Ray Benson, the leader of the western swing band Asleep at the Wheel, received the 2008 TEC Awards-Les Paul Award.
Named for one of the music industry’s most influential personalities, the Les Paul Award was created in 1991 to honor individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative
application of recording technology. Previous recipients include Paul McCartney, Sting and Bruce Springsteen.
The Web site for the award, which was presented Oct. 3 in San Francisco, called the 6-foot-7 Benson “the ultimate modern multi-hyphenate-bandleader-singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist-producer-studio
owner-engineer-businessman-raconteur-father-real tall guy.” And, it added, “In 2004 Ray was named the State Musician of Texas – a helluva an honor for a Jewish kid originally from Philadelphia.”
Benson, the winner of nine Grammy Awards, discussed his Jewish identity in a JTA profile published last week.
