Submitted by the Orcas Center.

Ten-time Grammy Award-winning musicians, Asleep at the Wheel will perform live on the Orcas Center main stage on Sunday, March 16 at 7 p.m.

Fifty years ago, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson wrote in his journal that he wanted to form a band to bring the roots of American pop music into the present. It seemed like an ambitious goal for a 19-year-old, yet Benson has done exactly that – traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. Although the lineup has changed countless times since its inception, Benson’s mission has never wavered.

Although the band got its start on a farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has released over 20 albums, charted more than 21 singles on the Billboard country charts and has accrued 10 Grammy Awards.

Fifty (plus!) years in, Asleep at the Wheel represents an important cornerstone of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision.

“How do you keep this music going?” Benson asks. “Well, you’ve got to have some young people. If young people aren’t doing this, then we’re just a museum – and I don’t want to be a museum.”

Tickets can be purchased online at www.OrcasCenter.org, over the phone at 360-376-2281 x 100 or in person Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an hour prior to showtime. Ticket prices range from $23-$68 with a $2-per-ticket fee.