Asleep at the Wheel
Texas western-swing institution with more than fifty years keeping Bob Wills's songbook alive through Grammy-stacked musicianship; a Zilker rite.
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About Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a western swing band from Austin, TX, formed in 1969.
Asleep at the Wheel was founded in 1969 in Paw Paw, West Virginia, by Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans, both from Philadelphia, who soon found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC. Commander Cody invited the band to East Oakland, California, in 1970, and a mention by Van Morrison in Rolling Stone helped them land a deal with United Artists.
Willie Nelson invited the band to Austin in 1974, and it has been based there ever since. Guitarist and singer Ray Benson has been the constant through decades of shifting line-ups, which have typically included fiddle, steel guitar and piano alongside the rhythm section.
Their breakthrough came with the 1975 album Texas Gold and its top-ten country hit "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", still their highest-charting single. The band has since charted more than twenty-one singles, released over twenty albums, and appeared a record ten times on Austin City Limits, alongside film roles in Roadie and Wild Texas Wind.
Their repertoire centres on western swing, particularly the music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, extended with honky-tonk, jump blues and swing-era standards. The band has recorded several albums devoted to Wills's catalogue, has won nine Grammy Awards, and their live sets place a good deal of emphasis on instrumental soloing.
Personnel has turned over repeatedly: co-founder Lucky Oceans left in the 1980s, longtime vocalist Chris O'Connell departed in 1986, and Rosie Flores joined in 1997, one of many singers to pass through the band's ranks over five decades.
Western swing
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Questions about Asleep at the Wheel
Where is Asleep at the Wheel from?
Asleep at the Wheel is from Austin, TX.
Who is in Asleep at the Wheel?
Asleep at the Wheel is Ray Benson, Tim Alexander, Richard Casanova, Floyd Domino, Michael Francis, Larry Franklin, Danny Levin (fiddle, mandolin), Elizabeth McQueen, John Michael Whitby, David Miller, Eddie Rivers, Jason Roberts, David Sanger, Katie Shore (fiddle, background vocals) and Haydn Vitera. Former members include Lucky Oceans, Johnny Nicholas, Emily Gimble and Bobby Black.
When did Asleep at the Wheel form?
Asleep at the Wheel formed in Paw Paw in 1969.
What was Asleep at the Wheel's first album?
Asleep at the Wheel's first album was Comin’ Right at Ya (1973). The latest is Riding High in Texas (2025).
Is Asleep at the Wheel on tour?
Yes. Asleep at the Wheel has 2 shows listed, from Austin, TX on Dec 16, 2026 to San Antonio, TX on Dec 20, 2026.
What kind of music does Asleep at the Wheel play?
Asleep at the Wheel plays western swing.
What festivals has Asleep at the Wheel played before?
Asleep at the Wheel has played Austin City Limits 2026.