Brown, Alison

Native of Connecticut; grew up in La Jolla, California. Lives in Nashville.
A graduate of Harvard University; has an MBA in finance from UCLA. For a short time, she worked as an investment broker with Smith-Barney.
First band: The Stringbenders (San Diego).
As a teenager, she played Dobro™ with Gold Rush, a group that included Stuart Duncan on fiddle and John Hickman on banjo.
1981, recorded a duet album with Stuart Duncan called “Pre-Sequel” (Ridgerunner).
While at Harvard, she was a member of the band Northern Lights.
1989-1991, played banjo and guitar with Alison Krauss and Union Station.
1990, released solo album Simple Pleasures (Vanguard Records).
1991, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year.
1992, toured with folk-rock performer Michelle Shocked.
With husband Garry West owns Compass Records.
1996, formed The Alison Brown Quartet, an acoustic jazz ensemble featuring the banjo.
1999, recorded and toured with the Americana band “New Grange” with Tim O’Brien, Darol Anger and Mike Marshall.

2000, released bluegrass album Fair Weather featuring vocal performances by guests Vince Gill and Claire Lynch.
2000, Alison’s “Girl’s Breakdown” (from her Fair Weather album) was used as the official wake up music for the crew of the U.S. Space Shuttle Destiny during their mission to the International Space Station.
2001, won Grammy for Best Country Instrumental “Leaving Cottondale,” a duet with Bela Fleck (from her Fair Weather album).
2002, gave the keynote address at the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Louisville.
2014, received the 2014 USA Artists Berresford Fellowship, a $50,000 grant given to artists who have made significant contributions in their field of endeavor.
2019, performed as a member of the “First Ladies of Bluegrass,” a group featuring the first women to win the IBMA Award in their instrument categories: Alison (banjo), Missy Raines (bass), Becky Buller (fiddle), Sierra Hull (mandolin) and Molly Tuttle (guitar).
2019, was inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame.

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