Alison Krauss and Union Station

BMI Bluegrass Beaucoup: IBMA Announces Nominees for 2008 Awards

2008-08-21T18:42:00-05:00

The International Bluegrass Music Association recently revealed the nominees for the 2008 IBMA Awards, and BMI artists, songwriters and musicians dominate the elite list. New duo Dailey & Vincent underscored the strength of their phenomenal breakout year with the most nods, while mainstays including Blue Highway and Dan Tyminski reaped the benefits of artistic chances and innovation. Awards will be presented during the organization’s 19th annual ceremony, slated for Thursday, October 2. Hosted by icon Del McCoury, the event will return the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

For their first trip to the IBMA Awards together, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent amassed a jaw-dropping ten nominations, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist nod for Jamie, Vocal Group, Emerging Artist and Album of the Year. New as a duo but familiar to the world of bluegrass, Dailey honed his skills under Doyle Lawson while Vincent proved an adroit apprentice of Ricky Skaggs. Two Song of the Year nods for tunes “More Than a Name on a Wall” and “By the Mark” added to the pair’s stunning nomination tally.

Musician powerhouse Blue Highway assumed production and key songwriting responsibilities for their latest release, Through the Window of a Train, and the resulting project emphasized the group’s virtuosity and versatility. Album, Vocal Group, Instrumental Group and title track Song of the Year nods number among the band’s six nominations. Members Tim Stafford and Rob Ickes earned individual nods for Guitar and Dobro Player of the Year, respectively. With nine awards lining his shelves, longtime BMI songwriter Ickes is the most awarded instrumentalist in IBMA history.

Esteemed guitarist and vocalist Dan Tyminski also garnered six nominations. Known to many as the guitarist for Alison Krauss and Union Station and the George Clooney’s canorous singing voice in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Tyminski’s solo work over the past year with the Dan Tyminski Band earned a Male Vocalist of the Year nod – an award Tyminski swept for three consecutive years in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Members of the band earned a slew of individual nominations as well, including Barry Bales for Bass, Adam Steffey for Mandolin and Ron Stewart with dual nominations for Banjo and Fiddle Player of the Year.

Venerable BMI bluegrass favorites Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grascals and The Del McCoury Band all obtained four nominations each, while first-time nominees Grasstowne joined elite company by also garnering four nods. A striking balance of recognition between the genre’s pioneers and most promising torchbearers emerged, as International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame members Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe all secured nominations, and rising stars Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and The Infamous Stringdusters scored multiple mentions. Critically acclaimed new group The Steeldrivers also earned their first nomination.

As the 2008 recipient of the genre’s highest honor, BMI songwriter Bill Clifton will take his place in the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Clifton’s profound legacy rests proudly upon the creation of a strong European bluegrass fanbase and a songwriter catalog that includes “Mary Dear,” “Little White Washed Chimney,” “Walking In My Sleep,” “Going Back To Dixie,” “Blue Ridge Mountain Blues” and “Are You Alone.”

All 2008 BMI IBMA Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent
The Grascals
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blue Highway
Dailey & Vincent
The Grascals
The Isaacs
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blue Highway
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Dan Tyminski Band

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jamie Dailey
Russell Moore
Dan Tyminski

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dale Ann Bradley
Alison Krauss
Claire Lynch
Rhonda Vincent
Sonya Isaacs

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(album, artist, producer(s), label)

Dailey & Vincent
Dailey & Vincent
Produced by Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent, Rounder Records

Lovin’ Pretty Women
Produced by Ronnie Bowman, Rebel Records

The SteelDrivers
The SteelDrivers
Co-produced by The SteelDrivers, Rounder Records

Through The Window Of A Train
Blue Highway
Produced by Blue Highway, Rounder Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
(song, artist, songwriter(s))

“By The Mark”
Recorded by Dailey & Vincent
Co-written by David Rawlings & Gillian Welch

“Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey”
Recorded by The SteelDrivers
Co-written by Mike Henderson

“More Than A Name On A Wall”
Recorded by Dailey & Vincent
Co-written by Jimmy Fortune & John Rimel

“Through The Window Of A Train”
Recorded by Blue Highway
Co-written by Tim Stafford & Steve Gulley

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
(song or album, artist(s), producer(s), label)

“Be Still Moses”
Produced by Ronnie Bowman, Rebel Records

“By The Mark”
Recorded by Dailey & Vincent
Produced by Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent, Rounder Records

Help Is On The Way
Recorded by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Produced by Doyle Lawson, Horizon Records

