronavirus. I kind of equate it to horse racing and how stupid we’ve been on that when we’re surrounded by Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Musician - Asleep at The Wheel. 2020 began as a banner year for Asleep at the Wheel. Nov 16, 2020. I have another friend who’s an epileptic and moved to Oregon to get her medicine. For Sam and Aaron Seifert, creating a TV special to honor the 50th anniversary of Asleep At The Wheel means honoring the legacy of Austin City Limits and indeed the city of Austin itself. A Ride With Bob includes the live performance of 15 of Wills’ best-known songs in a plot that interweaves Ray Benson’s present day with various stages in Wills’ storied career. So we have the technology down and we’re gonna start figuring this out. Photo courtesy Ray Benson. They gave me a flu test and sent me home. Because there’s too many people and people go to places they never did before. Safe to say you never experienced anything shaking up your profession like COVID-19? Some 100 musicians have played with Asleep at the Wheel over the years and today Benson remains its only original member. In the Spring of 2005, Ray Benson and Asleep At The Wheel began the production of "A Ride With Bob" that follows the travels of legendary singer/songwriter Bob Wills.A Ride With Bob includes the live performance of 15 of Wills’ best-known songs in a plot that interweaves Ray Benson’s present day with various stages in Wills’ storied career. AC: You’ve been a working musician for over 50 years. In the letter, the singer said, “To clear up any confusion or questions, I have tested positive for the COVID 19 Virus. About a week and a half ago, they tested for antibodies. RB: We decided to do something online and I said, “Well, let’s have ’em dance.” We’re gonna play dance music. The entire band – Tony Garnier plays with Bob Dylan, Chris O’Connell is in San Francisco, Lucky [Ocean]’s in Australia, Leroy [Preston]’s in Vermont, etc – was coming in to make an album and we were filming that. Jan 16 2021 08:00 PM Schroeder Hall . He is also a trustee for the Texas chapter of NARAS, a board member of St Davids Community Health Foundation, and a board member and founding member of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). That way there’s a larger than iPad-sized image to enjoy and also some kind of interconnectivity between the audience and the bands. Him and I are both 69. I’d lost 35 pounds. If they want me to testify, I’ve been using marijuana for 52 years and have a pretty good track record of community service, family, etc. On Aug. 25, 1970, Asleep at the Wheel played their first gig, opening for Hot Tuna and Alice Cooper in Washington, D.C. AC: The state is going to have to go through a massive economic recovery to get past this. See more. Photo courtesy Ray Benson. At this age, your muscles get too fuckin’ tight if you stop doing stuff. When this happened and all our things got cancelled, the fundraising people said we can do this online and we did all that. Ray Benson fell in love with western swing because of its unique combination of elements of American blues, swing and traditional fiddling but also for its demanding musical chops. Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel : Songfacts Podcast. [citation needed], "A Jewish singer towers over country western scene", Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Ride with Bob: A Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Back to the Future Now: Live at Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Benson&oldid=985583180, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with weasel words from September 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Voice Actor, Producer, This page was last edited on 26 October 2020, at 19:23. You can watch the full discussion now on our website. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. Some other acts are having people in the audience while they do their livestream. In 1990 he founded Bismeaux Records and Bismeaux Studios. Though the band's lineup has changed greatly over the years (about 90 people have been part of Asleep at the Wheel at some point), Benson has always remained at the helm as the band's driving force. In 1970, Benson, a Jewish native of Philadelphia, formed Asleep at the Wheel with friends Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston The group relocated to Austin in 1973 after a suggestion from Willie Nelson Since then, the group has released more than 20 albums and earned 9 Grammy awards Asleep at the Wheel leader Ray Benson has tested positive for COVID-19. … Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. "Well folks, the bad news I've contracted the corona virus!!" Goliad, TX . I said, “What’s that?” She said, “It’s a COVID test.”, Twenty-four hours later, they said, “You’re positive.”. We used to joke about Asleep at the Wheel being the disaster band because we got stranded when Mount St. Helens erupted, we were playing a gig outside of Three Mile Island when [the nuclear reactor melted down], and we were scheduled to play the White House when 9-11 happened. As a teenager, Philadelphia native Ray Benson fell hard for traditional American roots music and by 1970 he’d become the founding leader of a nimble, road-rambling band called Asleep At The Wheel. RB: Nope. I’m not well off, but I’m not gonna lose my home or starve. AC: Was going public with having COVID-19 intended to be a message for people who weren’t taking it seriously? I started playing music when… Continue Reading → On Aug. 25, 1970, Asleep at the Wheel played their first gig, opening for Hot Tuna and Alice Cooper in Washington, D.C. For God’s sake, Oklahoma has medicinal marijuana! Nelson has a long-time interest in western swing and had toured with the band in 2007. My right hamstring was so messed up I couldn’t bend over.”, “We used to joke about Asleep at the Wheel being the disaster band because we got stranded when Mount St. Helens erupted, we were playing a gig outside of Three Mile Island when [the nuclear reactor melted down], and we were scheduled to play the White House when 9-11 happened.”, Benson and Katie Shore leading Asleep at the Wheel at ACL Fest 2018, “Fifty years ago, I went to a lecture by Paul Ehrlich, who wrote that book [, “I was on the Marijuana Policy Project board for a number of years. For 50 + years, Ray has overseen the release of 25+ albums, countless tours, and has won nine Grammy Awards. 