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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZASLEEP at the WHEELWestern Swing band formed on the West Coast late '60s. Ray Benson (b 16 March 1951), guitar, vocals; Lucky Oceans (b Reuben Gosfield, 22 April 1951), pedal steel (both from Philadelphia). Moved to Paw Paw WV; added girl singer Chris O'Connell (b 21 March c.1953, Williamsport MD); to San Francisco; pianist Floyd Domino joined. Debut album Comin' Right At Ya for United Artists '73; the band moved to Austin TX; Asleep At The Wheel was on Epic '74; signed with Capitol, had hit single 'The Letter That Johnnie Walker Wrote' and a string of critically acclaimed albums: Jumpin' At The Woodside '74; Texas Gold '75 was a top ten country album, also made the pop chart; Wheelin' And Dealin' '76; The Wheel '77; Collision Course '78. Voted top touring band by ACM '77; Grammy '78 for best country instrumental ('One O'Clock Jump'). Among those who've played with the band or passed through: Pat 'Taco' Ryan (reeds; b East Texas 14 July 1953); Danny Levin (fiddle, mandolin, piano; b Philadelphia, 1949); Link Davies (reeds, accordion; from Port Arthur TX); LeRoy Preston (rhythm guitar); Fran Christina (drums); Dean Demerritt (bass); Johnny Gimble (fiddle); others. The band shrank from eleven to eight members early '80s. The revival of western swing also revived interest in the music of Bob Wills; as usual in the genre, the music contains jazz, humour and originality. Jumpin' At The Woodside '74 was one of their best, with Gimble on most tracks; Pasture Prime, released '85 on Demon in UK, had a duet with Benson and Willie Nelson on 'Write Your Own Song'. Western Standard Time '88 had old songs from three decades in the best Western Swing tradition. Scored country hits '87-93 on Epic, Arista (album Keepin' Me Up Nights) and Liberty; made superstar sessions with Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, George Strait etc for a Bob Wills tribute album on Liberty '93: Still Swingin' was a three-CD set. |