Texas swing legend Ray Benson brings band to Immokalee
Ray Benson has played for presidents and with country music royalty, and the founder of legendary Texas swing band Asleep At The Wheel, brings his group to Southwest Florida this weekend.
The band performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Seminole Casino Immokalee, a place it helped open years ago as one of the first musical acts to perform there, Benson said.
"I don't like some of the miles I've traveled, but I like the places where we are," he said in a telephone interview earlier this week from the Carolinas.
Benson had logged some frequent flyer miles after performing in Hawaii last week with Willie Nelson and ukulele great Jake Shimabukuro. They were recording with the Honolulu native for his upcoming album.
Benson founded Asleep At The Wheel in 1970 in West Virginia and relocated the band to Austin, Texas, in 1973 at the urging of Nelson, who has become one of his best friends in the business.
“Every time is a joy," Benson said of collaborating with Nelson. "He’s a very good friend and an amazing artist and I’m really privileged. He’s so widely talented in so many ways.”
Asleep At The Wheel has enjoyed success, too, with nine Grammys and more than 20 albums, including the 2015 release "Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys."
After nearly four decades of having written and performed hundreds of songs, Benson said he still never tires of performing the Texas swing sound.
“The one part about this kind of music is it’s improvisational, so every night you’re trying to figure something out," Benson said.
The 6-foot-7 Benson is no Lone Star State native, as he grew up in Philadelphia. But he enjoyed listening to radio that included songs from every musical genre. He said he always enjoyed hearing country and square dance music, and he laughs at stereotypes.
While growing up, Benson played tuba in the marching band, string bass in an orchestra and guitar in a band. He recalled a recent conversation with his longtime friend Alice Cooper.
"He was talking to me the other day, saying how in the early ’70s, you had a rock band, a country band and punk band all on the same (concert) bill," Benson said.
"Wherever you're from in America, the music is always there. It's what's in your heart and what you're good at."
He remembered how tough it was starting out, always looking for musicians for his band. Nowadays, he said, great talent is everywhere, as many younger musicians grew up listening to George Strait, Lyle Lovett and other respected Texas swing stars.
Half of his band is 33 years old or younger, he noted.
“I got no plans to stop," he said. "The only time I’m going to stop is if they stop coming to see me or I can't go on stage.”
Benson said he's enjoyed traveling the world, with a honky-tonk, country-western swing European tour set for Spain, England and Germany. Joining him will be country musician Dale Watson.
Benson also has played for presidents, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and his father, and Barack Obama.
"Everyone but this new guy," Benson said of President Donald Trump. "And I'm not playing for this new guy. I wasn't invited but I'll turn it down in advance."
If you go
Asleep At The Wheel
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $25
Where: Seminole Immokalee Casino, 506 South First St.
Information: seminoleimmokaleecasino.com or 800-218-0007