Alison(in general)

[dreambig88]

wow not bad! hey turbo did you ever find out the info on what you PM me?

[gratefuldave]

Found this excerpt while perusing the net...

From a 1995 Rolling Stone interview:


Jim Macnie: Because your voice is so clean, people can’t believe you smoke cigarettes.

Alison Krauss: I used to do it because everybody would get so mad. Me and my friends used to say, ‘Man, it’s so gross when women smoke - let’s smoke.’ So we’d smoke and play the fiddle outside. We’d get the tape recorder out and say (puts on a thick Southern accent), ‘Here’s a song about my old boyfriend. This one is called “He Smelled Bad.”’ We’d just be nasty. There’s a tape somewhere - I need to find it. I hear that stuff about which band members smoke cigarettes is on the Internet. I don’t do it much, and I sure don’t recommend smoking to anyone.

From the horse's mouth to our eyes...

Of course this article is 17 years old, so how relevant this is to Alison's present state of mind is in question. Chances are she still dables in smoking from time to time which is no big deal. I'm actually more worried about Jerry's weight than Alison's smoking or anyone elses habits in AKUS. He has gotten pretty thick in the middle. Get him to a treadmill quick!

[Allie]

If anyone's interested, I found the article in question after a quick google search:

Krauss refused the co-writing part, but she did come over to talk, to share cheese sandwiches and grape-flavored cigars and to catch Castleman up on her life in hopes that he could fuse their talk into something that might jumpstart the remainder of her long-awaited album. Krauss is quietly but firmly (and, in this tabloid age, nobly) protective of her private life, but after she left his house that day, Castleman was able to pen an end-of-love song that managed striking emotional specificity without dribbling secrets or betraying confidence. - more here.

[philly]

Here's a video from December 2010, in the beginning it catches her joking about smoking cigarettes...but is it really a joke?

[dreambig88]

Thanks gratefuldave for that article!! Thanks philly for the video. I think it's just so crazy how she can smoke and still sound so pure and angelic!

[philly]

Here is an excerpt from an article about John Fogerty I read a few years ago, has some interesting info on the effects of aging and smoking on the voice:

Q Why does John's voice sound so different from his Creedence days?

A First, everyone's voice gets lower as they age. The vocal chords are actually ligaments, and like all other ligaments and connective tissue in the body, they get less "elastic" with age. Like the strings of a guitar, the vocal chords produce sounds by vibrating. Higher tones require more vibrations than lower tones. As the vocal chords become less able to vibrate at higher frequencies, the voice drops. Singers often find that they have difficulty hitting the high notes they used to be able to hit with ease. But it's noticeable for anybody, not just singers. If you have a recording of your voice from 10 or 15 years ago, and you compare it with a recording made now, you'll see the difference. It's a universal occurrence, and no one can escape it. It's just that it happens so gradually that we don't generally notice. In John's case, of course, he has recordings that document his voice from 30 years ago, and so it's more noticeable.

There's another post-CCR factor enhancing the aging effect. That factor is his smoking -- or rather, his cessation of smoking. He smoked during the CCR days. Nicotine has certain neurological effects that sometimes make it useful in treating euromuscular diseases. It also acts to lower the voice, for reasons that aren't generally understood but are thought to relate to its muscle-relaxing properties. Sometime around 1980, John had to stop smoking because he got an ulcer. (Smoking in the presence of an ulcer can be fatal.) So he no longer has the nicotine-induced effects evident in his voice. I think you can hear some change in his voice on the Centerfield album, but there's no question that the combined effects of smoking cessation and the natural aging process have mellowed his voice. The voice is an instrument, just like a guitar, and John has worked on it and learned how to use it, and he's developed it. I don't think he could have sung "Joy of My Life" when he was with CCR, for example. He's learned how to use inflection better.

p.s. I've also read that Jerry Douglas is Fogertys favorite musician!

[dreambig88]

woah thats crazy!! Thanks Philly!

[tolliver16]

Apr 16, 2012 15:02:36 GMT -5 philly said:

p.s. I've also read that Jerry Douglas is Fogertys favorite musician!

