Ray Benson
Ray Benson (born March 16, 1951) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and bandleader renowned for founding and leading the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel since 1970.[1] Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Benson taught himself guitar at age nine and began performing publicly by age eleven with his sister in a folk group called The Four Gs.[1] He developed a passion for Western swing music in his teens, purchasing his first Stetson hat at fifteen, which influenced his lifelong dedication to the genre.[1] In 1970, while in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Benson co-founded Asleep at the Wheel with Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston, initially blending Western swing, honky-tonk, and jazz elements.[1][2] The band relocated to Austin, Texas, in 1974 at the encouragement of Willie Nelson and Doug Sahm following a pivotal 1973 performance at the Armadillo World Headquarters, marking the start of their deep ties to the Texas music scene.[1][3] Under Benson's leadership as the sole original member, Asleep at the Wheel has released over 25 albums, toured extensively across the United States and Europe, and evolved through more than 100 musicians while maintaining a focus on reviving Western swing pioneered by Bob Wills.[1][4] In 2025, the band marked 55 years since its formation and 50 years in Texas with the release of their 32nd album, Riding High in Texas, featuring collaborations with artists like Billy Strings and Lyle Lovett.[2][3] Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have earned nine Grammy Awards, including wins for albums like The Swingin' Best of Asleep at the Wheel (1988) and Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (2016), along with 28 nominations.[5][1] He received the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 and was named Texas State Musician in 2004.[1][4] Beyond music, Benson owns Bismeaux Studios and Bismeaux Records in Austin, co-founded the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, and hosts the television program Texas Music Scene.[1] He also co-wrote and starred in the 2005 multimedia play A Ride with Bob: The Bob Wills Musical and published his autobiography, Comin' Right at Ya!: How an 'Off-the-Wall' Jew from Philly Brought Western Swing to Austin and Beyond, in 2015.[4][1] As an advocate for musicians' health, Benson serves on the board of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.[4]Early life
Upbringing
Ray Benson, born Ray Benson Seifert on March 16, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up in the suburb of Wyndmoor in a Reform Jewish family of Eastern European immigrant heritage.[6] Little public information exists about his parents, though the family emphasized musical education, believing that each child should learn at least one instrument.[6] During his childhood in 1950s and 1960s Philadelphia, Benson was exposed to the city's vibrant and diverse music scene, which included rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and early country influences emerging from local radio and live performances.[1] At age nine, he taught himself to play guitar by repeatedly listening to and replicating the jingle from a Ballantine beer television advertisement, marking an early spark of self-directed musical curiosity.[1] He attended Springfield High School and later the William Penn Charter School, a preparatory institution in the Philadelphia area. In his late teens, following high school graduation in 1969 and a brief relocation to the New York City area where he worked as an apprentice film editor, Benson attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he continued to explore his interests amid the countercultural shifts of the era.[7][3] This period of geographic and personal transition laid the groundwork for his deepening engagement with music.Musical beginnings
Ray Benson displayed an early aptitude for music, beginning with piano lessons arranged by his parents before transitioning to guitar around age 9. He taught himself the instrument by repeatedly playing along with a jingle from a Ballantine beer commercial on television, marking the start of his self-directed musical education.[1][7] By age eleven, he began performing publicly with his sister in a folk group called The Four Gs.[1] During his high school years at Springfield High School and William Penn Charter School in the Philadelphia suburbs, Benson's interests expanded into folk, country, rock and roll, and jazz genres. Influenced by the diverse sounds available on radio and records in the 1960s, he joined school ensembles, playing bass fiddle in the orchestra and jazz band at his mother's suggestion, as the instrument was in steady demand for groups. He also participated in marching bands and a Dixieland jazz ensemble on tuba, as well as a bossa nova group, which broadened his exposure to rhythmic and improvisational styles.[8][9] As a teenager, Benson discovered Western swing through the recordings of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, a style blending country, jazz, and big band elements that profoundly shaped his artistic direction despite his urban East Coast upbringing; at age fifteen, he purchased his first Stetson hat, signaling his growing dedication to the genre. This exposure came via radio broadcasts and vinyl collections, igniting a passion for the genre's energetic fiddle-driven sound and vocal harmonies.