Asleep at the Wheel

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Asleep at the Wheel is an Austin, Texas based Western swing band, winner of nine Grammy Awards. The name is derived from the expression "asleep at the wheel" which means one has fallen asleep while driving a vehicle, or "behind the wheel". It can also describe someone who is blissfully unaware of a dangerous situation.

More than 80 performers have been a part of the band over the course of their career, but the core band members are Ray Benson (guitar), Jason Roberts (fiddle), David Sanger (drums), David Miller (bass), John Whitby (piano), Haydn Vitera (fiddle), and Eddie Rivers (steel guitar).

Asleep at the Wheel was created in Paw Paw, West Virginia in 1970. They moved to California to get a record deal, then relocated to Austin in 1973, at the suggestion of Willie Nelson.

Hit singles soon followed, including "Choo Choo Ch’Boogie", "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", "One O'Clock Jump" and more. In 1977, they were named "Best Country & Western Band" by Rolling Stone magazine, as well as "Touring Band of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music.

The band made an appearance in the 1978 film Roadie, which also featured Meat Loaf, Blondie and Art Carney.

The band continued to record and tour to great success within the genre, racking up seven Grammy wins.

A 1993 tribute album featuring performances from Garth Brooks, George Strait and Vince Gill (Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills, Liberty Records) went high on the charts, introducing many new fans to the band's music. The album earned two more Grammys.

In October 2004 The Letter That Johnny Walker Read featured on fictional country music station K-ROSE in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.