That's right. I already knew that, though. lol They also share the same birthday, May 28. (I know all kinds of useless Jerry knowledge lol)

[philly]

Nice article from 2011, we've probably all seen it, but here it is for the archives:
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1378857/Alison-Krauss-Robert-Plant-asked-wrong-him.html

'Robert Plant asked me if there was anything wrong with him. His kids tell him he's not a normal dad': The world according to Alison Krauss
By Piers Hernu for MailOnline
Updated: 16:11 EST, 23 April 2011

The Grammy-winning singer on being out of her comfort zone with the Led Zeppelin singer, why being a female musician is lonely and wanting to turn 40 since childhood

Alison Krauss

'I'm starved of female company. I've worked and travelled mostly with men since the age of 12. You can only get so close because you're not involved with them relationship-wise,' said Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss is renowned for her clear, angelic voice and exquisite harmonies and has been awarded no fewer than 26 Grammy awards. Krauss and her band, Union Station, are known here as ambassadors of bluegrass music, and their albums have sold more than 11 million copies. In 2007 Krauss collaborated with Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant on the haunting Raising Sand, which was a surprise hit and went on to sell 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Born in Illinois in 1971, Krauss studied classical violin from the age of five, began winning local contests by the age of ten and was recording for the first time at 14. She released her first solo album in 1987 and her first album with Union Station in 1989.

Numerous soundtracks and collaborations with Dolly Parton, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sting and Elvis Costello later, Krauss and Union Station have just released their first album for seven years entitled Paper Airplane.

Your body will tell you if the music’s good.

When you’re making music, you may listen with your ears but it’s all about the gut. I always know if something is working because I feel it in my bones – my recent album was tough to make as I couldn’t get that feeling so I just had to stop.

Recording with Robert Plant was like jumping off a cliff.

Robert and I did it to have fun and see what would happen, but to start with it was very scary because both of us were out of our comfort zones. We were away from our usual environments so we just had to go with what we felt – it made for a very exciting recording process, though. I vividly remember calling him before we started Raising Sand and saying, ‘I’m worried’, and he said, ‘That’s good, because I am too’. He’s a great guy to spend time with – and as a singer, to watch how he works was amazing. Every time I talk to him we discuss doing the next one but when that will come to fruition I don’t know.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

'Recording with Robert Plant was like jumping off a cliff. Robert and I did it to have fun and see what would happen, but to start with it was very scary because both of us were out of our comfort zones'

Making good music makes you ill.

I had to take a break from the new album because I was worrying over it so much that it gave me these killer headaches. That led to me finding it difficult to sleep, which would bring on worse pain and more worry – which wouldn’t let me sleep. I got into a vicious circle.

The right band is bigger than family.

I’ve been working with Union Station for 26 years now and with all the differences in personality, not being family, being raised all over the country and having different tastes, it is amazing that we’ve stayed together. The secret to working with the same group of people for a long time is lack of ego – no one person rushes to the front and is self-serving.

Being a female musician is lonely – I’m starved of female company.

I’ve worked and travelled mostly with men since the age of 12. You can only get so close because you’re not involved with them relationship-wise, but I’ve had some great long friendships with men. It’s nice that no one wants to borrow my clothes but I really miss the company and conversations of women.

Robert Plant’s children think he’s just a big child.

He asked me if I thought there was something wrong with him because apparently his kids tell him they want ‘a real dad, a normal dad’ and instead they have this big kid. He is crazily enthusiastic when it comes to music. He’s very passionate and excited about a wide variety of obscure artists, which is what makes him so much fun to work with.

Alison Krauss and Union Station

'I've been working with Union Station for 26 years now and with all the differences in personality, not being family, being raised all over the country and having different tastes, it is amazing that we've stayed together'

I thought I knew about music until I met Robert.

I grew up in Illinois, and my parents listened to classical and folk, especially Hank Williams, but as a teenager it was my friends who lived across the park who introduced me to ELO, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. So I have pretty eclectic taste, but it’s nothing on Robert Plant. I first met him at a Lead Belly Tribute gig in Cleveland in 2004 where we were both singing and we hit it off over an old bluegrass artist called Ralph Stanley. When we are working he is always playing me new stuff and saying things like [speaking rapidly], ‘You have to listen to this incredible Egyptian singer I’ve just discovered blah blah blah.’

