Ray Benson - Lead and Vocals
Jason Roberts - Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals
Eddie Rivers - Steel Guitar and Sax
David Miller - Bass and Vocals
David Sanger - Drums
Elizabeth McQueen - Guitar and Vocals
Floyd Domino - Piano
You can order the new Asleep at the Wheel and Willie Nelson album "Willie and The Wheel" at our store. The album is a collection of classic western swing songs hand-picked by the late Jerry Wexler and was released on February 3, 2009. You can read some info about the new CD and see tour dates at our new website http://www.willieandthewheel.com
Willie and The Wheel is in stores now!
"****" - Rolling Stone
"Bright, playful and exploding with verve, 'Willie and the Wheel' is one of the first great albums of 2009." - Washington Post
"One of the finest albums ever recorded." - Austin Music City
"Record of the year material" - Midwest Record
"...flawless musicianship and brilliant arrangements..." - The News & Observer
"...pure musical joy..." - CMT
"The set is so authentic that one almost feels guilty listening to it on modern speakers instead of seated around the old Victrola." - Billboard
"'This is the best year ever,' Benson said by phone last week from New Jersey. 'We’re here on the road with Willie Nelson, going on tour.'
Best year ever, that’s major for Benson’s Asleep at the Wheel. Since forming in 1972, the Western swing band has won nine Grammy Awards. Despite all the Wheel’s Grammy-winning albums, this one rises above." - The Herald Courier
"Both Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel are in prime form on this magnificent effort." - Nashville City Paper
"Grade A" - Philadelphia Daily News
"I haven't heard a more exhilarating, body-celebrating album this year." - Offbeat Magazine
"This is the kind of record that makes people want to become real musicians in a way that today’s music doesn’t. Five Stars." - The 9513
"Asleep at the Wheel's take on Western swing should be especially interesting to fans of early 20th-century American popular music. Their fidelity to the source material means that traces of jazz swing, ragtime and Dixieland are preserved as if in amber, sounding much as they did in the '30s and '40s." - Washington Times
"This is string-heavy, boot-tapping stuff, music that was once a fixture of dance halls in Tulsa, Fort Worth, and elsewhere. No, western swing certainly ain’t dead, as Asleep at the Wheel likes to remind us. In fact, it sounds as lively as ever." - Garden and Gun
"Superb vocals and excellent instrumental backing." - Roughstock
"Nelson's easygoing tenor sounds smoother than ever with by the band's barbershop-quartet-style backing on songs like the opening "Hesitation Blues" and "Corrine Corrina," and when they're not coming together in high harmony, gentle violin swoops and washing pedal steel keep things bucking and shuffling." - Galesburg Register-Mail
"It's hard to listen to the album and not have a smile on your face." - Listen.com
"Four and a Half Stars" - Montreal Gazette
"The album is strong across the board, prompting listeners to tap their toes and sing along with the parts they know. For fans of Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel or simply traditional country and western, Willie and the Wheel is worth a spin. A-" Greencastle Banner-Graphic
"...as comfortable and welcoming as a familiar old leather jacket." - All Music Guide
"The tracks on Willie and The Wheel swing like crazy as Nelson croons over the urgent, jazzy tempos, blazing fiddles, tinkling piano and ever-present steel guitar." - High Country Press
"Asleep at the Wheel has sparked an amazing album of sexy, old-time ragtime tunes, rethought with Texas Swing and New Orleans jazz flavors." - Philadelphia Daily News
"Nelson is obviously in his element and having a ball." - Houston Press
"A marriage made in Heaven." - The Time Union
"Willie Nelson and Asleep At The Wheel delivers an awesome selection of timeless western swing hits that will stand the test of time. Each song paints a picture that will take you to a place and time that has practically become extinct." - About.com
Jerry Wexler's long-overdue concept album takes Willie Nelson back to his musical roots. Teamed up with Ray Benson and the master musicianship of Asleep at the Wheel, this instant classic celebrates the timeless appeal of a most unique and spirited American music genre. Fall in love with Western Swing...again.
Bismeaux Records is VERY pleased to announce that Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel have teamed up to release an album TODAY. A concept thirty years in the making, Willie & The Wheel is a collection of classic western swing songs hand-picked by the late Jerry Wexler.
"Jerry wanted us to do this album and I'm glad we got to do it for him, “says Willie Nelson. “And that he heard it before he passed on."
Be our friend on Facebook!
Sign up for our email list so we can keep you updated on everything!
Hey, Im posting new videos today! and if you are in Texas, come on out to Six Flags (san Antonio) Friday where I'll be performing with Drake Bell (of Nickelodeon's Josh and Drake) and Saturday with Drake in Six Flags Dallas. Sunday I will be at Jo's on Congress in Austin! Hope to see some of yall out this weekend! Ruby Jane
HAPPY JULY! I met Bobby Charles ("See ya Later Alligator") while I was attending a concert at the Fox Theater on Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The show featured Danny & the Juniors, ALL the Motown groups, Dell Shannon ("Runaway"), Brenda Lee, some others I don't remember, and the Headliner was Elvis Presley. I was standing right next to the stage center, and this little guy in a trenchcoat was standing next to me shooting the breeze. We talked for about a half hour, and then all of a sudden he disappeared. About ten minutes later he popped up on stage, right in front of us, and started singing "See ya Later Alligator'! I almost fell over! Blew my mind! Right after that, the M.C. came out and started talking. Since I was right up front leaning on the stage (you could do that back then) I could look into the wings to my left. Elvis was standing there offstage waiting about twenty feet away, holding a bottle of Jack Daniel. When the announcer said "here he is, Elvis Presley" Elvis took a BIG swig of booze, handed the bottle to an aide, and ran out on stage. He grabbed the mikestand, smiled at the crowd, shouted "You Ain't Nuthin' But a HoundDog", and fell flat on the floor, where he stayed while he sang the whole song! We were all screaming. He was wearing sport coats and blue suede shoes at that time. He was six feet from me the whole performance - about 45 minutes! It was great. THAT was ROCK & ROLL!! //// haha thanx for your support, and have a great Fourth of July! See You on Tour!
You're invited to my Pot Patriot CD Release Party Thursday June 25 in Austin Texas at Ruta Maya. It's a benefit for NORML and Outgrow Big Bro. Burro Magic, Paul Bullock, One Step Program, and Jet Baker perform. Here's the video invitation:
