In a long ago and far away universe, almost another lifetime, I was a country DJ on the air in New York City. 1050 WHN became a country station in 1973, and as a New Yorker, I was totally surprised. It was a mystery to me if there were actually any country listeners in the Tri-State area. In 1975, it was my honor to join the WHN staff to do the evening show, and I immediately started hitting the clubs to see what there was of a country scene. I found it, with Freddie The German Cowboy at The Blue Ribbon Inn in Hillside, New Jersey, and Hugh O'Lunney's on 2nd Avenue at 48th Street in New York. And when the Lone Star Café opened in a former Schraftt's Restaurant (where prior, ladies in white gloves lunched) at the corner of 13th Street and Fifth Avenue, I was hooked. I became a regular there, with Mort Cooperman's imaginative bookings, which included regulars Greasy Wheels, Kinky Friedman, James Talley, and many more. Later, more clubs popped up; City Limits in the Village, Cody's in Chelsea, and WHN started partnering to promote shows at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and even Giant's Stadium. When that started happening, we knew that country had taken root in New York City. But for me, those early days of discovery were the most exciting. Traveling a path with my compatriots, a merry band of believers. Playing music I loved on the radio. Back in those days, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read," was in heavy rotation from a group called Asleep At The Wheel, who also were frequent visitors to the stage at The Lone Star. I fell in love with the cool voice of Chris O'Connell, the unique persona of Ray Benson, and the pure energy the band brought.
Armstrong Community Music School, AustinThe Wheel has released more than twenty studio albums, have placed more than twenty singles on the Billboard country charts, have been awarded nine GRAMMYs, and have had 80 members through their history. Here it is, 40 years later. Not many bands can claim that record. Tonight, Asleep At The Wheel celebrates that feat with a gala concert at The Long Center in Austin. Willie Nelson, Leon Rausch of The Texas Playboys, and Wheel alumni will be on hand. The night is a benefit for the Austin Lyric Opera which runs the Armstrong Community Music School; the evening is part of Opera Stampede, a week of education, music, and events. Click here to purchase tickets for tonight's show. And here is a taste, with "Oh! You Pretty Woman," from Willie and the Wheel at Austin City Limits in 2009.
- Jessie Scott
