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BUDDY Ray Benson: a Driving Force BUDDY THE ORIGINAL TEXAS MUSIC MAGAZINE JULY 2013 VOLUME XXXXI, NUMBER 1 Ray Benson: A driving force Ray Benson & Asleep at The Wheel bring “Bob Wills Meets Patsy Cline” to Kenneth Threadgill Concert Series by Mary Jane Farmer RAY BENSON HAS BEEN AROUND THE “Well,” Benson explained, “We are based here in Texas on RTexas and national music scenes for at least live music, and Nashville is based Rfour decades and earned the respect of peers on record companies. Then, af- and fans alike. He didn’t even flinch when one fan, ter the recordings, they go out and play live. We start by play- Ryan Hawkins, said he considers Benson to be the ing live, we have a less polished second most important person in Texas music, and less slick sound down here.” right up there with Willie Nelson. Benson’s re- And what about the bands who are keeping Western Swing sponse was, “I met Willie in 1971, when he was on alive, who are reaching into the the show with us. When we put out our first album. past and taking music into the future? Benson said there’s a Willie sought us out, and he helped us with gigs. He bunch. Leon Rausch, who for a got us into the Flores Country Store, and Threadgill’s, long time was lead singer in the and his endorsement was everything. Willie Nelson Texas Playboys band, is still per- forming. “And the Marshall Ford is the best friend I could ever have.” Swing Band (of Austin), Hot Club Benson is the leader of the declare that Benson was a major of Cowtown, and Bobby Flores, classic western swing band influence on them. Shelton Billy Mata. And Dale Watson, Asleep At The Wheel and the asked, “Texas swing is heavily who is more honky tonk, but producer of the popular inde- influenced by the jazz genre. Does does a great western swing. pendent television series, Texas Ray, himself, look have any jazz There’s a bunch of bands in Cali- Music Scene. He talked with BUDDY artists that he draws from? “ fornia and in Tulsa, Okla., who recently about those endeavors “Absolutely,” Benson an- are better known in the western and much more, answering sev- swered, naming off quite a few swing circles.” And he added that eral questions posed by his fans. including Count Basie, Django his hat’s off to Ray Price and Red (Editor’s Note: For this inter- Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, and Stegall for keeping swing music view with Ray Benson, the writer the big band sound of Glenn alive. asked his fans for questions, and got Miller. Big Gus Samuelson, KHYI, a varied response. Every question is But western swing being didn’t have any questions, but included to round out this discus- Benson’s thing, he had to place just said to tell him ‘hey.” Benson sion.) Bob Wills at the top of that influ- responded, saying, “KHYI has Benson came to Texas in ence list. L.B. Blanton asked, “If been big supporters of Texas 1970, after forming Asleep At he could travel back in time and He leads nine-time Grammy winner Asleep at the Wheel: Ray Benson music for a long time, those are The Wheel in his native Phila- play with Bob Wills, what par- the good guys.” delphia. He and two members of ticular song would he play with Bob. The late Mr. Wills’ tale is cities. It’s an incredible success,” making waves, with elements of This Texas giant, both in stat- the group relocated to Austin at the King?” Without slowing told through conversations be- and he continued talking about Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff ure at 6-feet 7-inches tall and in the suggestion of Willie Nelson, down, Benson answered, “Hell, tween his ghost and Benson. this hottest passion of his, saying Walker, Hayes Carll … we’ve got his Texas music and its far-reach- who became not only a musical yeah, I would play them all with Benson explained that the script that he and the producers are some exciting music all over the ing influence, isn’t at all finished mentor but also a lifetime friend. him.” begins when “the ghost of Bob looking for musicians who are place. And there are bands forg- with his paying it forward — or Hawkins further explained Benson said he met Bob Wills Wills shows up on my bus and making waves in the scene to- ing new territory,” and listed The paying it back. He talked about why he placed Benson so high once, but never did get to play we begin talking. It’s Broadway day, and “we try to have a variety Dirty River Boys and Turnpike new projects for which his pas- on the