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I started out
singing in church at an early age and from then on music became a
major part of my life. I grew up in a very musical family so love
for music was something we all shared. Through the years my love for
singing and performing became greater and greater. Singing music I
enjoyed and serving the Lord was something I loved and still love to
do. Although I’ve tried many types of music, I never found my true
place until I sang my first bluegrass song. I was thrilled with the
sound, warmth, and just the feeling that bluegrass music gave me.
Keeping with my roots and my love for gospel music, this was a great
opportunity to keep doing a few wonderful bluegrass gospel songs in
almost every show. I owe so much to my wonderful family. Mom and Dad
hauled me everywhere and I never heard them complain. God truly
blessed me and still blesses me with all the love and support I need
to keep moving on. Now, two of the greatest blessings in my life are
my husband, Thom, and our precious little boy, Halen. Nothing brings
me more joy than seeing the excitement in our little man’s eyes when
he gets on stage with his tiny guitar.
Being a part of this group is by far the best thing I’ve ever done
in my music career. These guys have taught me so much and I have
grown to love them and their families like I do my own. I have high
hopes for Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain and know that with
dedication, hard work, and our unique sound, the sky’s the limit. I
love this music, I love this group, and I wish everyone could hear
us and feel the same way. If we never get any further than we are
right now, we will still keep on doing what we love and I will
always be happy knowing I found my place and thankful for the
amazing folks I’ve met along the way. |
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Travis
started learning to play guitar around age 7 or 8. He got his first
bass, a red Fender, for Christmas when he was 10.
“I can remember laying in the floorboard of our ’78 Ford Ranger with
the speaker rattling on the low notes right in my ear. I think that
helped me focus on the bass lines in the songs. Daddy had an Emmylou
Harris 8 track, and I thought it would be so cool if I could play
that bass like they did on C’est La Vie (You Never Can Tell), and
Two More Bottles of Wine. After seeing Steve Bryant with J.D. Crowe
and the New South, and T. Michael Coleman with Doc and Merle Watson
I knew for sure I had to learn how to do that.”
With Travis on Bass and his brother Chad on Mandolin, they began learning
songs with their Dad who played Banjo and Guitar. Around that same
time Bob started playing Dobro, they picked up a Banjo player named
Steve Moore and became known as Anderson and Moore. Playing local
venues with this group helped Travis hone his performing skills.
In Travis’ senior year of High School, Blake Roberson came to B.C.H.S. as
a new teacher. He was also a working musician, playing with bands
around the area. Sometimes Blake would organize and participate in
jam sessions with some of the kids that could play, during study
periods. These “study” sessions and occasional gigs with Blake were
a good education in Classic Rock, Blues and anything people were
dancing to in the clubs, and would eventually lead to stints with
the bands Catfish Soup and Rock Bottom with Blake’s son Dylan and
his friend Chad Tabor. “When Rock Bottom split up I played with
Larry Miller and Clear Creek for a while, until Steve James, Stoney
Olendorf and I started a band called Heart’s Desire and that lasted
for about two years.
While exploring different kinds of music, Travis has always managed to
stay in touch with his Bluegrass roots by playing with the Bottom
Dollar Band and his family band which now includes two younger
sisters, Patti and Molly on fiddles. “As bassist for Hard Rain I try
to provide a solid foundation, so everybody else can pretty much do
what they feel. The upright makes it a little more challenging for
me, but it blends so much better with the other instruments.
Carrie’s vocals make you want to just stop and listen sometimes. I
think as a whole we still have a lot of undeveloped potential, and
I’m looking forward to pulling it all together.” |
| Kevin McKinnon -
mandolin |
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Kevin McKinnon is a
19 yr old musician, who is in love with bluegrass. Learning
of bluegrass at an early age, he was babysitted by old
tapes of bluegrass
shows from CMT. He got his Mandolin when he was 3 and has added more
instruments to his catalog including, banjo, guitar, bass,
and drums. He started a band
with his brother around the age of 14 ( Lonesome Drive ),
which went on to win many band contests along the way. In
August of 2005, Kevin hit the road with The Jeanette
Williams Band, before finally
ending up with Carrie Hassler
and Hard Rain!!!!!!!!!
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Josh Miller, the banjo player for CHHR, hails
from the small town of Spring City, TN. Birthed into a musical
family that has been playing music for more than four generations.
