Last update: Thursday 08th of January 2009


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 by 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: theater. 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. The play has been selling out theaters across the states and even had President Bush and the First Lady attend a performance at the Kennedy Center in 2006.

Asleep at the Wheel continue to rack up the awards, winning 6 Austin Music Awards for 2006. The awards included: Band of the Year, Best Country Band, Best Acoustic Guitar, Best Producer, Best Songwriter and Best Male Vocals.

Ray Benson donates some of his extra time to the Sims Foundation, HAMM, and The Grammy Foundation.

Discography

  • Reinventing the Wheel (Bismeaux) 2006
  • Santa Loves to Boogie (Bismeaux) 2006
  • The Best of Asleep at the Wheel On the Road (Madacy) 2006
  • Live From Austin, TX (New West) 2006
  • Live at Ebbet's Field 1973 (Bismeaux) 2004
  • Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (Smith Music Group) 2003
  • Remembers the Alamo (Shout! Factory) 2003
  • Hang Up My Spurs (Cracker Barrel Heritage) 2002
  • Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel (Bismeaux) 2001
  • Ride With Bob (DreamWorks Records, Nashville) 1999
  • Merry Texas Christmas, Y'all! (High Street) 1997
  • Back to The Future Now...LIVE in Las Vegas (Sony) 1997
  • Swing Time (Sony) 1995 re-release
  • The Wheel Keeps On Rollin' (Capitol) 1995
  • Still Swingin' (Liberty) 1994 boxed set
  • Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys (Liberty) 1993
  • Route 66 (Liberty/Capitol) 1992 single
  • Live & Kickin' (Arista) 1992
  • Keepin' Me Up Nights (Arista) 1990
  • Western Standard Time (Epic/CBS) 1988
  • 10 (Epic/CBS) 1987
  • Wide Awake! Live in Oklahoma (Phantom) 1986 import
  • Pasture Prime (MCA-DOT, Demon, Stoney Plains) 1985
  • Drivin' (K-TEL) 1980 re-release
  • Framed (MCA) 1980
  • Served Live (Capitol / Acadia UK) 1979 import
  • Collision Course (Capitol / Acadia UK) 1978 import
  • The Wheel (Capitol / Acadia UK) 1977 import
  • Wheelin' And Dealin' (Capitol / Acadia UK) 1976 import
  • Texas Gold (Capitol / Koch / Acadia UK) 1975
  • Asleep At The Wheel (Epic/CBS) 1974
  • Comin' Right At Ya (United Artists / Koch) 1973


Asleep At The Wheel Mp3 Downloads

Download audio files (mp3 and wma) with Asleep At The Wheel Songs using these download websites. The list will be updated perciodically.

  • USEnext - high speed music downloads, try the next generation download service

  • Music ETC - unlimited music, videos and sofwtare downloads for members




  • Asleep At The Wheel Ringtones

    You can get any Asleep At The Wheel ringtone you like (realtone, polyphonic, mono tone, mp3 ringtone) using the next service:

    Asleep At The Wheel Ringtones

    Pick Carrier, Confirm your Phone number and choose the ringtones you want to receive


    Asleep At The Wheel Music Videos

    Music Plate music videos with myspace codes, see Asleep At The Wheel music videos section search for music videos and get your myspace music code.


    Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics

    Get full Asleep At The Wheel lyrics on music plate Asleep At The Wheel lyrics page. Use the search option if the target page is not correctly displayed.




    Asleep At The Wheel in the news

    iPhone Nano rumours of a cut down cheaper version of th eiphone based on a Nano , may have a scroll wheel and ship by Christmas 2007

    We have done the research and now it can be yours. Learn which RV companies received top ratings in their categories. Learn which models and brands are the most popular within each RV manufacturer.

    A patent is been filed by Apple that allows users to dial a phone from Apple's iPod wheel. This is the biggest announcement of a product brought to us from US patent office and JP Morgan.






    Music Plate Sections:

    Music Artists and Bands
    Ringtones
    Lyrics
    Music Videos


    Also on Music Plate

    Zoobombs
    Eltro
    I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody s Business
    Conjunto Atardecer
    Dave Matthews
    Despised Icon
    LJ
    Nickel Creek
    The Street Cleaners
    The Datsuns
    Stellastarr
    4th Avenue Jones
    Take 5
    Keith Urban
    Outlawz
    Stars On 54
    Phunk Addict Crew
    Doble Filo
    Vengaboys
    Tiesto
    David Bowie
    White Stripes



    Music Plate - The online music resource

    eXTReMe Tracker