summon the spirit of Bob Wills,

including its link to Ruidoso

By Marty Racine

For Vamonos

Nine-time Grammy-award winners Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel are star in A Ride with Bob: The Bob Wills Musical, the first-ever musical drama about the legendary Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

The musical swings into the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts, Aug. 13, 14 and 15. A matinee on Aug. 16 is possible.

Tickets remain: Call 336-4800 or go to www.-spencertheater.com.

In 1973 after the release of the band's first album (which paid tribute to the music of Bob Wills), Benson was invited by his idol to Dallas for a meeting. Upon his arrival, he learned Wills was not feeling well and the meeting was postponed for the next morning. That same night Wills had a stroke and went into a life-ending coma.

In A Ride with Bob, Benson finally gets to have his conversation with the Spirit of Bob, who visits him on the Asleep at the Wheel bus late one night.