[1][10] Following high school graduation in 1969, Benson relocated to the New York City area for work as an apprentice film editor on a documentary about Martin Luther King Jr., but he continued immersing himself in music through self-taught guitar practice and informal jam sessions with local musicians in suburban Westchester County. These pre-professional experiences in the late 1960s, often in casual house parties and small gatherings, allowed him to experiment with country and jazz fusions, refining his guitar skills and stage presence.[3]Musical career
Founding Asleep at the Wheel
Ray Benson, originally from Philadelphia, formed Asleep at the Wheel in 1970 while farm-sitting in Paw Paw, West Virginia, alongside high school friends Reuben "Lucky Oceans" Gosfield on pedal steel guitar and Leroy Preston on rhythm guitar and drums.[11][12] The band adopted its name after co-founder Lucky Oceans suggested "Asleep at the Wheel" following a trip to the outhouse. and immediately centered its sound on reviving Western swing, drawing from influences like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to blend country, jazz, and big band elements.[2][11] The group began performing locally and regionally in West Virginia, facing initial challenges such as limited venues and financial instability as they honed their improvisational style amid a landscape dominated by rock and folk acts.[13] In 1971, encouraged by the burgeoning hippie-country scene, Benson and his bandmates relocated to Oakland, California, where they gigged in the Bay Area alongside acts like Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, gradually building a reputation for their energetic live shows despite lineup flux and the demands of constant touring.[11][2] In 1973, after opening for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen at the Armadillo World Headquarters and receiving encouragement from Willie Nelson and Doug Sahm, the band relocated to Austin, Texas, in 1974, drawn by the "cosmic cowboy" movement.[11][13] In Austin, Asleep at the Wheel embraced the state's rich Western swing heritage, integrating local Texas influences and steadily cultivating a dedicated following through consistent performances at key venues, which helped solidify their place in the progressive country scene.[2][11]Key projects and tributes
Asleep at the Wheel's debut album, Comin' Right at Ya!, released in 1973 on United Artists Records, marked the band's entry into the national music scene and featured a blend of Western swing covers and original material produced by Tommy Allsup with contributions from fiddler Johnny Gimble.[14][11] The album showcased Ray Benson's lead vocals and guitar alongside the ensemble's energetic interpretations of classics like "Take Me Back to Tulsa," establishing their commitment to reviving the Western swing style pioneered by Bob Wills.[2] Their follow-up, Texas Gold, issued in 1975 on Capitol Records, built on this foundation with a mix of honky-tonk and swing elements, including the band's first Top 10 country single, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read," which highlighted Benson's songwriting and the group's polished live sound honed through relentless performances.[15][11] This release solidified Asleep at the Wheel's presence in the progressive country movement of Austin while emphasizing their role in bridging traditional Western swing with contemporary audiences.[16] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the band played a pivotal part in the Western swing revival by reinterpreting big-band jazz-infused country tunes, as exemplified by the 1988 Epic Records album Western Standard Time, which earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Sugarfoot Rag" and featured upbeat covers like "Chattanooga Choo Choo" that captured the genre's playful energy.[17][11] This project, part of a broader effort to honor Bob Wills' legacy, helped introduce Western swing to younger listeners through radio play and festival appearances, reinforcing the style's vitality beyond its 1940s heyday.[18] A landmark tribute came with the 1999 DreamWorks album Ride with Bob, a double-disc set recreating 22 Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys hits, featuring guest artists such as Clint Black on "Bob Wills Is Still the King" and Lyle Lovett on "Talk I Used to Love," which won two Grammy Awards and sold over 400,000 copies while inspiring a subsequent musical theater production.[19][11] The album's collaborative approach, involving over 40 musicians, underscored Asleep at the Wheel's custodianship of Western swing traditions.[2] The band's evolution during this era involved frequent lineup changes, with over 100 musicians passing through since 1970, including the departure of co-founder Lucky Oceans to Australia in 1980 and vocalist Chris O'Connell in the mid-1980s, yet Ray Benson remained the steadfast leader guiding the ensemble.[16][11] Despite these shifts, Asleep at the Wheel maintained rigorous touring schedules—averaging 200 shows annually in the 1970s and scaling to about 130 by the early 2000s—performing at venues from Texas dance halls to international festivals and opening for acts like George Strait, ensuring the genre's grassroots endurance.[2][16]Collaborations and recent work
