Ride with a legend, Ride with Bob

Kosse, Texas’ is a small town; with a population of less than 500. A little over a hundred years ago, this small town gave birth to a legend in country music – Bob Wills. He, along with his band the Texas Playboys, created a unique Western swing sound that would become the guide for many country and western musicians to come. His life will be remembered through the play Ride With Bob tonight through Friday night at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston.

The play was created by Asleep at the Wheel’s lead vocalist Ray Benson. Benson is no stranger to the history of Bob Wills – Asleep at the Wheel has cranked out two Grammy-winning tribute albums for Wills, so the play was a logical extension. While mainly a historic look at the life of Bob Wills, the play also takes you through Benson’s life and how the legend inspired him:

"It explores my relationship with the music and this person I never knew," Benson, 55, says. "Why me? Sure, I'm a naturalized Texan; I moved here 34 years ago. But I'm also a Yankee from Pennsylvania. So how does this all work? We tried to make this living, breathing thing that showed my connection to the music."

The play premiered in Austin in 2005 and has made other stage appearances across the state and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. There’s also been talk with Hollywood about turning the project into a movie. In the meantime, you have a few nights to relive the country musician’s life and music at Galveston's best performance venue.

Ride With Bob
1894 Grand Opera House
2020 Post Office, Galveston
Tonight – Friday, 8 p.m.
Buy tickets: $11-45