Ray Benson
Ray Benson (born March 16, 1951) is the
front man of the Western swing band Asleep At The Wheel, as well as an actor, and voice actor.
In 1970, Benson, a young Jewish native of Philadelphia, formed Asleep at the Wheel with friends Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston. The group relocated to Austin in 1973 at the urging of Willie Nelson. Coincidentally, during Benson's first week in Texas he had the treasured chance to meet the revered King of Western Swing Bob Wills on the day before Bob suffered a massive stroke just after he had recorded his final album For The Last Time: Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys.
Since then, the group has released more than 20
albums and earned 9 Grammy Awards. 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 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.
In 2003, Benson released his first solo album entitled Beyond Time.
Benson is also a founding member of the Rhythm & 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. 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).
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.
Later he had the opportunity to work with executive producer Tom Hoitsma to host the Texas Music Scene TV, which showcases Texas bands.
In the Spring of 2005, Ray Benson and Asleep At The Wheel began the production of A Ride With Bob a stage musical that follows the
travels of legendary singer/songwriter Bob Wills. A Ride With Bob includes the live performance of 15 of Wills' most well-known songs
in a plot that interweaves Ray Benson's present day with various stages in Wills' storied career. The play continues to tour throughout
Texas and Oklahoma.
Benson has been presented numerous awards throughout
his career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for A
Ride With Bob, Honorary Junior Membership of the United States Secret Service, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas
Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, the Austin Chronicle recognized Benson for Male Vocals, Band of the Year, Songwriter,
Record Producer, and for the Western Swing Genre. 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. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music
field. Ray Benson has been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years. Ray Benson has earned 9 Grammy
awards in 4 different decades.
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. Nelson was always heavily inspired since his childhood by Western Swing legends Bob Wills & Milton Brown and had decided to tour with the Benson's band in 2007. Paul Shaffer and Vince Gill also performed on this Grammy Award winning album.