In 2009, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel collaborated with Willie Nelson on the album Willie and the Wheel, which re-recorded several of Nelson's classic songs in a Western swing arrangement, produced by Benson and featuring the band's signature big band sound with horns and fiddle.[20] The project, released on Bismeaux Records, highlighted Benson's role in blending Nelson's outlaw country roots with traditional Texas swing influences, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album. Following this, Asleep at the Wheel continued their tradition of tribute projects with Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 2015, a 22-track collection that built on earlier homages like the 1999 Ride with Bob by enlisting guest artists such as Willie Nelson, George Strait, and the Avett Brothers to reinterpret Wills' catalog in fresh Western swing interpretations.[21] Benson curated the album to honor the King of Western Swing while incorporating modern collaborators, resulting in a release that peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.[22] The band's activities in the late 2010s and early 2020s included preparations for their 50th anniversary milestone, marked by a year-long celebration that began with a special retrospective episode of Austin City Limits in October 2020, featuring archival performances and interviews with Benson reflecting on five decades of the group.[23] This period was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Benson contracted the virus in March 2020 but recovered fully after a two-week quarantine, allowing the band to adapt through virtual appearances and online content while postponing live events.[24] The milestone culminated in the 2021 album Half a Hundred Years, produced by Buddy Miller, which gathered past and present band members alongside guests like Lyle Lovett and Lee Ann Womack for original tracks and covers celebrating their longevity.[25] In 2025, Asleep at the Wheel released Riding High in Texas, their 32nd studio album and first major project since the anniversary collection, commemorating 55 years since the band's 1970 founding with covers of iconic Texas songs including "Long Tall Texan" featuring Lyle Lovett and the title track with Billy Strings.[26] Benson described the album as a tribute to their adopted home state, emphasizing Western swing arrangements of tunes like "Texas in My Soul" to capture the spirit of Texas music heritage.[27] The release supports an ongoing tour schedule, with dates extending into 2026 that include performances at venues like the Inn of the Mountain Gods and Blinn College, maintaining the band's tradition of live shows that have sustained their career over five decades.[28]Solo career
Recordings
Ray Benson released his debut solo album, Beyond Time, in 2003 on Koch Records, marking a departure from his band work while drawing on his western swing influences through a mix of original compositions and covers in country and swing styles.[29] The album features tracks like "Annabelle" and "Hands of Time," showcasing Benson's guitar work and vocal delivery in a laid-back exploration of Americana roots.[30] In 2014, Benson issued A Little Piece on his own Bismeaux Productions label, an introspective collection blending original songs with covers that reflect on life's challenges and joys, including a duet with Willie Nelson on "It Ain't You."[31] The record shifts toward country and folk elements, with guest appearances from artists like Asleep at the Wheel members, emphasizing themes of resilience and tribute, such as a nod to J.J. Cale.[32] In 2024, Benson released Swingin' and Skankin' on Tafari Records, a fusion of Western swing and reggae recorded in Jamaica with local musicians, featuring covers like "On the Road Again" and "Route 66" alongside originals such as "Easy Snappin'/Easy Skankin'."[33] The album highlights Benson's genre-blending versatility, produced with reggae influences to create an irie take on classic swing rhythms.[34] Benson also contributed to instrumental production music projects in 2012, composing tracks for Dirty Gritty Raspy (Instrumentals) and Popcycles (Instrumentals), which explore gritty blues-rock and indie pop-rock sounds, respectively, without vocals to highlight melodic guitar lines and rhythms. These releases demonstrate his versatility in crafting background music for media, rooted in his longstanding interest in swing and diverse genres.Other contributions
