Post by fogcitygal on Dec 11, 2004 6:22:50 GMT -5
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2004
Bluegrass fiddler-vocalist Alison Krauss (Photo: CBS/AP)
(CBS) They don't come any bigger in the world of bluegrass music than Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Since 1987, they've sold over 7 million albums, contributed to such movie soundtracks as "Cold Mountain" and "'O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and won numerous Grammy Awards.
Now, after a three-year wait, they have completed a studio album, called "Lonely Runs Both Ways." It's already at Number 29 on the Billboard album chart.
Krauss is the featured performer this week in Second Cup Café. The Grammy-winning fiddler-vocalist will perform selections from the new album.
She says it wasn’t necessarily a goal of hers to bring bluegrass into the mainstream, though that's exactly what many observers credit her with doing.
"I just really wanted to play music. I just love bluegrass and want to play it," she says. "I don't know if I'm responsible for bringing bluegrass into the mainstream. I do think that George Clooney's movie 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' had more of an impact in that area. I sang three songs on that soundtrack and Dan Tyminski (on guitar) did George's singing voice."
Krauss, who grew up in Champagne, Ill., says she was taking violin lessons in kindergarten when she heard about a fiddle contest at the county fair. Her mother suggested she join, and she came in fourth. Four years later, Krauss was winning the contest. The rest, as they say, is history.
Union Station was started in 1985, though its members have changed since then.
Krauss has won 17 Grammys, more than any other female performer. How does that feel? "It's surprising. I'm grateful. I really had no idea I would win even one," she laughs.
As for "Lonely Runs Both Ways," Krauss says, "We think it's the best one we've done yet. We've aged since 1985, and it shows in our music. In a positive way, of course," she chuckles.
The title is a line from one of the songs. "Most of the tunes on the record are about love loss. Both sides lose no matter who ends it. We were struggling to find a title, though."
Krauss says they started another tour this month and it will continue all year long. They're also considering touring Europe for the first time in six years.
©MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.