Alison Krauss and Union Station

Alison Krauss was born on July 23, 1971 in Decatur, Illinois. Her parents wanted her and her brother to play instruments when they were young, so by 8 years old, she was playing the fiddle. She also played classical violin, but found she liked the fiddle more. By age 10, she was winning contests with her playing and her singing. She had a band, and she and John Pernell has been singing together since she was 12 years old in a band called the Silver Rail.

Alison signed on with Rounder Records when she was 14 and is still with them. She recorded her first album shortly after, and many enjoyed it. John Pernell started Union Station, and he asked Alison to be part of it when their fiddler quit. Most of the players on Union Station were young at the time they started. Some have gone on to do their own thing, being replaced by others. They can be proud of their accomplishments since most were younger than 20.

Alison joined the Grand Ole Opry when she was only 21. She has done singing with a variety of people such as Sting, Willie Nelson, and Robert Plant. Her contract at Rounder said that she had to make solo albums and albums with Union Station. Often, Union Station has been her backup band. As a group or individually, she has amassed 20 Grammys by 2005, more than any other female singer. She and the Union Station have brought many fans back to bluegrass music here in America, with the playing of the instruments and Alison's haunting voice.