Ray Benson

Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel joins Drifting Cowboy for a deep-cut conversation about the people and moments that shaped country music history. Ray shares rare stories about his close friendships with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, including the time he watched Merle cuss out his label head Rick Blackburn. He talks about living in the same neighborhood as Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley, crossing paths with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan before superstardom, and how Naomi Judd got the name Wynonna from Asleep at the Wheel—then legally renamed her daughter at 14 years old. This episode dives into outlaw country, Texas music, Americana, the Austin scene, Nashville politics, songwriting culture, and the unfiltered truth behind the legends. If you care about real country music stories, this is one you don’t skip.Willie Nelson podcast, Merle Haggard stories, Ray Benson interview, Asleep at the Wheel podcast, Townes Van Zandt stories, Blaze Foley stories, Stevie Ray Vaughan interview, Jimmie Vaughan stories, Naomi Judd Wynonna name origin, outlaw country history, Texas country music, Americana podcast, country music storytelling