Hearing Voices
Austin's Ray Benson revives San Antonio series with Willie Nelson podcaster
Ray Benson, seen here with his Austin band Asleep at the Wheel, will help reboot a collaborative series between The Alamo and Briscoe Western Art Museum.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum in downtown San Antonio is partnering with the Alamo to bring back a past series of activities meant to reflect the cultural diversity and pioneering spirit that built the American West.
Voices of the West: Living Legends will kick off September 11 with country music singer, songwriter, actor, and nine-time Grammy Award-winner Ray Benson, who is known for his Austin-based band, Asleep at the Wheel.
Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. The band is inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, and while the lineup has changed throughout the years, Benson has been a constant. (So has their omnipresence at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.)
Benson also played a key role in helping to create the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame. He also sits on the board for the Texas Dance Hall Preservation, and voices the Alamo’s “Victory or Death” audio tour.
John Spong, host of the One by Willie podcast — where in each episode he speaks at length with a notable Willie Nelson fan — will moderate the first Voices of the West conversation with Benson. That first event will include a VIP experience with an open bar, light appetizers, as well as a meet-and-greet with Benson before the show. General admission will be $25; VIP admission will be $100. There will be discounts for Friends of the Alamo members, Briscoe members, military, first responders and seniors.
Voices of the West first ran at the Briscoe from 2014 through 2017, and featured icons such as country music singer Robert Earl Keen, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and artist Billy Schenck.
The new series will be have events presented biannually through 2026, starring acclaimed storytellers from Texas Monthly, covering famed singers, scholars, and more to share tales that form the fabric of Texas and the American West. Proceeds from each event will benefit both the Alamo and the Briscoe.
Liz Jackson, president and CEO of the Briscoe Museum, said in a release that the story of Texas is very much a core part of the evolution of the American West.
“Partnering with the Alamo to share this series and give modern voice to the spirit that’s rooted in the history of Texas is an honor,” said Jackson.
Tickets to the reboot event with Ray Benson are available at thealamo.org.
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