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(album, artist(s), producer(s), label)

Sound of the Slide Guitar
Recorded and produced by Andy Hall, Sugar Hill Records

The Past Is Present
Recorded and produced by Jason Barie, Pinecastle Records

When At Last
Recorded and produced by Russ Barenberg, Compass Records

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
(album, featured artists, producer(s), label)

Christmas Grass, Vol. 3
Featuring Larry Sparks, Russell Moore and Charlie Daniels
Produced by Greg Cole & Chuck Rhodes; KOCH Records

Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother
Featuring Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent, Billy Walker, Ronnie McCoury, Rob McCoury, David Ball, Larry Stephenson, Joe Spivey, Eddie Stubbs, Jason Carter, Dickey Lee, Freddy Weller, Andy May, Darrin Vincent, Clay Rigdon and Bill Wolfenbarger
Co-produced by Bill Wolfenbarger; Swift River Music

Standard Songs for Average People
John Prine & Mac Wiseman
Co-produced by John Prine & David Ferguson; Oh Boy Records

We Are Family
Jeff & Sheri Easter & The Easter Brothers
Produced by Jeff & Sheri Easter; Daywind Records

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cadillac Sky
Dailey & Vincent
Grasstowne
The SteelDrivers

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.D. Crowe
Jim Mills
Earl Scruggs
Ron Stewart

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Missy Raines
Darrin Vincent
Marshall Wilborn

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hunter Berry
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart

DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tony Rice
Tim Stafford
Josh Williams

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush
Doyle Lawson
Ronnie McCoury
Adam Steffey

BLUEGRASS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Terry Herd; Into the Blue, Bluegrass Radio Network

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR RECORDED PROJECT
(designer, album, artist, label)

Smay Vision Graphic Design
The Stanley Brothers: The Definitive Collection (1947-1966)
The Stanley Brothers, Time Life

BEST LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT
(writer, album, artist, label)

Frank & Marty Godbey
Bluegrass Holiday
J.D. Crowe, Rebel Records

Gary Reid
The Stanley Brothers: The Definitive Collection (1947-1966)
The Stanley Brothers, Time Life

Brooks & Dunn Lead CMA Nominees List

2006-08-31T05:00:00-05:00

Charismatic country twosome Brooks & Dunn leads the impressive list of BMI nominees for 40th annual Country Music Association Awards. The nominees, announced Wednesday, August 30, include two BMI inductions into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame: influential musician and producer Harold Bradley and legendary singer Sonny James. The new Hall of Fame members will be formally inducted during the CMA Awards ceremony in Nashville November 6.


Brooks & Dunn	Keith Urban	Carrie Underwood

Brooks & Dunn garnered a whopping six nominations for their work last year, plus a Song of the Year nod for member Ronnie Dunn's co-writing skills on the pair's moving hit, "Believe." The duo will also vie for awards in the Entertainer, Album, Single, Vocal Duo, Musical Event, and Video of the Year categories.


Rascal Flatts	Big Kenny	Faith Hill

Superstar Keith Urban received due acknowledgement of another outstanding year, securing four nominations, including yet another Male Vocalist of the Year nomination; Urban won the award consecutively in 2004 & 2005. His name also appears in Entertainer, Single and Song of the Year divisions.


Little Big Town	Miranda Lambert

Carrie Underwood continues on the road to superstardom, earning four nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year and the Horizon Award, the title bestowed upon the most promising up-and-comer of the year. Rascal Flatts secured nominations in the prestigious Entertainer, Vocal Group and Album of the Year categories. The dynamic Big & Rich also received three nominations, including Vocal Duo of the Year.

Faith Hill earned a solo nod for Female Vocalist of the Year and a nomination for her collaboration with husband Tim McGraw in the Musical Event of the Year category for "Like We Never Loved At All," while Little Big Town also garnered two nominations, one for Vocal Group of the Year and the other for the Horizon Award. Joining Little Big Town in the Horizon Award race are Sugarland and Miranda Lambert, who also landed Vocal Group of the Year and Video of the Year nods, respectively.

Other nominations include perennial favorites Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas for Vocal Group of the Year, the Wreckers for Vocal Duo of the Year, and dobro master Jerry Douglas for Musician of the Year. Martina McBride earned another Female Vocalist of the Year nomination, along with Sara Evans. Lonestar and Montgomery Gentry earned nominations in the Vocal Group and Vocal Duo of the Year categories, respectively.

