Asleep at the Wheel the Kings of Texas Swing (Updated January 16, 2013)

Their name may not hold the same weight as bands like Alabama, The Eagles or even The Oak Ridge Boys. But Asleep at the Wheel has been a rare force in the music industry since the 1970's, helping to preserve the classic sounds of country and western swing.

Formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia in 1969 by Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans, Asleep at the Wheel needed just one mention in Rolling Stone magazine to land its first record deal. Their debut album, "Comin' Right at Ya," bowed in 1973. The following year they were on the road (again) at the request of Willie Nelson and put down roots in Austin, Texas.

It wasn't long after their move to the Lone Star State that Asleep at the Wheel was doing the "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" right up the country charts. It was their first single to hit the country charts, followed by their highest charting release, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read." By 1977, the band was voted Best Country Western Band by Rolling Stone Magazine and was awarded the Touring Band of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

Even as time passed and pop stars and crossover artists worked their way into country music, Asleep at the Wheel remained relevant. In 2000, they were nominated by the Country Music Association for Vocal Event of the Year for "Roly Poly" with the Dixie Chicks. In 2009, the group collaborated with the Nelson to release "Willie and the Wheel." It was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Americana Album.

Asleep at the Wheel has earned numerous awards throughout their career. Most notably, the group was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. They are still one of the household names in country music, and have a full slate of tour dates booked for 2013. "A Ride With Bob," a musical about the life of Bob Wills, plays the Zach Topfer Theatre in Austin through February 24. The band also has private and public dates booked through August.