Asleep at the Wheel Rolls on with Western Swing

June 30, 2004

“Asleep at the Wheel” is a special study by the government investigating the EPA’s failure to regulate pollution standards on diesel trucks. There is also “Asleep at the Wheel,” a scientific study researching causes of people falling asleep while driving. Those are government subsidized studies and are4-6 very dry and boring. Then there is the research work of musicologist Ray Benson and his 35-year pursuit of mastering the art of western swing music. Now this project has won several major awards and is worth further investigation.
Benson and Asleep at the Wheel will perform firsthand their findings Tuesday, July 6 at the National Cherry Festival Bayside Entertainment Stage.
Never heard of Ray Benson or Asleep at the Wheel?
Benson and the band have 34 Grammy nominations, numerous hits and a fan base that ranges from Bob Dylan to Van Morrison with Willie Nelson in between. But despite their numerous hits their music isn’t played on mainstream radio and Benson just doesn’t understand why.
“We are a dance band and our music is as danceable as any,” said Benson.

SWINGING BAND
Despite their lack of appeal on popular radio Benson and Asleep have become a musical institution especially in the world of western swing. Since forming in 1970 the group has amassed numerous hits — almost as many as members of the band. To date Asleep at the Wheel has had over 80 members.
Some of those hits include “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens,” “Get Your Kicks on Route 66,” and “My Baby Thinks She is a Train,” to name of few. It was having all these hits that got Benson thinking the group was missing something.
“One day I was sitting in my office reading the sales reports on Asleep at the Wheel,” said Benson. “And I looked at all the ‘Best Of’ Asleep at the Wheel albums, of which there are many, and none of them contained all of the songs that are our top requested songs night after night on the road. Every night they ask for certain songs, and there’s not a package with that in it. So that’s what we set out to do.”
The result was the 2001 release of “The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel,” that includes the group’s 14 most requested songs when they are out on the road.

BIG BENSON
While membership in Asleep continues to change, Benson has remained the one personnel constant. The 6’ 7” guitar-slinger with his patent 10-gallon hat is easily one of music’s most recognizable characters. Benson has enjoyed collaboration with many outside of Asleep and last year he released his first solo CD, “Beyond Time.” The CD would garner him two Grammy nominations.
“I didn’t win any this year,” said Benson. “I lost 25 times at the Grammys so I have learned to become a gracious loser.”
Many artists would be willing to take those 25 loses considering that Benson has nine wins at the Grammys. But for Benson it isn’t about the awards, it is about keeping the music alive. Born and raised in Philadelphia, a long way from the home of western swing, Benson has been successful in keeping going what Bob Wills got started and made famous.
“Every time that I figured I was going to quit, we’d have a wonderful, incredible show where the people were so appreciative that we were doing this music that it’s like, ‘Well, hell — this beats working, so why not keep doing it?’ Honestly, I would like to see this go on forever,” said Benson. “If I’m not here, I think there’s some capable hands being developed right now. My son plays guitar and sings, so you never know. We have guys in the band that weren’t even born when Asleep started, and they grew up on Asleep at the Wheel, George Strait, and Bob Wills records. Western Swing ain’t going away.”

RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
For Benson the expressive nature of the music is what he feels has maintained its popularity.
“This is improvisational music, which I think is the whole ball of wax, because that’s where the rubber really meets the road — and it’s why we play it,” said Benson. “I think it’s interesting to listen to updated versions of what people do, hearing how they have evolved. People change, and I love to have the luxury of having a career this long to do it. Part of the impetus was touring with Bob Dylan a few years ago. Every night, Dylan would do those damn songs a little differently and it made it very exciting to see where they were going to go each night.”
As for that other Bob, Asleep at the Wheel honored Wills in 1999 with the quadruple Grammy winning CD “Ride With Bob,” that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill and a host of others joining Asleep on 16 Wills classics.
“The thing about Bob Wills’ music is that it was big enough to include blues and jazz and swing and country,” said Benson. “Almost anything you could think of fit with what he was doing. And that’s something we’ve always tried to do in Asleep at the Wheel.”
Regardless of your musical persuasions, Asleep at the Wheel is sure to entertain the whole family. Asleep at the Wheel brings the tradition and heritage of one American’s great art forms, western swing, to the stage on July 6. All you need to bring is your dancing shoes. Cowboy boots and hats are optional.
Cherry Festival Lineup:
T
he National Cherry Festival has been committed to bringing family entertainment to the community since its inception. A goal of festival organizers is to offer most events at no charge or with a nominal entrance fee. The Bayside Entertainment stage will present a week of musical entertainment with a normal ticket value of $175 for only $3. With the purchase of a Festival Commemorative Pin unlimited access will be afforded to pin wearers to see the following acts.
•Saturday July 3: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
•Sunday July 4: Encore Society
•Monday July 5: Teen Lip Sync Contest/Local Bands
•Tuesday July 6: Asleep at The Wheel
•Wednesday July 7: “1964” The Tribute
•Thursday July 8: Eddie Money
•Friday July 9: Blues night with Gregg Rolie
(vocalist for Santana, Journey)
•Saturday July 10: United States Air Force Band & Fireworks