Bluegrass music is about basic human values and shooting somebody.

It’s a music of the mountains and of the farm and those people who make their living off the land. And that life is hard. It has a beautiful, timeless sentimentality and the songs are about how things go wrong sometimes. It’s closely related to traditional Irish music and skiffle and it’s something that’s been handed down over the generations. It’s music that would have been played on the back porch on a Saturday night with people dancing to it.

Even as a kid I couldn’t wait to turn 40.

I knew my better years would be when I got older and I am about to hit that milestone. When I started it always got mentioned how young I was but I wanted people to be into my music because it was interesting and good, not because of my age. That’s not the case any more – getting older has taken care of that.

I don’t watch television.

I know that’s strange in this day and age but I don’t. I do have one but it lives in the basement and comes up to the house maybe once a year when friends come over and want to watch a big football game or similar. It’s old and pretty pathetic and it sits on a tom-tom drum and everyone who sees it makes fun of me.

Any award I win is packed away immediately.

I don’t keep anything on display in my house. Home is home and about family so I’ve put them all away. I like to keep a few work-related pictures on my refrigerator and I love seeing other people’s awards when I go to their houses to visit, but I like to keep my own home life separate.

[downhomeheather]

Watching for our girl on TV tonight, hope she wins that 29th Grammy!!!! Have you listened to that song that she's nominated for?? One of her best performances, and that's hard to say since she has so many great ones. I thought for sure she and Jamey Johnson would have been nominated for "Make The World Go Away", or her and Willie for "No Mas Amor". Oh well, stay tuned! I won't sleep tonight, watching Google and Getty Images and this board and Google News Alert to see if she got the exposure she deserves (probably not).....!

[philly]

downhome, I see Roseanne Cash won the Grammy Alison was up for, so it'll just have to be next time!
www.cnn.com/2015/02/08/entertainment/grammys-2015-awards-didnt-see-billboard/

[nascarholly]

Feb 8, 2015 19:59:16 GMT -5 downhomeheather said:

Watching for our girl on TV tonight, hope she wins that 29th Grammy!!!! Have you listened to that song that she's nominated for?? One of her best performances, and that's hard to say since she has so many great ones. I thought for sure she and Jamey Johnson would have been nominated for "Make The World Go Away", or her and Willie for "No Mas Amor". Oh well, stay tuned! I won't sleep tonight, watching Google and Getty Images and this board and Google News Alert to see if she got the exposure she deserves (probably not).....!

If Roseanne had not gotten the award instead last night, it would've been Alison's 28th Grammy award win, not her 29th.

God bless you and Alison and Roseanne always!!!

Holly (a fan of Alison since 1994)

[philly]

From the latest Vanity Fair, excerpt from an article on Reese Witherspoon's 15 year old daughter, Ava:

Reese Witherspoon’s Daughter Is Almost Grown Up, and Looks Exactly Like Her

Or! Or, Ava will go to work at the Lil’ Spoon Inn, helping her mom at the front desk and whatever else needs doing. She’ll hear a lot of “My lord, you’re the spittin’ image” and stuff like that. A nice, quiet, out-of-the-way kinda life for a few years while she figures herself out. Hanging out with Alison Krauss’s son, Sam Bergeson, a little bit, (Reese encouraging this relationship, “He’s a nice boy from a good home”), learning the family business. Not acting, but running the Lil’ Spoon Inn, a guide-book favorite, a boutique spot that’s worth the extra money. That’d be just fine, too. [

[philly]

Alison Krauss Adds Meet and Greet
By Doug Jenkins - WBGZ Radio

WBGZ Radio 5/15/15
Story by WBGZ Radio

The upcoming Alison Krauss concert in Alton IL will now feature a chance for you to meet the performer. The 6th annual Feed the Need concert to benefit the Senior Services Plus Meals on Wheels Program will be headlined by country music and bluegrass stars Alison Krauss and Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas on Saturday June 13th.

SSP Spokesman Kim Campbell says Krauss is doing something she normally does not do.