Brooks & Dunn will host the ceremony for the third year. The CMA Awards will be broadcast live (8:00-11:00 p.m./ET) from the Gaylord Entertainment Center on ABC. Tickets for the awards go on sale Sept. 15 at Ticketmaster outlets.

2006 BMI CMA AWARD NOMINEES
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown/Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville

"Better Life"
Keith Urban
Produced by Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville

"Jesus Take The Wheel"
Carrie Underwood
Arista Nashville

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)

Hillbilly Deluxe
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Ronnie Dunn/Kix Brooks/Mark Wright/Tom Shapiro/Tony Brown/Bob DiPiero
Arista Nashville

Me And My Gang
Rascal Flatts
Produced Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher)

"8th of November"
Big Kenny
Big Love Music

"Believe"
Ronnie Dunn
Sony/ATV Tree/Showbilly Music

"Tonight I Wanna Cry"
Keith Urban
Guitar Monkey Music/Coburn Music

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
George Teren
House of Full Circle Music

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Wreckers

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn (Guest vocals by Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill)
“Building Bridges”
Arista Nashville

Faith Hill Featuring Tim McGraw
“Like We Never Loved At All”
Warner Bros. Records

Gretchen Wilson (Featuring Merle Haggard)
“Politically Uncorrect”
Epic Records

Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)
“When I Get Where I’m Going”
Arista Nashville

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Brent Mason – Guitar/Electric Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and director)

"8th of November"
Big & Rich

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn

"Jesus Take The Wheel"
Carrie Underwood

"Kerosene"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)

HORIZON AWARD

Miranda Lambert
Little Big Town
Sugarland
Carrie Underwood

BMI Writers Take Home Majority of This Year’s Grammys

2006-02-08T17:00:00-05:00

Some of BMI's biggest songwriters and artists were among the top winners at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.


Mariah Carey	Alison Krauss

Adding to BMI's 53% take of the night's awards, triple winners Mariah Carey, Alison Krauss, John Legend and Kanye West led the list with the most trophies, dominating the r&b, rap and country categories.


John Legend	Kanye West

Carey, whose comeback release The Emancipation of Mimi was named Best Contemporary R&B Album, also took home Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for the album's smash hit "We Belong Together."


CeCe Winans	Black Eyed Peas

Bluegrass fiddler Alison Krauss and her band Union Station added Best Country Album (Lonely Runs Both Ways), Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Restless") and Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Unionhouse Branch") to an impressive career Grammy haul that now totals 20.


Shakira	Gorillaz

The coveted Best New Artist Grammy went to neo-soul artist John Legend, who also picked up Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the moving "Ordinary People" and Best R&B Album for his debut entitled Get Lifted.


Tim McGraw	Linkin Park

Kanye West cleaned up in the rap field, winning Best Rap Solo Performance for the Jamie Foxx duet "Gold Digger," Best Rap Song for "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Album for his sophomore effort Late Registration. The BMI Award-winning rapper also won three awards at last year's ceremony.


Aretha Franklin	Maroon5

Earning two Grammys apiece were pianist Billy Childs for Best Instrumental Composition ("Into The Light") and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists ("What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?"), and gospel singer CeCe Winans for Best Gospel Performance ("Pray") and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Purified).


Keith Urban	System of a Down

Other big BMI winners included the Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, Shakira, Audio Adrenaline, Keith Urban, Gilberto Gil, Bobby Boyd, William Bolcom, Aretha Franklin, Maroon5, Linkin Park, Tim McGraw, System of a Down, the White Stripes and Luis Miguel.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Winners:

Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Song
"Be Blessed"

Audio Adrenaline
Best Rock Gospel Album
Until My Heart Caves In

Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group
"Don't Phunk With My Heart"

William Bolcom
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience"

Bobby Boyd
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Mariah Carey
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"We Belong Together"
Best R&B Song
"We Belong Together"
Best Contemporary R&B Album
The Emancipation of Mimi

Billy Childs
Best Instrumental Composition
"Into The Light"
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists
"What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?"

Casting Crowns
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Lifesong

Christopher Cerf
Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long

Willy Chirino
Best Salsa/Merengue Album
Son Del Alma

John Du Prez (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

Aretha Franklin
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"A House Is Not A Home"

Gilberto Gil
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Eletrac?stico

Gorillaz (PRS) featuring De La Soul
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
"Feel Good Inc."

