Alison Krauss | Artist
Alison Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer and fiddler born 1971 in Decatur, Illinois. With her warm vocals and estimable skills as a fiddler, Alison Krauss helped bring bluegrass to a new audience, staying true to the roots of the style while adding appeal for country and pop audiences. 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, released her first solo album in 1987. Her soundtrack performances have led to further popularity, including the O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain movie soundtracks. In 2007 Krauss teamed up with ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant for the first of two collaboration projects. The album Raising Sand (2007) became a huge commercial success and Platinum-seller, while the follow-up, Raise the Roof (2021), was somewhat less successful, but still showcased the melding of Krauss' bluegrass sound with Plant's new-found rootsy Americana style. On many of her albums Krauss has worked with the band Union Station, giving her a fuller and rockier platform. Union Station itself is a talented outfit comprising a diverse mix of progressive bluegrass players, including banjo player Alison Brown, ex-Seatrain drummer Larry Atamanuik, and Alison's brother Viktor on bass, in the early days. Of her 14 studio albums to-date, standouts include the solo works I've Got That Old Feeling (1990) and Forget About It (1999) plus the Union Station collaborations So Long So Wrong (1997), New Favorite (2001) and Alison Krauss + Union Station Live (2002). Also the Alison Krauss-Robert Plant collaboration Raising Sand (2007) is highly recommended. Krauss, who was labelled a "virtuoso" by Vanity Fair magazine when she won the Walnut Valley Festival Fiddle Championship at the age of 13, was initially encouraged by her mother to study classical violin at age five. Alison continued with classical tuition until she was eleven in addition to to being active in art and sports. Krauss was particularly keen on roller skating, and in her teens had seriously considered persuing a career in Roller Derby rather than music. Krauss has won 27 Grammy Awards over the course of her career as a solo artist, with Union Station, as a duet with Robert Plant, and as a record producer. As of 2021, she ranks fourth on the list of winners of the most Grammy Awards
Artist Website: alisonkrauss.com
Featured Albums: Alison Krauss
Related Artists: Union Station, Robert Plant
