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MICHAEL SUDHALTER
Kansas City Jewish Chronicle
"Country music was the domain of
Southern, Christian, rural people, and
for many of them [Judaism] is foreign
bar mitzvah and Grand Ole
territory," Benson says. "The greatest
Opry performances aren't a
thing I can do is put a name and face
likely combination for most
on a Jewish person so people won't
people, but Asleep at the
resort to keeping stereotypes."
Wheel leader Ray Benson has been
The Austin, Texas-based Benson
fortunate enough to experience both
attends Congregation Kol Haleb, a non-
rites of passage in his lifetime.
- traditional Jewish congregation in the
Benson, a singer, songwriter and
state's capital city, which is also known
guitarist, has come to be known as the
as an alternative-country-music mecca.
king of modern-day Western swing.
Benson's ability to maintain a career in
He and his band, Asleep at the Wheel,
country music for more than 30 years
carry the torch once held by Bob Wills
can be attributed to his dedication to
and the Texas Playboys.
Western swing. While the Wheel wasn't
After 32 years, Benson skillfully
originally a Western swing band, it has
steers the band with as much magic,
developed a reputation for keeping alive
talent and style as ever — an
a genre of music that reached the height
American musical landmark keeping
of its popularity in the 1930s and `40s.
the music of the West alive. Asleep at
In addition to Bob Wills, Benson cites
the Wheel brings the indomitable spir-
Count Basie, Willie Nelson and Louis
it of Texas to The Ark in Ann Arbor 8
Jordan among his many influences.
p.m. Wednesday, July 25.
"Western swing was part of the roots
Benson was not the most likely person
music that we played," Benson says.
to become a country music star. A native
"We enjoyed playing it, the audience
of the Philadelphia suburb of Springfield,
liked it and the media found it to be
Pa., he enjoyed a broad musical back-
different and well received."
ground during his youth, performing at
In 1973, four years after starting the
age 11 — though his parents didn't think band, Benson was ecstatic to hear
he should make a career of it.
Asleep at the Wheel's recording of the
He attended Antioch College in
Bob Wills song "Take Me Back to
Ohio to try his hand at filmmaking,
Tulsa" on the radio. Along with per-
and eventually moved to New York
forming at Nashville's Grand Ole
City to pursue that path. Unhappy
Opry — the validation of a country-
with his choice, Benson decided to go
western entertainer's success —
back to his musical roots.
Benson says hearing that song on the
He played many different styles of
radio for the first time was probably
music, including country, rock and
. the biggest thrill of his career.
jazz, but settled on country milsic
The performer believes his band's
because of his love for the Western
music has been able to bridge the gen-
swing sub-genre, he says.
eration gap. "When I was growing up,
Benson formed Asleep at the Wheel
there was a great generation gap, and
in 1969 and, despite an ever-changing
kids didn't like the same type of music
lineup of players, has remained its
that their parents did," he says. "I'm
frontman ever since. He's distin-
trying to bring some of those people
guished the group's 23 record albums
back to the music that they didn't
with his baritone voice, and their
think was cool before."
shows with his stage presence — he
Benson is so well respected in the indus-
stands nearly 7 feet tall, if you count
try that he attracts some of Nashville's
his trademark cowboy hat.
top hitmakers for guest appearances on
"Making it in country music was a
his records. On 1999's Ride With Bob:
long shot, to say the least," says Benson.
A Tribute to Bob Wills, Reba McEntire,
"It has turned out great, though, and it
Merle Haggard and Tim McGraw per-
has been a great ride." Indeed, the band
formed with Asleep at the Wheel.
has earned seven Grammy awards for its
Benson says the future looks bright for
joyfully entertaining music.
Asleep at the Wheel and Western swing.
While Kinky Friedman and the Texas
"We had our best year last year, and
Jewboys released their classic album Sold our band will be going onward and
American in 1973, and while there are
upward," he says. "Western swing is
still Jewish songwriters and record corn-
here to stay." ❑
pany professionals in the field, Benson
may be the only well-known Jewish per-
Asleep At The Wheel performs
former still in country music today.
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at
He says many people don't know he's
The Ark in Ann Arbor. $30.
Jewish and that he has encountered
(248) 645-6666.
some anti-Semitism over the years.
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