The Other 22 Hours: Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel)

Ray Benson is an absolute pillar of American music, a nine-time GRAMMY winner whose band, Asleep at the Wheel, has defined Western swing for over half a century. In this episode of the Other 22 Hours, we talk with Ray about the “geographical imperative,” rebuilding his career from a broke-down bus to a musical institution, and the delicate balance between the craft of music and the business of image. This is an exploration of longevity, team building, and the importance of finding a “moral compass” in leadership.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • AMAZON • MP3

In This Episode:

– Ray Benson
– Asleep at the Wheel
– Peter, Paul, and Mary
– Pete Seeger
– Woody Guthrie
– Van Cliburn
– Lester Flatt
– Marty Stuart
– Marc Copland
– Paul Motian
– John Abercrombie
– George Strait
– Vince Gill
– Tower Records
– “The Letter Johnny Walker Read”
– Merle Haggard
– Lawrence Wright
– Mumford & Sons
– Aaron Dessner
– T.S. Elliot
– Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
– Chris Scruggs
– Molly Tuttle
– Ep. 86 – Tommy Emmanuel

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo courtesy of the artist.