Asleep at the wheel

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Asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the Wheel in April 2008
Asleep at the Wheel in April 2008
General information
Genre (s) Country
founding 1969
Website www.asleepatthewheel.com
Founding members
Ray Benson
Leroy Preston
Reuben Gosfield
Current occupation
Vocals, guitar
 Ray Benson
Drums
 Leroy Preston
Steel guitar
 Reuben Gosfield
Vocals, guitar
 Chris O'Donnel
Danny Levin
Floyd Domino
former members
Drums
 Fran Christina
Pat Ryan
Guitar, mandolin
John Nicholas
Walter Horten
Spencer Starnes
Drums
 Tommy Beavers
Steel guitar
 Cindy Cashdollar
Vocals, piano
 Tim Alexander
saxophone
 Mike Francis
Ricky Turpin
bass
 David Earl Mille
bass
 Tony Garnier

Asleep at the Wheel is a successful country group that has been in business since the early 1970s and whose music is considered western swing . In her long career with numerous personnel changes and label changes, she was awarded a total of eight Grammys .

history

Beginnings

Asleep at the Wheel was founded in late 1969 by singer and guitarist Ray Benson (born March 16, 1951 in Philadelphia ), drummer Leroy Preston and steel guitarist Reuben Gosfield (born April 22, 1951). A little later they were joined by guitarist and singer Chris O'Donnel (born March 22, 1953 in Williamsport, Maryland ).

1971 Joe Kerr was her manager and the keyboardist Floyd Domino was hired. The band moved to San Francisco, where they were hired by Berkeley's Long Branch Saloon. After making a name for themselves in the local scene, the group received a record deal from United Artists Records in 1972 . After the release of the first, albeit unsuccessful, album Comin 'Right at Ya , they moved to Austin , Texas in 1974 . The second album was released in 1974 on the Epic label. It covered a wide musical spectrum, ranging from traditional country to blues to jazz. With the single Choo Choo Ch'Boogie a chart success could be booked for the first time.

Career

After two other musicians, Lisa Silver and Bobby Womack, joined the group, they switched to the Capitol label in 1975. Several successful singles were released from the album Texas Gold , of which The Letter That Johnny Walker Read was able to place in the top 10. The next album, Wheelin 'And Dealin' recorded in 1976 with some new musicians, also achieved high sales figures. Again several successful singles were released. The song Route 66 received a Grammy nomination. Asleep at the Wheel now comprised 11 band members. The group had become a sought-after live act and toured numerous times. In 1978 her instrumental piece One O'Clock Jump was awarded a Grammy.

In 1980 there was a major change in personnel. The group, reduced to nine, then consisted of Ray Benson, Chris O'Donnel, Reuben Gosfield, Danny Levin, Pat Ryan and the new members John Nicholas, Walter Horton, Spencer Starnes and Fran Christina. After completion of the line-up and a change to the MCA label, however, a long dry spell had to be overcome, which lasted until the mid-1980s. In order to survive financially, the band was forced to produce commercials and film music. Only in 1987 was it possible to build on the old successes again after switching to the Epic label. The single House of Blue Lights was able to place in the top 20 and there was another Grammy for an instrumental piece.

After further personnel changes, the album Western Standard Time was produced in 1988 . The released single Sugar Foot Rag was awarded a Grammy. In 1989 Asleep at the Wheel took part in London's Wembley Festival . After switching to the Arista label and other successful albums, there was another extensive personnel reorganization in 1993. The founding members Reuben Gosfield and Chris O'Donnel got out. Only Ray Benson was left of the original line-up.

In 1995, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, there was a big concert in Austin, in which many former band members took part in addition to greetings from the country scene. Over the years around 80 musicians were members of Asleep at the Wheel. Nevertheless, the sound has remained relatively constant. The constant label change is also remarkable.

