How Asleep at the Wheel Got Rolling in Paw Paw, West Virginia (with a Little Help from the Hog Farm and Alice Cooper!
- Steve Nelson
- Sep 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 7
When you think of the roots of American country swing, your mind might wander to Texas dance halls or Nashville honky-tonks. But believe it or not, the legendary band Asleep at the Wheel first came together in the unlikely locale of Paw Paw, West Virginia—a town with more heart than population. The story of their founding is a rollicking tale that includes some surprising characters and a hefty dose of cosmic serendipity.
It may be a stretch to see how this fits on a website designed for cyclists and trail enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic, but bear with me. I have long thought it essential not only to immerse myself in the riding experience of the many beautiful trails found in our region, but also to understand the history and present day of what I was seeing; when was the Great Allegheny Passage's Savage Tunnel built on the Great Allegheny Passage, and why? Why was the C&O Canal constructed, and what led to its transformation into the national park it is today? And how did Grammy Award-winning Asleep at the Wheel get started in the C&O Canal Trail Town of Paw Paw, WV?
The Beginnings: A Band in the Making
In the early 1970s, Ray Benson (also known as Ray Siefert) and Lucky Oceans (also known as Reuben Gosfield), two music-loving friends, along with LeRoy Preston, found themselves drawn to the idea of reviving the classic sounds of Western swing. But neither of them hailed from Texas, and their musical journey began far from the Lone Star State.
Canal Town Paw Paw, WV "birthed" Grammy Award winner Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel!
In 1970, a “friend” whom Preston and Benson met in Columbia, (MD) said his parents owned an apple orchard in the sleepy little town of Paw Paw. And that they could camp in the cabin located on the property. A free place to sleep and earn their county chops was just what the guys were looking for. This occupation of the property was unknown to “the friends'” dad, who, when he showed up, informed the “hippies living there” that they had a month to get out. From there, they moved to a shack along the railroad tracks in nearby Levels, from where they played local gigs in Cumberland and at the Sportsman Club in Paw Paw. It was while at their home in Levels that they received the first of several significant breaks.
The Hog Farm, the legendary California Commune known for its personable “leader” Wavy Gravy of Woodstock fame, was driving through West Virginia when they stopped for gas. The attendant told them about a hippie band living down by the tracks. The bus arrived at Asleep at the Wheel’s shack, and bonding quickly ensued. The band was invited to open for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna at a Hog Farm concert outside of DC. Soon, they became a recognized band, opening for acts like Poco and even befriending Jerry Garcia.
Looking back at this experience as told to reporter Geoffrey Himes in the November 1, 2021 issue of PASTE Magazine.com
The Beginnings: A Band in the Making “We did it the right way,” Benson argues. “We got to experience country music from the bottom of the honky-tonk world. We paid our dues and learned the business. It was quite the schooling. We’d go to get some lumber cut to repair the house, and the lumber guy says he plays guitar, so you sit up on a mountain playing fiddle tunes with him. You can’t get that experience any other way. You play the Sportsman’s Club, and you have to learn all these old country songs the crowd wants to hear.” When we got to California and told everyone we had just come from West Virginia, it gave us a credibility we wouldn’t have had if we’d said we’d just come from Philadelphia.”
Hitting the Road to Stardom
Fueled by the good vibes of Wavy Gravy, the rock ‘n’ roll endorsement of Alice Cooper, and the spirit of Paw Paw, Asleep at the Wheel hit the road. They eventually made their way to Texas, where their Western swing revival would truly flourish. Asleep at the Wheel has won eight Grammy Awards out of 27 nominations. The band has also been nominated for 12 Country Music Association Awards. In 1977, they won the Academy of Country Music Award for Touring Band of the Year and have been nominated an additional nine times. But their roots—and their sense of adventure—were planted firmly in the hills of West Virginia.
This past Memorial Day weekend, Asleep at the Wheel made a homecoming of sorts, performing at the annual Delfest in Cumberland,(MD), another great C&O Canal trail town. If you have never been to Delfest and wonder what all the fuss is about, you may wish to check out their 2025 recap video
Photo: Ray_Benson_15April2008 By Bengt Nyman - IMG_6301-1, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4998537
By Steve Nelson, September 25, 2025
About Steve:
Having recently sold his publishing business, Steve now has more time to devote
to his family and outdoor recreational pursuits, including fly fishing, skiing, and cycling. He is a C&O Canal Bike Patrol member, a member of the C&O Canal Association, Mountain Maryland Trails board of directors, and serves as a Commissioner on the C&O Canal National Historical Park Federal Advisory Commission.
Contact Steve: tristatetownplanner@gmail.com
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