5.0 (4) See all reviews. 5.0 (4) See all reviews. (CelebrityAccess) – Ray Benson, frontman of Grammy-winning country band Asleep at the Wheel, has released a statement to fans updating them on his condition after testing positive for COVID-19 a few weeks back. I kind of equate it to horse racing and how stupid we’ve been on that when we’re surrounded by Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Want to know where Asleep At The Wheel will be playing next? Later he had the opportunity to work with executive producer Tom Hoitsma to host the Texas Music Scene TV, which showcases Texas bands. Photo: Asleep at the Wheel Atlanta Music Scene | April 2, 2020 ... Asleep at the Wheel has sung the gospel of swing for nearly 30 years, garnered all kinds of critical and popular success, and, always, played great music. Ray Benson is on Facebook. AC: Asleep at the Wheel presents the At Home Dance livestream this Saturday, July 25. Asleep At The Wheel Tour View All. We’re going to have a big economic crisis and this is one thing that will help out. Photo by Scott Newton courtesy of Austin City Limits. Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson Announces COVID-19 Diagnosis Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson has revealed that has tested positive for the coronavirus, sharing the news with fans on Facebook on Tuesday, March 31. We have tickets and exclusive holiday bundles including VIP Zoom meet and greets with Ray Benson or Katie Shore as well as all of your Asleep at the Wheel gift needs available now. Ray Benson, lead singer for Asleep at the Wheel, will be crooning his particular brand of American roots music at Schroeder Hall on Jan. 16 after the … That same year, Asleep at the Wheel released their third Bob Wills tribute album, Still the King: Celebrating the Music of … We have tickets and exclusive holiday bundles including VIP Zoom meet and greets with Ray Benson or Katie Shore as well as all of your Asleep at the Wheel gift needs available now. I never wanted to monetize interactions, but at this point, what else are we gonna do? This has shut everything down. Jan 30 2021 08:00 PM Luckenbach Texas . Nonetheless, the irrepressible country torchbearers livestream into living rooms on Saturday. It’s not the environment. A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California, at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. You know, Christopher Cross couldn’t walk, but I’m pretty sure it’s the same thing – just laying in bed too much. I don’t want to encourage group gatherings. Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson originally revealed on March 31 that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19, announcing the news on Facebook.After his story made the news, Benson shared an official statement thanking family, friends and fans for their messages, telling those who reached out that he appreciates it "more than you know." In 2003, Benson released his first solo album entitled Beyond Time. Son Aaron, 29, edits movie trailers in Los Angeles. I didn’t have a fever or cough, but I was sick. We will be playing your favorite Asleep at the Wheel classics and holiday songs from our 3 Christmas records all from the Texas North Pole! That’s why I said earlier about the big screen TV. We’re doing it out at the Starlight Ranch, this little old town they built that looks like Fifties Texas. series. Asleep at the Wheel bandleader Ray Benson has announced he’s recovered from COVID-19. I was just in bed. RB: Absolutely. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right at Ya, was released by United Artists. © Provided by Austin American-Statesman Ray Benson, front man for Asleep At The Wheel, performs with Willie Nelson on Austin City Limits for the band's 25th anniversary in 1995. Then, we’ll do virtual meet-n-greet with me and Katie for X amount of dollars on Zoom. In 2007, the Austin Chronicle recognized Benson for Male Vocals, Band of the Year, Songwriter, Record Producer, and for the Country Genre. [citation needed]. Benson is also a founding member of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which raises money to help aging R&B artists, and a member of the board of directors of the SIMS Foundation, which provides low-cost mental health services to Austin musicians and their families. That’s what’s left. Asleep At the Wheel have demonstrated convincingly, that they are more relevant, enjoyable and musically nimble than at anytime in its 50-year history. Plans for a 50th anniversary Asleep at the Wheel reunion show and recording session in the band’s hometown of Austin had been done in by the coronavirus. Katie Shore from my band and her husband both had an episode in the end of February and just figured they had colds. New recipes and food news delivered Mondays, All questions answered (satisfaction not guaranteed). Heck, they were Americana before anybody really knew what … Nothing. Entering the rarified arena of bands lasting a half century uninterrupted, Austin’s Western swing legends planned a … That could be where I got it, but we were in Arkansas and Kansas before that. The 69-year-old Grammy-winner announced the news Wednesday night in … It took 12 days before I was well enough to function. The last thing the police force wants to do is arrest pot smokers. They were all very temporary in terms of the effect on the existence of a band or venue. The biggest obstacle, from my research, is the man named Dan fuckin’ Patrick. Some 100 musicians have played with Asleep at the Wheel over the years and today Benson remains its only original member. The group relocated to Austin in 1973 after a suggestion from Willie Nelson. This was the location of the first paid gig for Asleep at the Wheel in 1970, according to lead singer Ray Benson. In February 2009, Asleep at the Wheel and Willie Nelson released "Willie And The Wheel," a western swing collaboration suggested by veteran producer Jerry Wexler. He has earned nine Grammy awards in four different decades. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. This is when the world’s population was a lot smaller, so that’s what’s up. Check out their upcoming tour dates here! Fifty years ago, I went to a lecture by Paul Ehrlich, who wrote that book [The Population Bomb] and said, “We have one problem. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", an Honorary Junior Member of the United States Secret Service, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. Their “At Home Dance” encourages fans to roll up the rug and two-step. Paul Shaffer and Vince Gill also perform on this album. Here’s my assessment of what needs to happen: Everybody needs to understand how to take their damn phone and project it on a flatscreen television. Join Facebook to connect with Ray Benson and others you may know. I just knew I was sick. So fuck you! RB: The last line of what I said was, “Don’t believe that right-wing bullshit.” I’d been watching TV and it was the same old bullshit: “Oh we have all the tests we need,” but I couldn’t get a fuckin’ test! Ray Benson is the leader of the legendary Americana band Asleep At The Wheel. Vernon Penner photo from the … Do you see this time as an opportunity for the legalization and recreational sale of cannabis in Texas? Out January 10th. Well, on my computer screen, actually, courtesy of FaceTime. Join us at 11pm ET for a one-hour New Year’s Eve performance on special episode of In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC. My right hamstring was so messed up I couldn’t bend over. Join us at 11pm ET for a one-hour New Year’s Eve performance on special episode of Ray Benson’s “Austin Outer Limits” on SiriusXM Willie's Roadhouse, channel 59! Ray Benson is the former host of the Texas Music Scene TV show. A… Ray Benson has been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Greatest Hits Live - Asleep at the Wheel on AllMusic I’d lost 35 pounds. Ray Benson, co-founder and frontman of country band Asleep at the Wheel, has detailed his battle with coronavirus. He has won multiple Grammys and collaborated with artists from all over the musical landscape, including Willie Nelson and The Chicks. Ray Benson, Asleep at the Wheel, Katie Shore, Lucky Tubb, Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan, Chris O'Connell, Lucky Ocean, Leroy Preston, Christopher Cross, John Prine, Paul Ehrlich, Starlight Ranch, Marijuana Policy Project, Information is power. Ray Benson founded Asleep At The Wheel in 1970. If Ray Benson isn’t onstage, he can likely be found on his bus, talking music with one of his bandmates in Asleep at the Wheel, big fat joint in hand. Asleep at the Wheel and Ray Benson are hosting the first-ever Texas Dance Hall Tour, scheduled from March 20 –26, to raise awareness and funds for Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. “We have aligned with Texas Dance Hall Preservation because dance halls are where we started and where we are still,” said Benson, who has been playing Texas dance halls for 43 years. Ray Benson. The band will perform at Allegany High School on March 8 as part of the Tri-State Concert Association’s Country LIVE! In an interview, Benson said that when he was on the Board of Directors for Austin City Limits, he urged them to start a spin-off show that focused on Texas bands because Austin City Limits had grown beyond its original scope to become an international show. Asleep at the Wheel … Support the free press, so we can support Austin. The Wheel played country standards “Cocaine Blues” and “Truck Drivin’ Man”—as straight as a band could be with a long-haired, barefoot guitarist standing 6-foot-7. Copyright © 1981-2021 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. Four days later, I’m still feeling really bad. For 50 + years, Ray has overseen the release of 25+ albums, countless tours, and has won nine Grammy Awards. Asleep at the Wheel leader Ray Benson announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19, better known as the novel coronavirus.. Benson revealed his diagnosis via … Nobody’s buying physical products, not compared to what it used to be. It’s not so much for me. The only people who want that are the bail bondsmen and attorneys. Photo: Asleep at the Wheel After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. We were playing shows with George Strait for 15,000-20,000 people. I would have stayed silent and said nothing, but it was at the exact same time as [John] Prine came down with it, so everybody thought I was gonna die. The event was a replacement for the planned "Luck Reunion" scheduled to hold this year. Ray Benson and Asleep At the Wheel were American way before Americana was cool. Read More. RB: No. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel. Ray Benson, backstage at ACL Fest in 2018. “I was dizzy, nauseous, and deadbeat tired. The last time the singer was seen publicly was on March 19, when he was the host of a Livestream event. In addition to his work with Asleep at the Wheel, Benson is also an accomplished producer whose credits include albums by Dale Watson, Suzy Bogguss, Aaron Watson, James Hand and Carolyn Wonderland; also single tracks for Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Trace Adkins, Merle Haggard, and Vince Gill. Ray Benson founded Asleep At The Wheel in 1970. Ray Benson is best known as the co-founder of the country music band Asleep at the Wheel.The band, founded in 1969, has won nine Grammy Awards. Ray Benson is best known as the co-founder of the country music band Asleep at the Wheel.The band, founded in 1969, has won nine Grammy Awards. The 69-year-old Grammy-winner announced the news Wednesday night … The Grammy-winning Austin singer-guitarist announced the news on his Facebook page, saying he … Entering the rarified arena of bands lasting a half century uninterrupted, Austin’s Western swing legends planned a year-long celebration. [5], Benson announced to his followers on social media that he was diagnosed with the coronavirus in March, 2020. Son Aaron, 29, edits movie trailers in Los Angeles. Ray Benson is a big guy. Tickets . For God’s sake, Oklahoma has medicinal marijuana!”, GSD&M b-day bash for Asleep at the Wheel leader runs three hours, The unofficial Teapot Party anthem and other half-baked ideas, Ambitions inch higher as the Lege finds common ground on cannabis, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. The band, though; it’s so hard to keep a band together, and financially, it’s tough right now. Homeless.” The truth in that it’s been awful tough in Austin to be a working musician and even a successful road musician. I’m dealing with a very sick person who is dying right now and who’s benefitting from the use of marijuana. It’s too many people.”. Ray Benson. Benson has been presented numerous awards throughout his career. I went to my doctor and I thought I had anemia or something, and she stuck this thing up my nose. It had been a rough two weeks. The group relocated to Austin in 1973 after a suggestion from Willie Nelson. AC: When you yourself got COVID-19, did you do the mental contract tracing, thinking, “Who gave this to me?”. It started as the best year ever. We were also celebrating our 50th year and had all these events planed. Check out the discussion between Terry Lickona and Ray Benson at the legendary Studio 6a to learn this and more! Benson founded Asleep at the Wheel in 1970 along with several friends, including his former Philadelphia schoolmate Lucky Oceans, a pedal steel guitar … Benson said somehow they got the club’s owner to pay them $50 — a low payday even in 1970. His son, Sam, 32, has produced the group’s last two albums and plays guitar on them. I did the Luck [Reunion livestream] on March 19, and on the 20th, I went down. I was dizzy, nauseous, and deadbeat tired. Asleep at the Wheel is a contemporary torchbearer for the subgenre of country music known as Western swing, a more danceable kind of country music that originated in the 1920s. SXSW Music Live: Willie Nelson and Avett Brothers Fête Ray Benson, New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week. The play continues to tour throughout the country. I was on the Marijuana Policy Project board for a number of years. Ray Benson is famous for being the leader of the country band, "Asleep at the Wheel," noted for their Grammy Award-winning exploits.. “I was a child performer. The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel is the 16th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel.Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas and Bradley's Barn in Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on June 5, 2001 by Relentless Nashville, an imprint of Madacy Entertainment Group.The album was issued in the United Kingdom in … His son, Sam, 32, has produced the group’s last two albums and plays guitar on them. By Craig Havighurst. The String – Ray Benson on Asleep At The Wheel at 50. Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has tested positive for COVID-19. Then in October, we had this huge, two-day concert planned, with all these guest stars at the Long Center – outside and inside. Western swing is what Benson calls "jazz with a cowboy hat," is a thrill to hear live, and thanks in large part to the Wheel’s 40+ years of promotion, is a living and creative genre of music today. Ray is the founder of the world-renowned Western swing band - Asleep at the Wheel. Read More. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. For Ray Benson, founder and frontman of legendary country/Western Swing band (and recent Austin City Limits Hall of Fame inductees) Asleep At The Wheel, being on stage is a way of life. Cannabis in Texas February and just figured they had colds this happened all! ’ 7 ” Ray Benson has been the one constant in Asleep at the Wheel bad! Work with executive producer Tom Hoitsma to host the Texas Music Scene TV, which showcases bands! Na do group ’ s owner to pay them $ 50 — a low payday even in 1970 and for. For Asleep at the Wheel will be playing next sense, having all those opportunities go away a working and! 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It’S been awful tough in Austin to be a working musician and even successful.

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