Alison Krauss & Union Station

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Alison Krauss & Union Station
Alison Krauss 2011.jpg
Alison Krauss of Union Station band performing in 2011
Background information
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Bluegrass, country
Years active1987–present
Labels Rounder
Members Alison Krauss
Dan Tyminski
Ron Block
Barry Bales
Jerry Douglas
Larry Atamanuik
Past members Alison Brown
Tim Stafford
Adam Steffey
Jeff White
John Pennell
Mike Harman

Alison Krauss & Union Station is an American bluegrass and country band associated with singer Alison Krauss. It was initially composed of Krauss, Jeff White, Mike Harman and John Pennell. Later additions included Alison Brown, Tim Stafford, Ron Block, Adam Steffey, Barry Bales and Larry Atamanuik. In 1992, Stafford was replaced by guitar and mandolin player Dan Tyminski and in 1998, Steffey left and was replaced by Dobro player Jerry Douglas.

Contents

Career

Alison Krauss had signed to Rounder Records, and at age 16 released her 1987 debut solo album Too Late to Cry . Soon after she joined Union Station, with Jeff White, John Pennell, and Mike Harman as her backing band. Their debut album in 1989 was Two Highways . [1] The album included the traditional tunes "Wild Bill Jones" and "Beaumont Rag", along with a bluegrass interpretation of The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider".

Krauss' contract with Rounder Records required her to alternate between releasing a solo album and an album with Union Station. So after her second solo album, I've Got That Old Feeling , released in 1990, Krauss put out her second Union Station album, Every Time You Say Goodbye , which was released in 1992. The album went on to win her a second Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album of the year. This album featured a completely different lineup (other than Krauss): Tim Stafford, Ron Block, Adam Steffey, and Barry Bales. Bales and Block would become permanent fixtures in the band.

Tim Stafford left the band in 1992, [2] and was replaced by mandolin and guitar player Dan Tyminski from Lonesome River Band. During 1993, Tyminski briefly rejoined Lonesome River Band and was then replaced by John R. Bowman who toured with Union Station until 1994, [3] when Tyminski returned as a permanent member.

So Long So Wrong , another Union Station album, was released in 1997 and won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. One critic said its sound was "rather untraditional" and "likely [to] change quite a few ... minds about bluegrass". [4] 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 [5] and was included on the Buffy soundtrack in 1999.

Adam Steffey left Union Station in 1998, and was replaced by renowned Dobro player Jerry Douglas, who had been playing on the solo and band albums from Too Late To Cry onwards.

Their next album, New Favorite , was released on August 14, 2001. The album went on to win the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, with the single "The Lucky One" winning a Grammy as well. 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. [6] Krauss believes the group "was probably the most unprepared we've ever been" for the album and that songs were chosen as needed rather than planned beforehand.

Returning with Union Station, Alison Krauss released a new album called Paper Airplane on April 12, 2011, [7] the follow-up album to Lonely Runs Both Ways (2004). Mike Shipley (the engineering mixer) said that it took a lot of time to do the album because of Krauss' non-stop migraines. [8] [9]

In 2014, she and her band Union Station toured with Willie Nelson and Family, with special guests Kacey Musgraves, and The Devil Makes Three. [10] [11] [12] [13]

During an interview on the podcast Toy Heart with Tom Power, Krauss announced a new album with Union Station to be released in 2025. [14]

Members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Krauss</span> American musician (b. 1971)

Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in 1987. She was invited to join Union Station, releasing her first album with them as a group in 1989 and performing with them ever since.

<i>Live</i> (Alison Krauss album) 2002 live album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Live is the fifth album and the first live album by Alison Krauss and Union Station. All of the songs except "Down to the River to Pray" were recorded at The Louisville Palace on April 29–30, 2002. The album was released on November 5, 2002.

<i>Lonely Runs Both Ways</i> 2004 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Lonely Runs Both Ways is the sixth album by bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released November 23, 2004. The album won the band three Grammy Awards in 2006, including Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Restless", Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Unionhouse Branch", and Best Country Album. The song "A Living Prayer" was honored with the award for Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year from the Gospel Music Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Douglas</span> American bluegrass musician

Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prolific". A fourteen-time Grammy winner, he has been called "dobro's matchless contemporary master" by The New York Times, and is among the most innovative recording artists in music, both as a solo artist and member of numerous bands, such as Alison Krauss and Union Station and The Earls of Leicester. He has been a co-director of the Transatlantic Sessions since 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Bales</span> American bassist

Barry Turner Bales is an American musician best known as the long time bass player and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has been in the band for around 25 years. The 2012 Grammy was awarded as a member of the Union Station band on Paper Airplane. He is also a member of The Earls of Leicester.

<i>Now That Ive Found You: A Collection</i> 1995 compilation album by Alison Krauss

Now That I've Found You: A Collection is an album by Alison Krauss, released in 1995. It is a retrospective of the early part of Krauss' recording career. It includes songs that appeared on her solo albums, albums by Alison Krauss & Union Station, and some that appeared on an album by Alison Krauss & the Cox Family. It also contains some new material, including a cover version of "Oh, Atlanta," originally recorded by Bad Company in 1979.

<i>New Favorite</i> 2001 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

New Favorite is the fourth album by bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released August 14, 2001. The album peaked in the top 50 of the Billboard 200 and within the top 5 of the Billboard charts for both Country and Bluegrass and was certified gold. This album was released in the same year as the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, which Krauss appeared on, that had a large effect on bluegrass in the United States. At the 44th Grammy Awards, New Favorite would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and the single "The Lucky One" won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal as well as Best Country Song.