Benson co-wrote the 1973 Asleep at the Wheel single "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" with bandmates LeRoy Preston and Chris Frayne, a track that became one of the group's early hits blending Western swing with country storytelling.[35] He has additional songwriting credits on Asleep at the Wheel recordings, contributing lyrics and melodies that emphasize the genre's rhythmic drive and narrative flair.[36] In his production work, Benson helmed three major tribute albums to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, including Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (1993), Ride with Bob (1999), and Still the King: Honoring the Legacy of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys (2015), each featuring collaborations with prominent country artists to revive Western swing classics.[37] Beyond these, he produced recordings for artists like Dale Watson on the 2017 tribute single "Feelin' Haggard," where Benson also provided vocals and guitar.[38] His guest appearances include performances on tribute projects such as "Misery and Gin" for the 2023 A Tribute to Merle Haggard series, showcasing his interpretive style on Haggard's repertoire.[39] Benson has actively mentored emerging musicians in the Austin scene, serving on the board of directors for Young Voices of Austin since 2010 to support youth vocal programs rooted in Texas traditions.[40] He conducts Western swing workshops, including the 2015 instructional video Learn Western Swing Guitar from a Legend, which teaches techniques from the genre's golden era through hands-on lessons.[41] In 2025, Benson contributed to Texas music compilations by curating selections of genre-defining tracks for discussions on Western swing's evolution, as featured in his guest spot on the Texas Standard podcast.[42] He also appeared on Texas Matters, sharing historical insights into the style's Texas origins during the band's 50th anniversary reflections.[37] These efforts, along with podcast episodes on the Hippies & Cowboys series, highlight his role in preserving and educating on the genre's history.[43]Acting career
Film roles
Ray Benson's film roles have primarily been small but memorable appearances that often draw on his background as a musician and bandleader. In the 1993 thriller The Vanishing, directed by George Sluizer, Benson portrayed a musician, contributing to the film's atmospheric scenes with his authentic presence as a performer. His role aligned with the story's themes of disappearance and everyday life, where musical elements underscore the narrative tension.[44] Benson appeared in the 1991 TV movie Wild Texas Wind as Ben Rayson.[44] Benson appeared in the 1995 film Cadillac Ranch as Lou.[44] Benson appeared in the 1999 action film Universal Soldier: The Return, directed by Mic Rodgers, playing a band member in a supporting capacity.[45] The role involved performing in a musical sequence, reflecting his real-life expertise as the frontman of Asleep at the Wheel, and added a brief country music flavor to the sci-fi action context.[44] Benson appeared in the 1999 Bob Wills tribute documentary The Making of a Ride With Bob, which he co-produced and which chronicles the creation of the Asleep at the Wheel album honoring the Western swing legend. As the band's leader, Benson appears in the documentary providing insights into the project's development, emphasizing his dedication to preserving Western swing heritage.[11] In 2002, Benson made a cameo appearance in Robert Duvall's Assassination Tango, portraying a minor character in the tango-infused drama set in Buenos Aires. His brief role complemented the film's exploration of passion and escape, with Duvall directing and starring as the lead hitman.[44] Benson appeared in the 2005 film Self Medicated as Andrew's Father.[44] Benson appeared in the 2018 film When Angels Sing as Salt Lick Pit Master.[44] In 2025, Benson appeared as himself in the documentary Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies.[46]Composing and production
Ray Benson composed incidental music for the 2005 musical production A Ride with Bob: The Bob Wills Musical, which he co-wrote with Anne Rapp, incorporating Western swing elements drawn from Bob Wills' iconic fiddle tunes and songs like Waylon Jennings' "Bob Wills Is Still the King."[47] The production, starring Benson and featuring Asleep at the Wheel, premiered in Austin, Texas, and toured extensively, blending narrative storytelling with live performances of Western swing standards to celebrate Wills' life and legacy.[11] Benson also served as producer for the accompanying 1999 soundtrack album Ride with Bob: A Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, overseeing recordings by Asleep at the Wheel and guest artists such as Vince Gill and Dwight Yoakam, which earned two Grammy Awards for its faithful recreation of Wills' style.[48] Additionally, he contributed to the production of the documentary film The Making of a Ride with Bob, a behind-the-scenes look at the album's creation that received the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award in 2000.[11] In film scoring, Benson provided music contributions to Universal Soldier: The Return (1999), where he wrote and performed the original song "I Don't Want to Be Alone Anymore," featured in the soundtrack alongside the film's action sequences.[49] Benson has lent his voice to minor roles in music history documentaries and specials, including interviews and narration in Ken Burns' PBS series Country Music (2019), where he discussed the influence of Western swing pioneers like Bob Wills on the genre's evolution.[1]Awards and honors
