Alison Krauss

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Alison Krauss (born July 23, 1971)[1] is an American country/bluegrass singer and fiddle player. She often works with a group Alison Krauss & Union Station (AKUS). Krauss has released over ten albums and appeared on numerous soundtracks, even performing a song from one of those soundtracks at the Academy Awards. Over the course of her career she has won 20 Grammy Awards - more than any other female artist in history and tied for 7th most out of all artists - along with numerous other awards.

Biography

Early life

Alison Krauss was born in Decatur, Illinois, but was raised in Champaign, Illinois.[2] She began studying classical violin at five but soon switched to bluegrass. At age eight she started entering local talent contests and at ten she had her own band. At twelve she won the Texas State Fiddle Championship and the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America named her the Most Promising Fiddler in the Midwest. She made her recorded debut in 1985 on her brother Viktor Krauss' independent album, Different Strokes. Later that year she signed to Rounder Records and in 1987, at 16, her debut album Too Late To Cry was released.[1]

1989-1991: Early career

File:Alison Krauss performs UMass.JPG
Krauss performing with Union Station at the University of Massachusetts

Krauss' debut solo album was followed shortly by her first album with Union Station in 1989, Two Highways.[3] Krauss joined Union Station after an invitation from then-member John Pennell, bassist and songwriter for the band.[4] Pennell remains one of Krauss' favorite songwriters[5] and wrote some of her early work including the popular "Every Time You Say Goodbye."[6] Many traditional bluegrass numbers appeared on the album[7] along with a bluegrass interpretation of The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider."[8]

Krauss' contract with Rounder obligated her to rotate between releasing a solo album and an album with Union Station.[9] Alison released the solo album I've Got That Old Feeling in 1990. It was her first album to rise onto Billboard charts, peaking at 61 on the Country chart.[10] The album was also a notable point in Krauss' career as it earned her her first Grammy Award, the single "Steel Rails" was her first single tracked by Billboard[11], and the title single "I've Got That Old Feeling" was the first song for which she recorded a music video.[12]

1992-1999: Rising success

Krauss' second Union Station album Everytime You Say Goodbye was released in 1992 and went on to win her second Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album of the year. Krauss then joined the Grand Old Opry in 1993 at the age of 21.[3] She was the youngest cast member at the time and the first bluegrass artist to join the Opry in 29 years.[13] She later collaborated on a project with the Cox Family in 1994, a bluegrass album called I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.[14] Mandolin and guitar player Dan Tyminski replaced Tim Stafford in 1994.[15]

Now That I've Found You: A Collection, a compilation of older releases and some covers of Krauss' favorite works by other artists, was released in 1995. Some of these covers include Bad Company's "Oh Atlanta," The Foundations' "Baby Now That I've Found You," and The Beatles' "I Will".[16] The single "When You Say Nothing At All" reached #3 on the Country Billboard chart, the album peaked #13 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and sold two million copies to become Krauss' first double platinum album. Krauss was also nominated for four Country Music Association Awards and won all of them.

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Sample box end Another Union Station album was released in 1997 called So Long, So Wrong. Some critics said it was "untraditional" and "likely [to] change quite a few... minds about bluegrass."[17] Included on the album is the track "It Doesn't Matter" which was featured in the second season premiere episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer[18] and was included on the Buffy soundtrack in 1999.[19] So Long, So Wrong won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album along with other awards.

Her next solo release in 1999, Forget About It included her first and only track to appear on the Billboard Adult contemporary music chart, "Stay". Also, the track "That Kind of Love" eventually became included in another episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the sixth season episode "Entropy".[20] Krauss was married to Pat Bergeson from 1997 to 2001[21] and they had one son, Sam, who was born in July 1999.[22]

2000-present: Current career

Alison Krauss & Union Station[23]
Name Role
Alison Krauss Lead vocals
Barry Bales Bass
Ron Block Guitar, Banjo
Jerry Douglas Dobro
Dan Tyminski Guitar

Adam Steffey left Union Station in 1999 and renowned dobro player Jerry Douglas replaced him.[24] Douglas had provided studio back-up to Alison's records since 1987's Too Late To Cry. Krauss went so far as to introduce Douglas on their album, Live, as "the greatest dobro player the world has ever known." [25]

Their next album, New Favorite, was released on August 14, 2001.[26] The album went on to win the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, the single "The Lucky One" winning a Grammy as well. New Favorite was followed up by the double platinum double album Live in 2002 and a release of a DVD of the same live performance in 2003. Both the album and the DVD were recorded during a performance at The Louisville Palace.[27]