Campbell says ticket sales are booming, and advises you to get your tickets in advance. The show will take place at the Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater. For more information, stop by or call Senior Services Plus at 465-3298 extension 100.

*The meet and greet will cost an extra $50 and she might sign some things also

18 second audio of Campbell's comments is here:

www.riverbender.com/news/details/alison-krauss-adds-meet-and-greet-175261.cfm

[philly]

Unfortunately Alison (lookin mighty spiffy, IMO) didn't have a solo in this clip

Published on Jul 9, 2015
Willie Nelson and an all star cast sing Luckenbach to finish "Outlaw" - A tribute to Waylon Jennings. July 6th 2015 Austin, Texas. Kris Kristofferson, Kacey Musgraves, Bobby Bare, Alison Krauss, Jamie Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Ryan Bingham, SHooter Jennings, Jessi Colter, Eric Church,...

All-Star Show Pays Tribute to Waylon Jennings at ACL Live

On Monday, country music legends and rising stars gathered at Austin’s Moody Theater to pay tribute to Waylon Jennings’s timeless music. The star-studded show was an outlaw country fan’s dream come true. Willie Nelson, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Robert Earl Keen, Allison Krauss, Ryan Bingham, Bobby Bare and more shared the stage to interpret some of Jennings’ greatest hits and deep cuts.

Die-hard Waylon fan and actor W. Earl Brown (HBO’s True Detective and Deadwood) emceed the show, providing colorful tidbits about each performer and song. Did you know Jennings wrote “Don’t Think Hank Done It This Way” on the back of a cocktail napkin in his car? Brown’s passionate commentary set the tone; the musicians made the magic happen.

There were several special moments throughout the evening. Kris Kristofferson wept during his duet of “Storms Never Last” with Waylon’s wife, Jessi Colter. Allison Krauss floored the crowd with her beautiful rendition of “Dreamin’ My Dreams.” The remaining Highwaymen, Willie Nelson and Kristofferson, joined Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings to perform the group’s self-titled mega hit.

Nelson led the end of the show by performing classic Waylon and Willie duets with the musical guests who are most clearly influenced by Jennings’ music. Nelson kicked off the songs at his own mysterious tempo — sometimes briefly befuddling his duet partners and the band — but everyone was all smiles. The Nelson duets included Toby Keith (“Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”), Chris Stapleton (“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”), Bobby Bare (“Goodhearted Woman”) and Sturgill Simpson (“I Can Get Off on You”).

For the encore, all of the musical guests returned to the stage for “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love). It was the perfect ending to a Waylon Tribute held in Texas.

The house band for the evening was also chock full of incredible talent, including the prolific producer Don Was (bass), Buddy Miller (baritone guitar), longtime Willie Nelson player Mickey Raphael (harmonica) and more.

It was a truly special evening and one hell of a good time. As Jessi Colter said early in the evening, “Waylon would have loved this.”

The set list:
1.Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line – Bobby Bare
2.Whistlers and Jugglers – Shooter Jennings
3.Mona – Jessi Colter
4.Ain’t Living Long Like This – Chris Stapleton
5.Ride Me Down Easy – Lee Ann Womack
6.Yours Love – Lee Ann Womack & Buddy Miller
7.Memories of You And I – Sturgill Simpson
8.The Wurlitzer Prize – Kacey Musgraves
9.Freedom To Stay – Jamey Johnson
10.Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Robert Earl Keen
11.I Do Believe – Kris Kristofferson
12.Storms Never Last – Kris Kristofferson & Jessi Colter
13.Rainy Day Woman – Ryan Bingham
14.Dreamin My Dreams – Alison Krauss
15.I Ain’t The One – Alison Krauss & Jamey Johnson
16.Honkey Tonk Heroes – Toby Keith
17.Lonesome, On’ry, and Mean – Eric Chruch
18.Til I Gain Control Again – Willie Nelson
19.Mamas Don’t Let You Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys – Willie Nelson & Toby Keith
20.My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys – Willie Nelson & Chris Stapleton
21.Goodhearted Woman – Willie Nelson & Bobby Bare
22.I Can Get Off On You – Willie Nelson & Sturgill Simpson
23.Highwaymen – Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings

Encore:

Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)