Grammy Awards
Ray Benson has garnered 9 Grammy Awards throughout his career, all achieved with Asleep at the Wheel, alongside a total of 31 nominations as of 2025.[5][2] These accolades highlight his enduring influence in preserving Western swing and traditional country music through innovative tributes and collaborations. Notable wins include the 1988 Grammy for Best Traditional Country Performance for The Swingin' Best of Asleep at the Wheel.[50] The 2000 Grammy for Best Recording Package for Ride with Bob, Asleep at the Wheel's all-star tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, which featured guest artists like the Dixie Chicks and earned multiple nominations that year.[51] In 2005, the band won Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Billy in the Low Ground" from their album Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo.[52] For Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (2016), they received Grammys for Best Historical Album and Best Recording Package.[53] Among the nominations, Asleep at the Wheel received recognition in the Best Americana Album category in 2010 for Willie and the Wheel, a collaborative project with Willie Nelson. More recently, in 2023, Benson and the band were nominated for Best Americana Performance for "There You Go Again," a track featuring Lyle Lovett from their album New Routes, underscoring their continued relevance in contemporary Americana.[54]Other recognitions
In 2004, Benson was named the official Texas State Musician by the Texas Legislature.[55] Benson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Music Association in 1996, recognizing his foundational contributions to Texas music as the leader of Asleep at the Wheel.[56] In 2002, he was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame, honoring his enduring impact on the local music scene.[57] The Americana Music Association presented Benson and Asleep at the Wheel with its Lifetime Achievement Award in Performance in 2009, celebrating over three decades of preserving and innovating Western swing traditions.[58] At the 2007 Austin Music Awards, Benson was named Songwriter of the Year by the Austin Chronicle, acknowledging his songcraft in blending country, jazz, and swing elements.[58] In 2011, the Texas Legislative Conference named him Texan of the Year for his cultural influence through music and multimedia endeavors. That same year, he received the Texas Medal of the Arts in the Multimedia category from the Texas Cultural Trust, highlighting his multifaceted artistic achievements including composing, producing, and multimedia projects like the play A Ride with Bob.[59]Discography
Asleep at the Wheel Albums
Ray Benson, as the founder and leader of Asleep at the Wheel, has guided the band through over 30 studio albums since 1970, blending western swing with country, jazz, and big band influences. Key releases under his leadership include the band's debut and several tribute projects that highlight his commitment to preserving Bob Wills' legacy, as well as collaborations that revitalized the group's commercial presence.[2]| Album | Year | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comin' Right at Ya! | 1973 | United Artists Records | The band's debut studio album, recorded in Nashville and featuring covers of western swing classics like "Take Me Back to Tulsa." It established their sound but did not chart on major Billboard lists.[60] |
| Ride with Bob | 1999 | DreamWorks Records | A tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, featuring guest appearances by artists such as Dwight Yoakam and Lyle Lovett; it peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, marking a commercial resurgence for the band.[48][61] |
| Willie and the Wheel | 2009 | Bismeaux Records | A collaboration with Willie Nelson, reinterpreting western swing standards; it peaked at No. 4 on the UK Official Country Artists Albums Chart and No. 13 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album.[62][63] |
| Riding High in Texas | 2025 | Bismeaux Records | The band's 32nd studio album, celebrating 50 years in Texas with tracks like "Riding High in Texas" featuring Billy Strings; released in August 2025, it emphasizes their Lone Star roots without initial chart data available.[64] |
Solo Albums
Benson's solo work allows him to explore beyond western swing, incorporating blues, jazz, and personal reflections, often with notable guest artists. His releases maintain his signature guitar and vocal style while venturing into new thematic territory.| Album | Year | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Time | 2003 | Audium/Koch Records | Benson's debut solo album, an eclectic mix of standards and originals like "El Paso," featuring guests including Dolly Parton on "Time After Time" and Delbert McClinton; it explores timeless themes and earned a Grammy nomination.[30] |
| A Little Piece | 2014 | Bismeaux Records | A reflective collection on life, loss, and aging, with covers like Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927"; guests include Willie Nelson on "It Ain't You" and Brad Paisley on a Red Foley tribute, emphasizing personal storytelling over band traditions.[66][67][32] |