Big Balls In...Richardson?

In 1973 a young musician came to Texas with the purpose of meeting his idol, the singer/songwriter Bob Wills. But before Ray Benson could meet the King of Western Swing, Wills had a stroke, and later died. Benson never got to speak to Bob Wills, so he wrote a musical...

By Elliot Kaiser

July 15, 2010

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In 1973 a young musician came to Texas with the purpose of meeting his idol, the singer/songwriter Bob Wills. But before Ray Benson could meet the King of Western Swing, Wills had a stroke, and later died. Benson never got to speak to Bob Wills, so he wrote a musical instead. A Ride with Bob tells the story of Ray Benson and his band, Asleep at the Wheel, as they encounter the spirit of the country and Western legend on their tour bus on the road from Austin to Tulsa. The narrative shifts back and forth between the story of Wills and his Texas Playboys and the life of a modern-day musician. In between are some of Wills' classics like "San Antonio Rose" and "Take Me Back to Tulsa." Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have won nine Grammy awards over the last few decades and have continued performing A Ride with Bob to sold-out theaters every year since its debut. Take the Ride yourself 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday) at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson. Tickets are $20 to $60. For more information, visit aridewithbob.com.
Thu., July 15, 8 p.m.; Fri., July 16, 8 p.m.; Sat., July 17, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., July 18, 2 p.m., 2010

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