<i>So Long So Wrong</i> 1997 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

So Long So Wrong is an album by the bluegrass group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released in 1997, and the first to feature guitar and mandolin player Dan Tyminski who would replace Adam Steffey. The album reached number 4 on Billboard's Country Albums chart.

<i>Every Time You Say Goodbye</i> 1992 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Every Time You Say Goodbye is the second album by the American bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station, released in 1992. It reached number 75 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.

<i>Down from the Mountain</i> 2000 film by D. A. Pennebaker

Down from the Mountain is a 2000 documentary and concert film featuring a live performance by country and traditional music artists who participated in the Grammy-winning soundtrack recording for the Joel and Ethan Coen film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The concert, held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on May 24, 2000, was a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The documentary was directed by Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker. The artists in the concert also participated in a Down from the Mountain concert tour.

<i>A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection</i> 2007 compilation album by Alison Krauss

A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection is a compilation album by country/bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. It was released on April 3, 2007, and is a collection of new and old songs that Krauss has recorded. It features duets with Sting, Brad Paisley, John Waite, and James Taylor. The album debuted and peaked at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200, No. 3 on the U.S. Top Country Albums, and No. 38 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>High Lonesome Sound</i> 1996 studio album by Vince Gill

High Lonesome Sound is the seventh studio album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1996 on MCA Nashville. It features the singles "High Lonesome Sound," "Worlds Apart," "Pretty Little Adriana", "A Little More Love" and "You and You Alone." Two versions of the title track are included. The one at the end of the album was recorded in a more bluegrass orchestration, backed by Alison Krauss & Union Station.

<i>Two Highways</i> 1989 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Two Highways is the first album by American band Alison Krauss & Union Station, released in 1989. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Bluegrass Album" category. Krauss and the album also received several International Bluegrass Music Association nominations. "Midnight Rider" is a cover of the Allman Brothers Band song.

<i>Ive Got That Old Feeling</i> 1990 studio album by Alison Krauss

I've Got That Old Feeling is an album by American bluegrass-country singer and musician Alison Krauss, released in 1990. It reached number 61 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.

<i>I Know Who Holds Tomorrow</i> 1994 studio album by Alison Krauss & The Cox Family

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow is an album by American violinist/singer Alison Krauss and the Cox Family, released in 1994.

<i>Paper Airplane</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Alison Krauss & Union Station

Paper Airplane is an album by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Released on April 12, 2011, it was Krauss's 14th album and her first release with Union Station since Lonely Runs Both Ways in 2004. It includes cover versions of "My Opening Farewell" and "Dimming of the Day", originally recorded by Jackson Browne and Richard Thompson, respectively.

The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and a 5-Time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year Award recipient. The band has experienced numerous personnel changes over the years, and has not included an original member since Tim Austin left the band in 1995 to focus on Doobie Shea Records.

Adam Carter Steffey is an American mandolin player, best known for playing in the bluegrass and old-time styles. He spent time as a member of bands such as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Mountain Heart, Lonesome River Band, the Dan Tyminski Band, the Boxcars, and the Isaacs. He was most recently a member of the Highland Travelers, which announced on November 15, 2018, that they were disbanding, with Steffey pursuing an alternative profession other than music. However, his retirement from music was short-lived, as he joined the band Volume Five just a few months later. Steffey has also performed with such artists as Kenny Chesney, Clint Black, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, the Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Rhonda Vincent, Ronnie Bowman, Jim Mills, and others.

<i>Wheels</i> (Dan Tyminski album) 2008 studio album by Dan Tyminski

Wheels is the third studio album by American bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski. The album peaked at number 1 on the Top Bluegrass Albums chart. It won the 2009 International Bluegrass Music Award for Album of the Year and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

<i>Hogans House of Music</i> 2015 studio album by Ron Block

Hogan's House of Music is Ron Block's fourth solo album and his first solo instrumental album. It was released September 25, 2015. Ron Block is best known for being a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station.

References

  1. "Alison Krauss Biography". CMT.com. Retrieved 2006-06-06.
  2. "Tim Stafford - Bio". Timstaffordguitar.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  3. "John Bowman: About - Mountain Home Music Company". Mountainhomemusiccompany.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  4. So Long, So Wrong review by George Graham. "The Graham Weekly Album Review No. 1065" as broadcast on WVIA-FM April 16, 1997. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
  5. "When She Was Bad", originally released September 15, 1997. Twentieth Century Fox and Joss Whedon.
  6. "Krauss 'Runs Both Ways' On New Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  7. See, Elena (April 3, 2011). "First Listen: Alison Krauss And Union Station, 'Paper Airplane'". Npr.org. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  8. "Alison Krauss: Queen of Bluegrass music". Thenational.ae. November 23, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  9. "Archives - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  10. "Spring, summer dates team Nelson and Family with Krauss and Union Station". Usatoday.com. February 10, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  11. "Willie Nelson and Family, Alison Krauss and Union Station & Jason Isbell | Walmart AMP". Archived from the original on July 30, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  12. "Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas :: Schottenstein Center". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  13. "Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss Embarking on Co-Headlining Tour". Tasteofcountry.com. February 13, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  14. "Alison Krauss". Youtube. April 24, 2024.
  15. "Russell Moore to take guitar spot with Alison Krauss & Union Station". Bluegrass Today. December 3, 2024.