Jeff Hanna
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Faith Hill
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Dave Holland Big Band
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Overtime

Marcus Hummon
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Eric Idle (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

B.B. King
Best Traditional Blues Album
80

Alison Krauss and Union Station
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"Restless"
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Unionhouse Branch"
Best Country Album
Lonely Runs Both Ways

John Legend
Best New Artist
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
"Ordinary People"
Best R&B Album
Get Lifted

Linkin Park
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Numb/Encore"

Little Joe y La Familia
Best Tejano Album
Chicanisimo

Maroon5
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"This Love"

Delbert McClinton
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Cost Of Living

Donnie McClurkin
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The Del McCoury Band
Best Bluegrass Album
The Company We Keep

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Pat Metheny Group
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Way Up

Luis Miguel
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
México En La Piel

Eddie Palmieri
Best Latin Jazz Album
Listen Here!

John Prine
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Fair & Square

Sonny Rollins
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Why Was I Born?

Fat Man Scoop
Best Short Form Music Video
"Lose Control"

Shakira
Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
Fijación Oral Vol. 1

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Beyond The Sound Barrier

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Shake, Rattle And Polka!

System of a Down
Best Hard Rock Performance
B.Y.O.B.

Turtle Island String Quartet
Best Classical Crossover Album
4 + Four

Keith Urban
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"You'll Think Of Me"

Bebo Valdés
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Bebo De Cuba

Louie Vega
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Superfly (Louie Vega EOL Mix)"

Kanye West
Best Rap Solo Performance
"Gold Digger"
Best Rap Song
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone"
Best Rap Album
Late Registration

The White Stripes
Best Alternative Album
Get Behind Me Satan

CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Performance
"Pray"
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Purified

Paul Winter Consort
Best New Age Album
Silver Solstice

Where Art Dan Tyminski? On Top of the Charts, That’s Where

2002-03-26T17:00:00-05:00

Dan Tyminski is used to the limelight. Formerly singer and mandolin player with the heralded bluegrass ensemble Lonesome River Band, Tyminski joined up with Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1994 as guitarist and singer, just as the band was hitting its commercial zenith. Long respected by fans, critics and peers for his dazzling, renaissance man-like talent, the multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, writer, father and husband by last year had won four Grammy Awards and nearly a dozen IBMA trophies in as many years.

But lately, Tyminski has been shot into the publicity stratosphere for a "role" in the Coen Brothers hit film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? At a critical point in the movie, George Clooney's character sings the standard "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow"- except that it's really Tyminski's voice you hear. The movie, song and soundtrack have yielded this Vermont native some amazing results: CMA Awards for Single and Album, and three Grammy Awards including Best Collaboration with Vocals, Best Album, and Best Compilation Soundtrack. Down From the Mountain, the live album from O Brother's Ryman concert also won the Grammy for best Contemporary Folk Album, and if that weren't enough, for his work with Alison Krauss, Tyminski also took home statues for Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Performance. Yes, that's six Grammys in 2002, making Dan Tyminski one of the year's most celebrated musicians.

In 2001 Tyminski also released his long-awaited first solo record, Carry Me Across the Mountain (Doobie Shea Records), and it was named the Contemporary Bluegrass album of the year from the indie record trade group AFIM. With so many awards for his singular talent, will Dan Tyminski try flying solo? No way. "My main focus is, of course, Alison Krauss and Union Station," he promises. "My solo career is merely something I do to use my time constructively when I don't work with the band."

Besides awards and media attention, the O Brother phenom has yielded sales-four million copies to date. The soundtrack spent 24 weeks at number one on Billboard's country album chart, and held at number two for the year. It's a marvel in the music business that has fans and purveyors of traditional music jumping for joy.

The affable, humor-loving Tyminski is pretty happy himself. "It's just got me saying, 'O Brother!'" he deadpans. Though thrilled to have been a part of a fun project that had such meaningful effect on the music he loves, Tyminski is as surprised with the results as anyone. "It's kind of shocking to see how much attention that style of music can really get if you can find a way to make people take notice. . . ."

That it takes George Clooney's face doesn't bother Dan Tyminski one bit. The two developed camaraderie on the set, despite Clooney's good-naturedly and publicly casting aspersions on Tyminski for taking the singing gig away from him. "I don't think he was too mad," says Tyminski. "He was so humble and so nice about the whole thing. For the record, he can sing, he can carry a tune. I just don't think he was comfortable with what had to be done with this particular piece. When he walked out of the studio after trying to sing it a couple of times, Clooney just looked at me and said, 'I'll tell you what-I'll act; you sing'."

