Entertainers Dale Watson and Ray Benson, founding member and frontman of Asleep at the Wheel, perform together at the historic and independently owned music venue, Hernando’s Hideaway, in Memphis, Tennessee April 2, 2026.
Here are a few other photos I’ve taken of Ray Benson over the years, including a double exposure from my film days (early 80’s) and a photo from when he played at Lafayette’s here in Memphis. Another photo from when Benson was honored with the Master Award at the 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards in Austin, Texas.
A special highlight and surprise was to find Memphian Wyly Bigger sitting in on keyboards.
For more than half a century, Ray Benson has been the unmistakable driving force behind Asleep at the Wheel, the Grammy-winning group that helped keep Western swing alive and thriving. Benson commented Thursday evening on how difficult it was to stay relevant during the disco era.
The band found its home after relocating to Austin in the early 1970s at the invitation of country icon Willie Nelson.
Standing 6-foot-6 in his size-16 cowboy boots, Benson, 75, has been the band’s centerpiece. While more than 80 musicians have cycled through Asleep at the Wheel’s ranks, he remains its sole continuous member. Asleep At The Wheel has over two dozen albums, more than 20 Billboard country chart hits, and nine Grammy Awards.
Even now, Benson shows no signs of slowing down. On April 2, 2026, he took the stage at Hernando's Hideaway in Memphis to a standing-room-only crowd, joining fellow Texas troubadour Dale Watson, owner of the club and part-time Memphian, for a night that blended classic swing with modern honky-tonk energy—a reminder that his legacy is still very much alive onstage.
For more about Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel go to https://www.asleepatthewheel.com/
For more about upcoming shows at Hernando’s Hideaway, go to https://hernandoshideawaymemphis.com/
Karen Pulfer Focht ©2026