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Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel
collaborate on new album and tour
By Jeff Eason
Texas troubadours Asleep at the
Wheel will be Willie Nelson’s backing band when
he performs at the Holmes Center in Boone February 19.
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Fans of Willie Nelson who have seen him and his band perform
on previous tours are in for a real treat when he strides across
the Holmes Center Stage in Boone on February 19. In addition
to classic Willie Nelson songs such as “Crazy” and
“Whiskey River,” the singer will perform a number
of high-steppin’ western swing numbers with Grammy Award-winning
band Asleep at the Wheel.
The collaboration between Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel began
decades ago as the two acts shared the stage at various concerts
and festivals. Both acts are based out of Texas and while Nelson
has had much more commercial success, Asleep at the Wheel is
considered one of the tightest live acts in the business.
The collaboration will also result in a studio album, Willie
and the Wheel, to be released on the Bismeaux label on February
3, 2009 and produced by Jerry Wexler and Asleep at the Wheel
frontman Ray Benson. The album will feature a collection of
western swing standards such as “Hesitation Blues,”
“Bring it on Down to My House” and “Corrine Corrina.”
Founded in 1969, Asleep at the Wheel now includes Benson,
Elizabeth McQueen, David Earl Miller, Eddie Rivers, Jason Roberts,
David Sanger and John Whitby. The band is famous for keeping
the traditional western swing sound of Bob Wills and his Texas
Playboys alive and have produced several tribute albums to the
late great Texas musician. In 2005 Benson and the band were
looking for something special to do to mark the centennial of
Wills birth.
“Some folks wanted another tribute album, said Benson.
“But we’d already done two. I felt like we’d
be cashing in on Bob’s ghost.” Benson had a change
of heart after talking with West Texas native and screenwriter
Anne Rapp. She asked Benson whether he’d ever met Wills.
Benson said that he had, but never had a chance to talk with
him.
“That’s it: The conversation you never had,”
said Rapp. A Ride With Bob was born and has since become a successful
stage musical performed all over the United States.
Tickets
Tickets for the Willie and the Wheel show featuring Willie
Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel are $35 for floor seating, $28
for lower level seating and $22 for upper level seating. Tickets
are available online at www.theholmescenter.com and at the Holmes
Center Box Office by calling (828) 262-7890.
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