Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson will auction off 50 years of memories in October

Peter Blackstock, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
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Ray Benson, who performed at halftime of last year's Texas vs. Texas Tech football game, is selling hundreds of items from his memorabilia collection at an auction in New Braunfels next month.
Ray Benson, who performed at halftime of last year's Texas vs. Texas Tech football game, is selling hundreds of items from his memorabilia collection at an auction in New Braunfels next month.
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“I tell you friends, I’ve seen a lot in half a hundred years,” Ray Benson sings in the title track to Asleep at the Wheel's latest album, which celebrates the Grammy-winning western swing band's 50th anniversary. Benson has not only seen a lot, he's gathered a lot of things along the way: guitars, cars, posters, T-shirts, photos and more. And now he's selling a whole bunch of it.

Burley Auction Group in New Braunfels has partnered with Benson to arrange a live and online auction on Oct. 15. The hundreds of items for sale include custom-made Telecaster guitars Benson has played on albums and tours, outfits he's worn onstage and in movies, and the 1954 Studebaker he drove to Texas when he moved here in the early 1970s.

Also in the mix are posters from Armadillo World Headquarters concerts, "Austin City Limits" tapings and other memorable occasions; Benson's 1969 Harley-Davidson motorcycle; and a set of 13 Willie Nelson guitar picks.

More:Our 2018 interview with Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson and Katie Shore

“After 50 plus years of collecting, I realized it’s time for me to clean house and let someone else enjoy them for a while,” Benson said in a press statement announcing the auction. “It’s time for me to part ways and allow these items to find a new home and bring nostalgia and happiness to others.”

A catalog of all items available at both the online and in-person auctions can be viewed at burleyauction.com. The in-person auction will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at 134 Deborah Drive in New Braunfels; seating is limited and reservations are required. Benson will be present and will provide stories and historical information about the items.

Asleep at the Wheel's next Austin show is Oct. 7 at Zilker Park to help kick off the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The band has played nearly every ACL Fest since it began in 2002.

More:Asleep at the Wheel's ACL Fest streak is ending with a silver lining

Burley has a history of auctions featuring Austin music memorabilia. In recent years, the company handled a sales of artifacts from both Armadillo World Headquarters and Threadgill's for proprietor Eddie Wilson.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson to auction off decades of memorabilia