Ray Benson (b. 16 March 1951, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; guitar/vocals), Christine O’Connell (b. 21 March 1953, Williamsport, Maryland, USA; vocals), Lucky Oceans (b. Reuben Gosfield, 22 April 1951, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; steel guitar), Floyd Domino (piano) and Leroy Preston (rhythm guitar/drums) formed the core of the classic line-up of this protean western swing-styled unit. Although initially based in West Virginia, the band later moved to Austin, Texas, where they found a more receptive audience in the wake of their infectious debut album. They had a US Top 10 single in 1973 with ‘The Letter That Johnny Walker Read’ and won a Grammy for their version of Count Basie’s ‘One O’Clock Jump’.
Despite an undoubted live appeal and an appearance in the rock movie Roadie, Asleep At The Wheel’s anachronistic style has hampered a more widespread success. Led throughout by frontman Ray Benson, the band has continued to record and tour on a regular basis. The Bob Wills tribute album in 1993 featured several guest artists, including Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. A similar affair appeared in 1999, with contributions from Mark Chesnutt, Lee Ann Womack, Dwight Yoakam and even the Manhattan Transfer. In 2000, Asleep At The Wheel set about re-recording a number of their classics, with the results finally appearing in 2003 on Take Me Back To Tulsa. Later in the year the band released an excellent concept album about the Alamo.
