Alison Krauss
Biography
Alison Krauss helped bring bluegrass to a new audience in the '90s. Blending bluegrass with folk, Krauss was instantly acclaimed from the start of her career, but it wasn't until her platinum-selling 1995 compilation Now That I've Found You that she became a mainstream star. Between her 1987 debut Too Late to Cry and Now That I've Found You, she matured from a child prodigy to a versatile, ambitious, and diverse musician and, in the process, made some of the freshest bluegrass of the late '80s and early '90s.
When she was five years old, Krauss began playing the violin, taking classical lessons. She soon tired of the regiments of classical playing and began performing country and bluegrass licks. At the age of eight, she began entering talent contests in and around her native Champaign, IL. Two years later, she had her own band. In 1983, when she was 12 years old, she won the Illinois State Fiddle Championship and the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America named her the Most Promising Fiddler in the Midwest. In 1985, Krauss made her recording debut on an album, playing on a record made by her brother Viktor, Jim Hoiles, and Bruce Weiss. The album was called Different Strokes and appeared on the independent Fiddle Tunes label. Later that year, she signed to Rounder Records. She was 14 years old at the time.
Too Late to Cry, Krauss' debut album, appeared in 1987 to very positive reviews. The album was recorded with Krauss' backup band, the Union Station, which featured guitarist Jeff White, banjoist Alison Brown, and bassist Viktor Krauss; the following year, the group won the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America's National Band Championship contest. In 1989, Krauss and Union Station released Two Highways, which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Recording. Although the album didn't win the award, her next album, 1990's I've Got That Old Feeling, did. The success of I've Got That Old Feeling was unprecedented for bluegrass acts in the '80s and it laid the groundwork for Krauss' breakthrough in the '90s. By this time, Union Station's lineup had more or less settled. It now featured mandolinist Adam Steffey, banjoist/guitarist Ron Block, bassist Barry Bales, and guitarist Tim Stafford; Stafford later left the group and was replaced by Dan Tyminski.
In 1992, Alison Krauss & Union Station released Every Time You Say Goodbye, which featured a typically eclectic array of material. The album appeared in the country charts and Krauss' videos were shown on Country Music Television. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow was released in 1994 and was even more successful. But it was the 1995 compilation Now That I've Found You: A Collection that made Krauss a star. The album reached number two on the country charts and -- even more remarkably -- went into the pop Top Ten and sold over a million copies. Its success confirmed her status as bluegrass' leading light in the '90s.
Krauss & Union Station followed the unexpected success of Now That I've Found You with So Long, So Wrong in spring 1997. Forget About It followed in mid-1999. A year later, Krauss & Union Station joined the likes of John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, and others for the multi-million-selling soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou? A North American tour showcasing some of the album's stellar musicians followed in summer 2002, allowing Krauss and her band's popularity to soar. New Favorite appeared in November and went gold within four months. A live album followed soon after, and in 2004 Krauss released Lonely Runs Both Ways. A Hundred Miles or More, a collection drawn from Krauss' Rounder albums, along with sides recorded for various soundtrack projects and five previously unreleased tracks, appeared in 2007. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection
2007

Forget About It
1999

Now That I've Found You
1995

I've Got That Old Feeling
1990

Too Late To Cry
1987
Her voice is like that of a pure hearted person. Sweet and soft, which makes it easy to listen to.
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I've seen her 4 times thoughout the years, and each time I am ah-struck by her pure voice.
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I listen to a very WIDE range of music & enjoy it all, but Alison is one of the only artists who I could listen to as a genre in & of itself (meaning that I could listen to her & her ALONE for a VERY long time & not get sick of it!). I mean it!!! I don't know what it is that draws my attention so, but I do know that her music is simply CAPTIVATING! ! !
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She barely opens her mouth, hardly moves her lips, yet the purest, most angelic voice in the world comes forth from this awesome woman. Alison Krauss moves me to heaven!
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The combination of Allison and Brad Paisley makes even the toughest guy i know cry. Their duo. (Whiskey Lullaby) ROX!!!
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great music what a voice, love to listen to her sweetness both her vocal's and her playing. Would lovr to see her perform at Music in the Mountains Fest. in PA ( Hickory Project music fest. outside in August each year)
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did this bio leave out the most succesful musician in union stations lineup ?
Maybe im going blind; but, jerry douglas has made more music and played with more musicians than the rest of the group combined and is highly regarded worldwide as probably the best dobro player alive! |
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To say that Allison Krauss has , by far, the sweetest, prettiest voice I’ve ever heard is like saying the sun is by far, the largest and brightest star that I’ve ever seen. It just doesn't do her justice. I just want to lay my head in her lap while she sings me to sleep. Ahh! that would be heaven.
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Alison Krauss voice just keeps getting better. Having a unique quality her early music was good, and as time goes on Alison explores, and reaches into areas that may surprise a loyal listener. Take for example the songs on the album "Raising Sand" where she collaborates with "Led Zeppelin's" Robert Plant. That's definitely a new sound for both artist. This music will grow on you. An album which is a personal favorite of mine would be "A Hundred Miles or More", what diversity and beauty.
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i think she has the purest voice in country,blue g r a s s etc..no matter what she sings i just like to listen..i have her "Ahundred miles or more'cd and its wonderful...
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I first heard her music years ago and fell in love with her voice and style. It's bluegrass with a beautiful twist of music and sound. Not like traditional bluegrass. I will never stop listening to her!
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I was introduced to her by NPR's "Morning Edition" show about 2 years ago and have been hooked ever since. She is wonderful
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my daughter, in her teens and twentys in the 90's, turned me on to The Queen of Blue Grass. Alison's music has evolved to encompass so much more and her collaboratio n with Robert Plant has set the world on it's ear.
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she makes me believe there are still people who love the old time bluegrass and country music I grew up with. Thanks for turning me on to country music Dad!
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In the 80's I was a heavy metal music lover and wouldn't dare listen to country music. A friend had her T.V. tuned to CMT and video of Allison was on, I asked "who is that Angel singing?" and have been hooked ever since! Such a beautiful voice!!!
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I love my dad because he showed me her music. And now I really like it. She looks really pretty and shes very good at her concerts.
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As a long time fan of all kinds of music, I found Allison Kraus years ago & have always been moved by her beautiful, haunting vocals and musicality. It is an effort in love of sound. Awesome
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what a truly gifted performer... s h e deserves more awards and recognition
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some people and some things have a way of touching our spirits, alison is one of them
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What can one say about prefection? I know when I get heaven God will have the Angels trying to learn her licks on the fiddle and taking voice lessons to sing like her.
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Alison sang a song of two boys missing in the Allegheny Mountains. I can't remember the name so I'm haveing trouble findind it. Hoping for help???
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The truth behind her voice makes the melodic story seem true as sung by this "Bluegrass Mistress." If you want to hear how she can manipulate another great voice, buy Raising Sand with Robert Plant.....He sought her out as he and T-Bone Burnett thought the duets would be great......T h e y Are!!!!
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The most beautiful voice i think i've ever heard and stunning eyes and her violin skills are top notch. She is simply amazing in every aspect.
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to coltsongs- select an album by the artist and usual on the page that comes up you can sample the songs
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I am new to pandora, but when I did an artitst search the idea was to play the music. How do you do that?
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