totem pole. “I honestly with him. That was at a studio in style, with complete sets and of styles, we don’t want just coun- Troubadours among those pio- sions and talents will play a cen- feel that Ray Benson is the sec- Dallas, where Bob Wills was re- costumes. The story starts in try.” neers. tral role. ond most important living Texas cording For The Last Time in 1915 and goes through the As an example, Benson said, “Then there’s the Whiskey The first was recently com- musician behind Willie. Not only 1973. “We met him, and wanted middle ’50s.” And a review of the “there’s Bob Schneider, who rep- Sisters and the Wheeler Broth- pleted, a documentary film on because of the timeless music he to talk to him. He wasn’t feeling play in Broadway World, Austin resents what’s being played in ers. I think they are really neat, Asleep At The Wheel. — “It’s a 35- creates, but also because of the very well. And then he had a (Austin.broadwayworld.com) adds New Mexico, Louisiana, and and will do very well. I’m just minute film, telling our story scores of musicians the he has stroke and died two days later. that the reason to see “A Ride Oklahoma.” I always try to help trying to help them out, helping from 1970 to the present. We influenced via The Wheel and In retrospect, it was like passing With Bob” to hear “Bob’s music musicians, because people them to get around.” He said show it before some shows.” his philanthropic efforts to help the torch, and we didn’t know it played by some of the finest helped us out. Without help from some of these will be included in He’s finishing up a new CD his fellow man. He’s first class in until many years later when it musicians in western swing, and folks…” Benson said as his voice the tapings for the upcoming with Lloyd Maines. every way.” kind of dawned on us.” the show is practically stuffed faded off, then added, “I really Texas Music Scene television se- As if that isn’t enough, Benson Joe Standifer and Mark To further express his appre- with number after number.” try to pay it back, or forward, or ries. is working on one more Bob Shelton, both Okies, asked about ciation of Bob Wills, Benson co- Benson, cast, and crew have taken whatever direction.” Benson is not new to the Wills tribute CD. Benson’s influences, especially wrote, with Anne Rapp and CK the show across Texas and the Filming for the new season is changing Texas music. He was “This one features Bob Wills in view of how many musicians McFarland, a musical A Ride With U.S., including the Kennedy just now beginning, and Texas among those pioneers in the songs by Carrie Rodrigues, Vince Center in Washington D.C. Music Scene has studios both in 1970s, along with Walker and Gill, George Strait, The Avert San Marcos and Austin. “Roy Nelson and all those who put Brothers, Old Crowe Medicine Texas Music Scene Head was from San Marcos,” Texas on the musical map. “It’s Show, and of course Asleep At BENSON FAN RONNIE SCOTT Benson remembered about the same now as it was then in that The Wheel,” Benson said with a “In Nashville, everything sounds asked if Benson’s Texas Music 2007 inductee into the none of them (the bands) are like mixture of pride and passion. ■ Scene television series has had Rockabilly Hall of Fame. the others. They all have person- the same, and that’s the way the impact and outreach the net- So who are some of those alities of their own.” Ray Benson & Asleep At The works and producers hope for? Texas musicians making waves Benson answered a fan ques- Wheel will be playing July 19 at the they want it. Here, we want Again, Benson and that voice today? Making a difference by tion here, before it was even asked Greenville Municipal Auditorium, which is as big as he is, answered making changes? Benson men- of him. “In Nashville, everything the next in the Kenneth Threadgill everyone to have individual enthusiastically, “Oh, yeah, ab- tioned some, saying they weren’t sounds the same, and that’s the concert series. Billed as “Bob Wills solutely. by any long shot all there are. way they want it. Here, we want Meets Patsy Cline,” the concert also sounds.” “We started not quite four “Pat Green; I really like Aaron everyone to have individual features Mandy Barnett. Also on years ago, with one television Watson and have worked with sounds.” the bill is the legendary country —RAY BENSON show in Dallas. That station him some in the past; certainly Standifer asked what other acoustic band, Heybale.
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