Asleep at the Wheel

Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel performing in San Diego, California
Background information
Origin	Paw Paw, West Virginia, United States
Genres	Ameripolitan, Texas country, western swing
Years active	1970–present
Labels	Bismeaux, DreamWorks, Capitol Nashville, Epic, MCA Nashville, Shout! Factory
Website	www.asleepatthewheel.com
Members	Ray Benson Katie Shore Emily Gimble David Earl Miller Eddie Rivers David Sanger
Past members	Jann Browne Tommy Beavers Richard Fitzhugh Lucky Oceans Wally Murphy Chris O'Connell Jim Murphy LeRoy Preston Floyd Domino Hal Singer Daniel Levin Tony Garnier Scott Hennige Ed Vizard Haydn Vitera Chris Booher Cindy Cashdollar Tim Alexander Michael Francis Buddy Spicher Gene Dobkin Richard Casanova Johnny Nicholas John Whitby Bobby Black Falkner Evans Rosie Flores Jason Roberts Elizabeth McQueen Billy Mabry

Asleep at the Wheel is an American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard country charts. Their highest-charting single, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", peaked at No. 10 in 1975.

In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC. A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California, at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya, was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.

In 1974, they released their second album, Asleep at the Wheel, with a cover of Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie", which was their first single to hit the country charts. The following year had the release of Texas Gold as the group's third album with the top-ten Country hit single "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read". In addition, they played on PBS's Austin City Limits, where they have since performed a record-setting 10 times. In 1977, the band was voted Best Country Western Band by Rolling Stone and was awarded the Touring Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. They also went on tour with Emmylou Harris in Europe. The following year, they made a cover of Count Basie's song "One O'Clock Jump". Also in 1980, they appeared in the movie Roadie, along with Meat Loaf, Blondie, and Art Carney. By the end of the decade, the band recorded their first live album, Served Live, at the Austin Opera House.