Tickets are now on sale for the Country Western swing act Asleep at the Wheel, which will perform at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Thursday, May 25.
Now in its 46th year, the longtime act has been traveling the country for decades, bringing American roots music to new generations.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” front man Ray Benson said. “But rest assured, there are still so many exciting projects in the works. The Wheel keeps rolling!”
In addition to Benson, the group was founded by Floyd Domino, Lucky Oceans, Leroy Preston, Chris O’Connell and Gene Dobkin. In 1970, the group landed a gig opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC. A year later, they were coaxed into moving to California by Commander Cody, leader of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen. But the band’s big break came when Van Morrison mentioned them in an interview with Rolling Stone.
“There’s some relatively unknown group around that I really dig,” Morrison told the magazine. “Asleep at the Wheel plays great country music.” That mention made record labels sit up and take notice.
Since then, the band has amassed a number of awards, including “Touring Band of the Year” (CMAs, 1976) and “Lifetime Achievement in Performance” (Americana Music Awards 2009). The group has also dominated the Grammy’s “Country Instrumental” category over the years.
Throughout its four decades, the Wheel has covered new musical territory, picking up a few new passengers along the way. In 2016, the group added a fresh look and sound with the additions of Katie Shore on fiddle and vocals, Dennis Ludiker (fiddle, mandolin) and Connor Forsyth on keyboard and vocals.
Tickets for Asleep at the Wheel area available at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and St. Augustine Amphitheatre box offices, ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at (800) 745-3000.
