OK, so, you know how the story goes: “How many blue-grass musicians does it take to screw in a light bulb? Four, one to screw in the light bulb and three to complain that it isn't the way Bill Monroe would have done it.” Alison Krauss + Union Station are definitely guilty on that note. Although they are one of bluegrass's premier acts, they have successfully crossed over to audiences in pop, country, and beyond, while maintaining their grassroots credibility. They have been enormously influential in bluegrass's recent resurgence in popularity, yet they have preserved their own distinct identity that transcends fleeting fad and fashion. Alison Krauss + Union Station is a wonderful collaboration between five stellar musicians. together they make exquisite music, intertwining their instruments and vocals into a seamless tapestry, each person shining without overshadowing the others.

Signing a record deal with Rounder records at age 14, Alison Krauss's first release, “Too Late To Cry” came out when she was 16. She received a Grammy nomination when she was 18, and has gone on to win, collectively & individually, 13 Grammy awards. Since her teens, she has toured with the Union Station. In 1993 Alison joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1995 she released “Now That I've Found You: A Collection” which has sold more than two million copies and garnered Alison four Country Music Association awards. The band's latest release is “Live,” a double CD recorded at the Palace Theater in Louisville, KY, during their “New Favorite” tour.

While recording and touring together is a priority for each member, separately, each has a successful career following other musical paths, whether it's producing, recording solo projects, songwriting, playing sessions or touring in other configurations. Barry Bales, bass player and harmony vocalist, started playing guitar at the age of 10. He has worked on numerous projects as a sideman, including both of Dolly Parton's recent bluegrass albums. Ron Block, banjoist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, the spiritual touchstone of the group, has a catalogue of beautiful songs that deal mostly with issues of religious faith and devotion. Jerry Douglas is probably the most recorded Dobro player in history. LIFE magazine named him one of the ten best Country musicians of all time. Dan Tyminski, guitarist, mandolinist and vocalist, provided the singing voice for George Clooney in the hit film O Brother, Where Art Thou? While such individual projects are helpful in achieving the personal goals of each member, they also serve another purpose. “With the stuff we do outside of the band,” explains Bales, “we each do things exactly like we want to, without compromise. That way, when we come back to the band, it's much easier to focus on the collaboration.”

And collaborate they do so well. We plan to carry all of Alison Krauss + Union Station's music in the future. Right now we are happy to offer you these selections: