Ray Benson

{{Infobox musical artist  | name = Ray Benson | image = Ray Benson 15April2008.jpg | caption = Ray Benson performing in April 2008 | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Ray Benson Seifert<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040314070901/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/benson_ray/bio.jhtml CMT.com : Ray Benson : Biography]</ref> | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|03|16}}<ref name="allmusicguide">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p55958|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic - Ray Benson|access-date=2007-12-17|publisher=All Media Guide}}</ref> | birth_place = | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}} | genre = {{flatlist| * Western swing * country }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * actor * voice actor * record producer }} | years_active = 1969–present | label = Arista Nashville, Bismeaux | current_member_of = Asleep at the Wheel | website = [http://www.raybenson.com www.raybenson.com]| }}

'''Ray Benson Seifert''' (born March 16, 1951) is an American musician, actor, and voice actor who is the frontman of the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel.

==Biography== thumb|237px|right|Ray Benson performing in April 2009

Benson was raised Jewish.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/66413/ray-benson-asleep-at-the-wheel-the-biggest-jew-in-country-music-video/ | title=Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel): The biggest Jew in country music [VIDEO] | date=7 October 2008 }}</ref> In 1970, Benson, a native of Philadelphia, formed Asleep at the Wheel with friends Lucky Oceans and Leroy Preston in Paw Paw, West Virginia. They were soon joined by Gene Dobkin, a classmate of Benson's at Antioch College, and Chris O'Connell. The group relocated to Austin in 1973 after a suggestion from Willie Nelson. Since then, the group has released more than 20 albums and earned nine Grammy awards.

Benson released one solo single, "Four Scores and Seven Beers Ago", via Arista Nashville in 1991.<ref name="whitburn2013"/>

In addition to his work with Asleep at the Wheel, Benson is also a record producer whose credits include albums by Dale Watson, Suzy Bogguss, Aaron Watson, James Hand and Carolyn Wonderland; also single tracks for Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Trace Adkins, Merle Haggard, and Vince Gill.

In 2003, Benson released his first solo album entitled ''Beyond Time''.

Benson is also a founding member of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which raises money to help aging R&B artists, and a member of the board of directors of the SIMS Foundation, which provides low-cost mental health services to Austin musicians and their families. He is also a trustee for the Texas chapter of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a board member of St Davids Community Health Foundation, and a board member and founding member of Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

Ray Benson is the former host of the ''Texas Music Scene'' TV show. In an interview, Benson said that when he was on the board of directors for ''Austin City Limits'', he urged them to start a spin-off show that focused on Texas bands because ''Austin City Limits'' had grown beyond its original scope to become an international show. Later, he had the opportunity to work with executive producer Tom Hoitsma to host the Texas Music Scene TV, which showcases Texas bands.<ref>from an interview on [http://americanamusicshow.com/episode179 episode 179 of the Americana Music Show], released February 17, 2014</ref>

== ''A Ride with Bob'' ==

In the spring of 2005, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel began the production of ''A Ride with Bob'' that follows the travels of legendary singer/songwriter Bob Wills. It includes the live performance of 15 of Wills’ best-known songs in a plot that interweaves Ray Benson’s present day with various stages in Wills’ storied career. The play continues to tour throughout the country.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Awards== Benson has been presented numerous awards throughout his career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of ''A Ride with Bob'', an honorary junior member of the United States Secret Service, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by the Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, the'' Austin Chronicle'' recognized Benson for Male Vocals, Band of the Year, Songwriter, Record Producer, and the Country Genre. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given the Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an outstanding producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous citations of achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson has been one of the strongest names in country music for the last 40 years. He has earned nine Grammy awards in four different decades. On April 12, 2025, Ray Benson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame at the State Capitol's Cultural Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia.

==''Willie and the Wheel''== In February 2009, Asleep at the Wheel and Willie Nelson released ''Willie and the Wheel'', a western swing collaboration suggested by veteran producer Jerry Wexler. Nelson has a long-time interest in western swing and had toured with the band in 2007. Paul Shaffer and Vince Gill also perform on this album.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

==Filmography== * ''Roadie'' (1980) ... Ray Benson * ''Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect'' (1990) ... Sir Woodrow (voice) * ''Never Leave Nevada'' (1990) ... Composer * ''Wild Texas Wind'' (1991) ... Ray Benson

==Discography== {{see also|Asleep at the Wheel}}

===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:13em;"| Title ! style="width:25em;"| Album details |- ! scope="row"| ''Beyond Time'' | * Release date: June 24, 2003 * Label: Audium/Koch Records |- ! scope="row"| ''A Little Piece'' | * Release date: January 21, 2014 * Label: Bismeaux Records |- ! scope="row"| ''Songs from a Stolen Spring'' (Compilation)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.valley-entertainment.com/songs-from-a-stolen-spring.html |title=Songs From A Stolen Spring |work=Valley Entertainment |access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref> | * Release date: October 18, 2014 * Label: Valley Entertainment/Kirkelig Kulturverksted |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Single ! Peak positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="65"| US Country<br><ref name="whitburn2013">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944–2012|publisher=Record Research, Inc|page=39|year=2013|isbn=978-0-89820-203-8}}</ref> |- | 1991 ! scope="row"| "Four Scores and Seven Beers Ago" | 67 |- |}

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == {{commons category|Ray Benson}} *http://www.asleepatthewheel.com *[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ray-benson Ray Benson Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2011) {{Asleep at the Wheel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Ray}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:American male voice actors Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:Antioch College alumni Category:Jewish country singers Category:Jewish American musicians Category:American country guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Arista Nashville artists Category:Asleep at the Wheel members Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Singer-songwriters from Pennsylvania Category:Guitarists from Philadelphia Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:Country musicians from Pennsylvania Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:Singers from Austin, Texas Category:21st-century American Jews Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas