PROGRAM: ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION

A bluegrass virtuoso who signed to Rounder Records at age 14, ALISON KRAUSS has sold over 12 million albums and earned 27 wins and 44 nominations from the Grammy Awards — an achievement that makes her one of the top-winning artists in Grammy history. With her countless accolades also including 14 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards and her 2021 induction into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Krauss first recorded with Union Station on her 1987 debut album Too Late to Cry and its Grammy-winning follow-up I’ve Got That Old Feeling — a 1990 LP whose breakout success played a fundamental role in the revival of American roots music.

BARRY BALES has been a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station since 1990. He is also a successful songwriter, session musician and producer. Barry’s awards include 15 Grammys, 23 International Bluegrass Music Association awards — including 4 Bass Player of the Year trophies, 1 Country Music Association award, and 2 Academy of Country Music awards, including Song of the Year for the Top 10 hit “Nobody To Blame,” written with and recorded by Chris Stapleton. He appeared in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, as well as contributing heavily to the soundtrack, and has recorded and performed with such artists as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, and Wood Box Heroes.

RON BLOCK joined Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1991, contributing banjo, guitar, vocals, and songwriting. He’s written 10 AKUS songs, including “In the Palm Of Your Hand” and “A Living Prayer,” which received a 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove award for Bluegrass Song of the Year. He’s recorded seven solo albums and a collaborative Gospel album with pianist Jeff Taylor and writer Rebecca Reynolds. Ron’s latest collaboration is with Irish tenor banjo wizard Damien O’Kane, an instrumental fusion of bluegrass, Celtic, and other influences. Ron has also recorded on albums by Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Bill Frisell, Kate Rusby, and many other artists throughout his musical career.

JERRY DOUGLAS is a world-renowned Dobro player, and has played with Alison Krauss and Union Station since 1998. His transcendent technique and his passionate musicality has helped him net sixteen Grammy Awards, three CMA awards and numerous International Bluegrass Music Association awards including multiple Dobro Player of the Year wins. Jerry has performed with everyone from Billy Strings and Phish to Paul Simon, Ray Charles and Elvis Costello. Jerry also produced Alison Krauss’ 1990 album, I’ve Got That Old Feeling, and has produced records for Maura O’Connell, Del McCoury, Molly Tuttle, Jesse Winchester, Cris Jacobs, and Eric Clapton. As music director for the acclaimed Scottish BBC television series Transatlantic Sessions, Jerry has collaborated with hundreds of artists from the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

Taking over as co-lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, RUSSELL MOORE is the newest addition to Union Station. The legendary Moore is the most awarded Male Vocalist in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), with six honors to his name. As the frontman of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out — a band he founded in 1991 — he has guided the group to over 50 industry accolades, including seven IBMA Vocal Group of the Year titles. Known for his rich, soulful voice, Moore delivers performances that resonate with authenticity while embracing a modern edge. His work continues to captivate audiences, cementing his influence as one of bluegrass music’s most respected voices.

Multi-instrumentalist JACOB BURLESON grew up in Newland, North Carolina, surrounded by music as the son of Jason Burleson, a founding member of Blue Highway. He entered the professional bluegrass scene just before his sixteenth birthday, touring on mandolin with Kenny and Amanda Smith, and went on to spend eight years with Volume Five, first on mandolin and later on guitar. In 2025, Jacob relocated to Nashville, where he quickly established himself as one of the city’s most sought-after instrumentalists, performing with East Nash Grass, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, the Jason Carter Band, and Appalachian Roadshow. A lifelong admirer of Union Station — “obsessed since age zero,” he says — Jacob cites So Long, So Wrong as his favorite album.