Asleep At The Wheel

Asleep at the Wheel is an Austin, Texas based Western swing band, winner of nine Grammy Awards. The name is derived from the expression "asleep at the wheel" which means one has fallen asleep while driving a vehicle, or "behind the wheel". It can also describe someone who is blissfully unaware of a dangerous situation. More than 80 performers have been a part of the band over the course of their career, but the core band members are Ray Benson (lead guitar and vocals), Jason Roberts (fiddle), David Sanger (drums), David Earl Miller (bass), John Whitby (piano), Elizabeth McQueen (acoustic guitar and vocals), and Eddie Rivers (steel guitar and sax). Asleep at the Wheel was created in Paw Paw, West Virginia in 1970. They moved to California to get a record deal, then relocated to Austin in 1973, at the suggestion of Willie Nelson. Hit singles soon followed, including "Choo Choo Ch’Boogie", "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", "One O'Clock Jump" and more. In 1977, they were named "Best Country & Western Band" by Rolling Stone magazine, as well as "Touring Band of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music. The band made an appearance in the 1978 film Roadie, which also featured Meat Loaf, Blondie and Art Carney. The band continued to record and tour to great success within the genre, racking up nine Grammy wins. A 1993 tribute album featuring performances from Garth Brooks, George Strait and Vince Gill (Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills, Liberty Records) went high on the charts, introducing many new fans to the band's music. The album earned two more Grammys. In October 2004 "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" featured on fictional country music station K-ROSE in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The Spring of 2005 brought a new adventure into the legendary act: Theatre. A Ride With Bob is the first-ever play about the life and music of Bob Wills. Written by Ray Benson and Anne Rapp, and performed by twenty-five actors and musicians, with several dozen costume changes on a colorful theatrical set, 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. In 2007 The Wheel released their first album of new material in 7 years entitled "Reinventing the Wheel." The first single off of the record was "Am I Right (Or Amarillo)" written by Jason Roberts. The same year The Wheel released their second Christmas album called "Santa Loves to Boogie." In 2008 The Wheel released their first pops CD recorded with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Feb. 3, 2009 saw the release of "Willie and the Wheel" produced by the late Jerry Wexler.