A Harvard graduate with an MBA from UCLA, Brown initially embarked on an investment banking career. However, her passion for Southern California bluegrass beckoned. When Alison Krauss sought a banjo player, Brown made a bold switch from Wall Street to music. She toured with Krauss and Michelle Shocked, and formed The Alison Brown Quartet in 1993.
Brown and her quartet captivated both traditionalists and mainstream fans. Their performances span globally, from The Kennedy Center to Verbier Music Festival and they also represented the Nashville Mayor’s Office in Japan and the US Information Agency in Central/South America.
Alison boasts 12 acclaimed solo albums, a Grammy award, numerous nominations, a USA Artists Fellowship, and a Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Her media coverage includes CBS Sunday Morning and NPR and she co-founded Compass Records Group, lauded by Billboard. Alison serves on the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter Board, teaches at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, and co-chairs the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