Lonely Runs Both Ways was released in 2004 and eventually became another Alison Krauss & Union Station gold certified album. Ron Block described Lonely Runs Both Ways as "pretty much... what we've always done" in terms of song selection and the style in which those songs were recorded.[28] The Recording Academy (which presents the Grammys) presented Alison with a special musical achievement honor in 2005.[29]

Other appearances

Krauss has made multiple guest appearances on other records with lead vocals, harmony vocals, or fiddle playing. She has contributed to numerous motion picture soundtracks, perhaps most notably the soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000.[30] She and co-vocalist Dan Tyminski contributed multiple tracks to the soundtrack of the film, including "Down in the River to Pray," "I'll Fly Away" (Alison with Gillian Welch) and "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." In the film, Tyminski's vocals on Man of Constant Sorrow became the singing voice of George Clooney.[2] The soundtrack sold over seven million copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002.[31]

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Sample box end Other soundtracks for which Krauss has performed include Twister, The Prince of Egypt,[32] Eight Crazy Nights, Mona Lisa Smile, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and Cold Mountain.[33] The Cold Mountain song "The Scarlet Tide" by T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello was nominated for an Academy Award. Krauss performed the song on the 76th Academy Awards with Costello and Burnett.[34] Krauss also worked as a producer for Nickel Creek on their debut self-titled record in 2000 and their follow-up record of 2002, This Side, which won Krauss her first Grammy as a music producer.

Discography

The following is a summary of Alison Krauss' albums, singles and their respective performances on major music charts.[10][11][35][36]

Albums

Year Album US US Country US Bluegrass RIAA certification
1987 Too Late to Cry - - - -
1989 Two Highways - - - -
1990 I've Got That Old Feeling - 61 - -
1992 Every Time You Say Goodbye - - - -
1994 I Know Who Holds Tomorrow - - - -
1995 Now That I've Found You: A Collection 13 2 - Double Platinum
1997 So Long So Wrong - - - Gold
1999 Forget About It 60 5 - Gold
2001 New Favorite 35 3 2 Gold
2002 Live 36 9 1 Double Platinum
2004 Lonely Runs Both Ways 29 6 1 Gold

Singles

Year Single Album US US Country US AC RIAA certification
1990 "Steel Rails" I've Got That Old Feeling - 73 - -
1995 "When You Say Nothing At All" Now That I've Found You 53 3 - -
1995 "Baby, Now That I've Found You" Now That I've Found You - 49 - -
1999 "Forget About It" Forget About It - 67 - -
1999 "Stay" Forget About It - - 28 -
2002 "The Lucky One" Live - 46 - -
2004 "Restless" Lonely Runs Both Ways - 36 - -
2004 "Whiskey Lullaby" (w/Brad Paisley) Mud on the Tires 41 3 - Platinum

Response

File:Alison Krauss Grammys.jpg
Alison Krauss at the 46th Grammy Awards

Krauss has received a variety of critical reactions over the course of her career. Some credit Krauss and Union Station, at least partially, with a recent revival of interest in bluegrass music in the United States. As a group they have been called "American favourites", "world-beaters",[37] and "the tightest band around".[38] While they have been successful as a group, many reviews still note Krauss still "remains the undisputed star and rock-solid foundation" and have described her as the "band's focus"[39] with an "angelic"[38] voice that "flows like honey".[39] Despite these positive reviews, some believe Krauss and Union Station are "superb when they stick to hoedowns and hillbilly music, but much less convincing when they lurch towards the middle of the road"[40] and that the "flavorless repertoire she sings... steers her toward Lite FM".[41] In addition some critics have said their newer releases are "pretty much the usual" and though Krauss is generally "adventurous" more recent releases contain nothing to "alienate the masses".[42]

Awards

See also: List of Alison Krauss awards

Alison Krauss has won a record 20 Grammy Awards[43] over the course of her career as a solo artist, a group with Union Station, and a record producer. This is more than any other female artist and tied for seventh most won by any artist overall.[44] She has also won 7 Country Music Association Awards,[45] 15 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards,[46] and 2 Gospel Music Association Awards.[47]

