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Alison Krauss & Union Station's Live Leads New Releases

 

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Alison Krauss grew up in Champaign, Illinois, where her parents
encouraged her and her brother, Viktor, to play instruments at an early age. Soon after she began playing the violin, Alison discovered fiddle 
contests and bluegrass festivals. Her initial acclaim was as an instrumentalist, a standout young fiddler who won championships, but soon her voice captivated everyone's attention. Rounder Records signed Alison as an artist when she was fourteen. As her career has progressed, she has developed her skills as a producer and arranger, and is known for an ability to find great songs. In addition to producing her own recordings with Union Station, Alison has produced three albums for the Cox Family. In her spare time she pursues interests in roller skating and '70s rock. 

Alison remains in demand for studio work. She has sung and played on recordings by such artists as Bad Company, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Michael McDonald, Dolly Parton and Phish. She is currently the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Barry Bales, bass player and harmony vocalist for Union Station, grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. His first memories of music are listening to the records of Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Bob 
Wills, Buck Owens and Hank Thompson, from his father's extensive collection. Inspired by his father's guitar playing and singing, Barry started experimenting with different instruments at the age of ten. When he was sixteen he found the bass. 

Barry attended East Tennessee State University for three and a half years. During that time he played in the band Dusty Miller which also included former Union Station members Adam Steffey and Tim Stafford. It was during that time that the guys met Alison and she soon after asked them to join Union Station. "We were thrilled at the chance to join the band. We had admired Alison's music for a long time." 

Ron Block has been playing the banjo and guitar, as well as writing songs and singing, with Union Station since October of 1991. Before joining Union Station, he was a member of the Lynn Morris Band and Weary Hearts. 

Ron grew up surrounded by music in his father's music store in Lawndale, California. A musician himself, Ron's father played bass in a rhythm and blues band. Ron's earliest memories are of the smell of old guitars and of listening to guys sit around the store playing. When he was eleven years old, Ron received his first guitar. At thirteen he became fascinated with the banjo after seeing Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs on television. The following year, Ron's dad gave him a banjo for Christmas. 

Dan Tyminski, acoustic guitarist, lead and harmony vocalist for Union Station, is one of the most dynamic and talented performers to appear on the bluegrass scene in years. His outstanding vocal abilities and hard driving instrumental style have earned him a loyal following. Before becoming a member of Union Station in 1994, Dan used to play mandolin and sing with the Lonesome River Band. 

Dan's love and feel for traditional bluegrass didn't come from growing up in the southern Appalachians, but in Vermont. He credits his brother Stan with getting him hooked on the guitar and mandolin at the age of six. While Stan was in the Navy and home on leave, he left his mandolin with Dan. Once Dan began playing, it was never out of reach. He attributes his love for traditional bluegrass to musicians and singers like Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Larry Sparks and Jimmy 
Martin. 

Jerry Douglas started his musical career early. As a five-year-old he started playing mandolin, then moved to guitar and at 11 segued into dobro after seeing Flatt & Scruggs dobro master Uncle Josh Graves perform. 

At 18, Jerry hit the festival circuit full-time as a member of the Country Gentleman. Before long, he joined Ricky Skaggs in J.D. Crowe's band. In September 1975, the two young pickers broke away and formed their own group, Boone Creek. After three pivotal years Ricky embarked on his successful solo career and Jerry started making his distinctive mark on all things dobro. 

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Alison Krauss & Union Station's Live Leads New Releases

11/05/2002

With a voice as pristine as new fallen snow, Alison Krauss & Union Station collect a number of audience favorites for Live (Rounder). Listen for "When You Say Nothing at All" and "Baby, Now That I Found You," as well as "The Lucky One," "Stay," "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Down to the River to Pray." A strong mix of ballads and bluegrass throw-downs, the two-CD set was recorded in Louisville, Ky.

 Alan Jackson can already claim one holiday album, 1993's modern masterpiece Honky Tonk Christmas. But at the request of his mother, the Georgia native recorded Let It Be Christmas (Arista Nashville), a warm, orchestrated effort that blends beloved hymns and familiar Christmas carols. In addition to writing the title track, Jackson taped a holiday special that will debut on CMT on Nov. 29.

Jackson has recorded a duet with Jeannie Kendall, of the famed father-daughter duo The Kendalls, for her solo album, due next year. In the meantime, Kendall offers "Smoky Mountain Christmas" on O Christmas Tree: A Bluegrass Collection for the Holidays (Rounder).

Best known for their hit "Just What I Do," Trick Pony lassoed Johnny Cash for their debut album, and Willie Nelson appears on their follow-up, On a Mission (Warner Bros.) While that feisty trio tears it up, Mark Wills brings together his Greatest Hits (Mercury), full of sentimental ballads like "Back at One" and "Don't Laugh at Me." Wills includes two new songs, "19 Somethin'" and "When You Think of Me."

In the wake of a successful and well-received tour, Tony Bennett and k.d. lang reunite for What a Wonderful World (Columbia). You'd be more likely to hear these standards in a smoking lounge than a honky-tonk bar, but the two distinctive vocalists blend beautifully. T Bone Burnett, the mastermind behind the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, produced the lush affair.