Alison Krauss

2001-07-16T18:00:00-05:00

Since recording her first Rounder Records album at the age of 15, singer, fiddler, and bandleader Alison Krauss has forged her own path to mass popularity and critical acclaim. She has achieved remarkable success in country, bluegrass, and popular music on her own terms, without ever compromising her unique musical vision.

She signed as a songwriter with BMI before the age of 20, and has proven herself to be a talented singer and fiddler. Currently the youngest member in the Grand Ole Opry, she has been performing since she was eight. With her band Union Station (which includes BMI songwriter Jerry Douglas), Alison has won 10 Grammys, four Country Music Association awards, and four International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Songs in her repertoire, including "When You Say Nothing at All," "I've Got the Old Feeling" and "Foolish Heart," have helped solidify her as one of Bluegrass's greatest talents.

On Forget About It, her eighth recording, Alison Krauss ignores the artificial boundaries of the music industry to present exquisite music that is beyond category. Once again, Krauss has assembled a wonderful assortment of songs from a wide range of sources. Whether performing a 1970s Todd Rundgren ballad ("It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference"), a '90s country hit by Shenandoah ("Ghost in This House") or a new song by Michael McDonald or Ron Block, Krauss and the musicians serve the song, not current industry trends, creating music with a timeless, universal charm. The album's first single, R.L. Castleman's "Forget About It," epitomizes the appeal of this record with its immediately accessible, acoustic-based sound and Alison's crystalline vocals. The album closes with "Dreaming My Dreams With You," a beautiful country waltz featuring harmony vocals by Lyle Lovett and Dolly Parton, and a lovely dobro solo by Jerry Douglas.

Alison's last recording, 1997's So Long So Wrong, was an all-acoustic project credited to Alison and her band. For Forget About It, Krauss augments the core Union Station lineup of Barry Bales, Ron Block, Jerry Douglas, and Dan Tyminski with pianist Matt Rollings, guitarist Pat Bergeson, and bassist Viktor Krauss, vocalists Suzanne, Sidney, and Evelyn Cox (of the Cox Family), mandolinist Sam Bush and drummer Jim Keltner.

Jerry Douglas

2001-07-16T18:00:00-05:00

Dobro player-extraordinaire Jerry Douglas has won multiple Grammy Awards as both a producer and a performer. His latest album, Restless On The Farm, features cohorts ranging from Bela Fleck to Steve Earle in supportive roles. The flat-out truth is that whenever someone mentions the word dobro in modern musical circles, Jerry Douglas's name comes up as the natural synonym for the instrument.

Yet, even as a solo musician, Douglas probably knows as much as anyone else about what it's like to be in the core of the band; helping to shape the sound and style of either a collective or backing another artist. After all, he had already racked up experience form his father's band, West Virginia Travelers, before starting his professional career at 16 as a member of The Country Gentlemen. And he certainly spent plenty of time contributing to groups such as J.D. Crowe and the New South (alongside Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, and others), Boone Creek (again with Ricky Skaggs) and Alison Krauss and Union Station. Finally, there's the fact that as sideman and band member, Douglas has over 1,000 album credits with artists ranging from David Grisman to Paul Simon, Trisha Yearwood to Del McCoury.

Important to both his identity and to those he lends his talents to is the fact that "Flux," as they call him, still listens and learns. His ear for the subtle detail of different styles has not only contributed to Jerry's unique sound and repertoire, but has also allowed him the flexibility to customize his performances for the artists he's working with. "I'm like a chameleon . . . I'm able to slip in and out of character." Jerry said in a recent Bluegrass Magazine interview. "That's what I've learned from doing so many sessions; it's not being dishonest, it's who I am, it's really me." Fortunately, this excitement about presenting the different musical facets also benefits the many types of crowds, from bluegrass to jazz, that Jerry encounters on the road. "I have great respect for any kind of music and I tailor what I play for the audience."

This ethic has certainly paid off for Flux. Not only has he become arguably the most recognizable dobro player around, sideman or not, but he's also reaped the rewards of both culminating personal style and complimenting others' efforts. To date Douglas has won six Grammy Awards, six International Bluegrass Music Association Dobro Player of the Year awards, and seven Academy of Country Music Awards for Best Instrumentalist. His sessions alongside top country artists grace the airwaves countless times a day. Beyond the format, his virtuosity has attracted a following that includes musical peers as well as fans from all walks of life.

Douglas sets new limits with the Restlesso on the Farm album, though he never loses touch with the organic nature of the dobro. Whether cracking through standup bluegrass, blues, eastern themes, country standards or elements of jazz, Restless on the Farm reflects true diversity and mastery of the instrument.