For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. More than 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel, but Benson remains the front man and the keeper of the vision, in the process racking up more than 30 albums, ten Grammy awards and literally millions of miles on the road.
“I’m the reason it’s still together, but the reason it’s popular is because we’ve had the greatest singers and players,” Benson explains. “When someone joins the band, I say, ‘Learn everything that’s ever been done, then put your own stamp on it.’ I love to hear how they interpret what we do. I’m just a singer and a songwriter, and a pretty good guitar player, but my best talent is convincing people to jump on board and play this music.”
Asleep at the Wheel has collaborated on records with genre-spanning friends, including Willie Nelson on 2009’s Grammy Nominated Willie and the Wheel and other critically acclaimed artists, including Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, the Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show and Lyle Lovett on Still the King, their 2015 critically acclaimed and Grammy winning tribute to Bob Wills. On their latest release, Half A Hundred Years, Asleep At The Wheel continued their contributions to the American music landscape when three original members of Asleep at the Wheel—Chris O’Connell, Leroy Preston, and Lucky Oceans—returned after 40 years to lend their voices and musicianship to a number of tracks on the album along with Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson.
Asleep at the Wheel represents an important cornerstone of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision. “It took me 60 years, but I’m doing what I’m meant to do—singing and playing and writing better than I ever have.
Keith Harkin is an Irish singer songwriter from Derry City, Ireland now residing in Portugal. Over the last 20 years, his musical talents have brought him across the world many times over. Including shows for President Obama at The White House, Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island, Secretary of State at the Pentagon, Mohamed Ali at Celebrity Fight Night and performing National Anthems at The Garden for The Boston Celtics to name but a few.
During his time touring the States, he gained recognition from Grammy Award-winning Producer, David Foster, who then went on to sign Keith as the first artists to the new Verve Records. Keith released his first solo debut album with Foster and Verve Records, where they watched it soar to the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts in Canada & the US. Keith was also the lead singer of the massive Irish sensation “Celtic Thunder” which had huge success with over fifteen #1 records world wide and over a million in album sales with numerous PBS specials.
Over the past 12 years since his first release, Keith has been writing all his own material for his solo records. Four of Keith’s solo records have been ranked in the top 10 Charts in both Canada & the US. He is currently working on solo album #10.
Keith will be opening for Asleep At The Wheel
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