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US Country Country
1975 Texas gold US136 (7 weeks)
US 		Country7 (17 weeks)
Country
1976 Wheelin '& Dealin' US179 (3 weeks)
US 		Country19 (12 weeks)
Country
1977 The Wheel US162 (4 weeks)
US 		Country31 (7 weeks)
Country
1980 Framed US191 (2 weeks)
US 		-
1987 10 - Country16 (39 weeks)
Country
1988 Western Standard Time - Country34 (33 weeks)
Country
1990 Keepin 'Me Up Nights - Country73 (2 weeks)
Country
1993 Tribute to Bob Wills US159 (7 weeks)
US 		Country35 (22 weeks)
Country
1997 Merry Texas Christmas, Y'All - Country75 (1 week)
Country
1999 Ride with Bob - Country24 (43 weeks)
Country
2009 Willie and the Wheel US90 (7 weeks)
US 		Country13 (30 weeks)
Country
2010 It's a good day - Country57 (2 weeks)
Country
2015 Still the King: Celebrating the Music
of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys 		US187 (1 week)
US 		Country11 (11 weeks)
Country
Willie Nelson and Friends - Country39 (1 week)
Country
with Willie Nelson, Tanye Tucker & Shirley Collie

More albums

  • 1973: Comin 'Right at Ya
  • 1974: Asleep at the Wheel
  • 1975: Fathers & Sons
  • 1978: Collision Course
  • 1979: Served Live
  • 1985: Pasture Prime
  • 1985: Asleep at the Wheel
  • 1991: Asleep At The Wheel-Live & Kickin 'Greatest Hits
  • 1992: Route 66
  • 1995: The Wheel Keeps on Rollin '
  • 1997: Back to the Future Now - Live at Arizona ...
  • 2003: Take Me Back to Tulsa
  • 2003: Wide Awake !: Live in Oklahoma
  • 2003: Live at Billy Bob's Texas
  • 2003: Remembers the Alamo
  • 2006: Live from Austin, TX
  • 2007: Reinventing the Wheel
  • 2007: Kings of Texas Swing
  • 2007: Santa Loves to Boogie
  • 2007: Asleep at the Wheel with The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
  • 2018: New Routes

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
Country Country
1974 Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
Asleep at the Wheel 		Country69 (8 weeks)
Country
1975 The Letter That Johnny Walker Read
Texas Gold 		Country10 (18 weeks)
Country
Bump, bounce, boogie
Texas gold 		Country31 (11 weeks)
Country
1976 Nothin 'Takes the Place of You
Texas Gold 		Country35 (11 weeks)
Country
Route 66
Wheelin 'and Dealin' 		Country48 (8 weeks)
Country
Miles and Miles of Texas
Wheelin 'and Dealin' 		Country38 (10 weeks)
Country
1978 Texas Me and You
Collision Course 		Country75 (6 weeks)
Country
1987 Way Down Texas Way
Ten 		Country39 (14 weeks)
Country
House of Blue Lights
Ten 		Country17 (18 weeks)
Country
Boogie Back to Texas
Ten 		Country53 (7 weeks)
Country
1988 Blowin 'Like a Bandit
Ten 		Country59 (9 weeks)
Country
Walk On By
Western Standard Time 		Country55 (6 weeks)
Country
Hot Rod Lincoln
Western Standard Time 		Country65 (11 weeks)
Country
1990 Keepin 'Me Up Nights
Keepin' Me Up Nights 		Country54 (4 weeks)
Country
That's the Way Love Is
Keepin 'Me Up Nights 		Country60 (14 weeks)
Country
1991 Dance with Who Brung You
Keepin 'Me Up Nights 		Country71 (2 weeks)
Country
1994 Corine, Corina
Tribute to Bob Wills 		Country73 (1 week)
Country
The following songs did not appear as single, but were made available for download and streaming through the album and were thus able to achieve a placement:
2000 Roly Poly
Ride with Bob 		Country65 (1 week)
Country
feat. Dixie Chicks

More singles

  • 1973: Before You Stop Loving Me
  • 1973: Daddy's Advice
  • 1974: Don't Ask Me Why
  • 1977: Trouble with Lovin 'Today
  • 1977: Let's Face Up
  • 1978: Ghost Dancer
  • 1979: Too Many Bad Habits
  • 1980: Don't Get Caught Out in the Rain
  • 1989: Chattanooga Choo Choo
  • 1993: Red Wing
  • 1994: Blues for Dixie
  • 1995: Hightower
  • 1996: Lay Down Sally
  • 2007: Am I Right (Or Amarillo)

Awards (selection)

year Org. Award title
1979 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "One O'Clock Jump"
1988 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "String of Pars"
1989 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "Sugarfoot Rag"
1994 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "Red Wing"
1995 grammy Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group "Blues for Dixie"
1996 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "Hightow"
2000 grammy Best Country Instrumental Performance "Bob's Breakdowns"
2001 grammy Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group "Cherokee Maiden"

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: US