References

  1. ^ a b Alison Krauss bio for Billboard.com. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  2. ^ a b Alison Krauss: Singer of the Week for AskMen.com. Retrieved June 6 2006.
  3. ^ a b Alison Krauss CMT bio for CMT.com. Retrieved June 6 2006.
  4. ^ UCSB Arts & Lectures and Sings Like Hell present the acclaimed Americana group Alison Krauss + Union Station at the Arlington Theatre by Susan Gwynne for UCSB Arts & Lectures October 28 2003. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  5. ^ New Favorite by Kerry Dexter for Dirty Linen #102 October/November 2002. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  6. ^ Every Time You Say Goodbye lyrics for Cowboy Lyrics. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  7. ^ Two Highways for LP Discography. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  8. ^ Midnight Rider on Second Hand Songs. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  9. ^ AKUS for Last.fm. Retrieved June 11 2006.
  10. ^ a b Album Chart History performance for Alison Krauss by Billboard. Retrieved June 4 2006.
  11. ^ a b Single Chart History performance for Alison Krauss by Billboard. Retrieved June 4 2006.
  12. ^ Alison Krauss at the Music Video Database. Retrieved June 11 2006.
  13. ^ Alison Krauss for Opry.com. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  14. ^ I Know Who Holds Tomorrow on Amazon. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  15. ^ Dan Tyminski bio on AlisonKrauss.com. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  16. ^ Now That I've Found You on Rounder Records by Sidney Cox. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  17. ^ So Long, So Wrong review by George Graham. "The Graham Weekly Album Review #1065" as broadcast on WVIA-FM April 16 1997. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  18. ^ "When She Was Bad", originally released September 15 1997. 20th Century Fox and Joss Whedon.
  19. ^ Buffy soundtrack on Amazon. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  20. ^ "Entropy", originally released April 30 2002. 20th Century Fox and Joss Whedon.
  21. ^ Alison Krauss Star stats from Country Weekly. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  22. ^ Alison Krauss biography from IMDb. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  23. ^ Official bios from AlisonKrauss.com. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  24. ^ Candace Asher press release by Candace Asher for CandaceAsher.com from September 2001. Retrieved June 6 2006.
  25. ^ Track 1, Disc 2 of Live by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Originally released by Rounder on November 5 2002.
  26. ^ New Favorite on Amazon. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  27. ^ Live DVD on Amazon. Retrieved June 12 2006.
  28. ^ Lonely Runs Both Ways bio from AlisonKrauss.net. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  29. ^ Recording Academy Honors Krauss, Scruggs, McGraw and the Winans for CMT.com by Edward Morris on 11/8/05. Retrieved June 7 2006.
  30. ^ O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Originally released by Lost Highway on December 5 2000.
  31. ^ Shelf Life: Turning Points by Parke Puterbaugh for the Attache in February 2005. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  32. ^ The Prince of Egypt "Nashville" soundtrack. Originally released by One Way Records October 1 2001.
  33. ^ Alison Krauss soundtrack info from the SoundtrackINFO project. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  34. ^ Sting, Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett to Perform at The 76th Academy Awards® by Toni Thompson for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on February 14 2004. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  35. ^ RIAA certifications for Alison Krauss albums by the RIAA. Retrieved June 4 2006.
  36. ^ Single Chart History performance for Brad Paisley by Billboard. Retrieved June 4 2006.
  37. ^ Review of Live for the BBC by Chris Jones. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  38. ^ a b Review of Lonely Runs Both Ways for the BBC by Sue Keogh. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  39. ^ a b Review of Lonely Runs Both Ways for Bluegrass Works by Ben Fitzgerald on 12/13/2006. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  40. ^ Review of Lonely Runs Both Ways for The Guardian by Adam Sweeting on November 19, 2004. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  41. ^ Review hosted on Metacritic originally from Blender magazine Jan/Feb 2005. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  42. ^ Review hosted on Metacritic originally from Q Magazine Sept. 2001 and The Onion AV Club. Retrieved June 15th, 2006.
  43. ^ Alison Krauss' Grammys from Grammys.com. Retrieved June 5 2006. (remove quotation marks from around her name)
  44. ^ Alison Krauss & Union Station Win Three Trophies at Grammy's for Proper Music Distribution on 2/20/06. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  45. ^ Alison Krauss's CMA Awards from CMAAwards.com. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  46. ^ Past International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Recipients for IMBA.org. Retrieved June 5 2006.
  47. ^ Homepage of the Gospel Music Association Awards. Retrieved June 5 2006.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alison_Krauss&oldid=59192266"