He has traveled most of the country playing in bands of all kinds,
ranging from Bluegrass to Funk. Some of these bands include: 30
west, Blueline, Common Ground, and The Lovell Sisters Band. From
Boise, Idaho to New York City, Josh Miller has played on stages
wowing the young and old alike. Making them hang on to every note.
Not only is he an accomplished musician, he has honed his
songwriting skills into a perfect blend of perception and
traditionalism all great songwriters need in the industry today. For
that, Miller has received fantastic reviews regarding his
songwriting and instrumental work in Bluegrass Now magazine and also
Bluegrass Unlimited for the work on the Lovell Sisters debut album.
Josh Miller is a force to be reckoned with.
Josh is
sponsored by King
Banjos |
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Keith
McKinnon was born and raised
in Southwest Virginia. He grew up around bluegrass and learned to
love it. At age 5 he was given a fiddle by his dad and from then on
that's all he wanted to do. He would sit in front of the TV and
watch old tapes of the American Music Shoppe and that would be his
babysitter. He grew up playing fiddle and placed in a few
competitions around the area. At age 12 he found a love for guitar.
He started picking up his dad's guitar and messing around on it
until eventually he was as good at playing guitar as he was playing
the fiddle. He went on to win several competitions. Shortly after
having picked up the guitar he started a band with his brother and
few family friends. They played around at local fiddler's
conventions but nothing big. After a few member changes they ended
up with their nephew playing bass and life long friend Carson Cooper
on banjo. He learned alot from Carson on how to sing great harmony
and other stuff that Carson was great at. Now at age 19 he has found
himself playing and singing with Carrie Hassler. With his aggressive
rhythm and tasteful breaks he makes up 1 of 5 of Hard Rain. |
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Travis Anderson |
Josh Miller |
| Keith McKinnon |
Carrie Hassler |
Kevin McKinnon |
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I can't believe the summer has come
and gone! We have had so much excitement going on lately that
time has slipped right by me in a hurry! Wow! It is amazing to
sit down and really think about how much fun we had playing this
summer and seeing so many friends out on the road....I can't
begin to express how much I love and appreciate you all for the
support and love we have been shown...Our first single "Seven
Miles From Wichita" came out on bluegrass radio and we are proud
to say that it came in 5th on the disc it was released
on...Thanks to all of you who have called and requested it and
to all the awesome DJ's for playing the songs off the new
album....Words cannot describe how I felt when I heard one of
our songs on the radio for the first time....I owe so much to
all the ones who worked so hard on it and now it will finally be
out for folks to get!!!! It doesn't get any better than
this!!!!!! Keep calling and requesting the songs from the
album...You can call your local bluegrass station, XM or Sirius
radio.. I do have more good news!!!!! In October, "Seven Miles
From Wichita" will also be released to country radio!!!!! We are
so excited!!!!!!
Speaking of the new album......I
am writing this on September the 18th so that means ONE WEEK
from tomorrow is the official release date for the album!!!!!!!!
One week!!!!!!! It doesn't seem possible!!!!! If you are looking
at Wal-Mart hopefully it will be there on that day.. If not
check back in a couple of days as that might be the shipping
date....Either way keep checking! It will be there!!!! My
wonderful Rural Rhythm family has outdone themselves on this
album!!!!! They are the BEST in the world!!!!!!
In August we had the wonderful
opportunity to travel down to New Orleans and perform along with
our buddies Jim VanCleve and Clay Jones (both members of
bluegrass super group Mountainheart) for the RYKO convention. We
all had a blast and I have to say the folks there were some of
the best I have ever met!!!! Thanks so much to the whole RYKO
staff for making that trip so special!!!!!!!!!
Last but not least, I am proud
to say we are now sponsored by MOONPIE!!!!!!!! Man, who doesn't
love a good ole moonpie!!!!! The guys and I are so happy to team
up with the great folks at the Chattanooga Bakery and bring some
moonpies into the wonderful world of bluegrass!!!!! We will have
moonpies at all our shows and of course MOONPIE
merchandise!!!!!!
As you can see a lot has been
going on, but I am never too busy to stop and tell you all how
much I love and appreciate you all. God has blessed me more
than I deserve. I have the most wonderful people around me
everyday and I am blessed to meet so many new faces at each
show. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and I can't
wait to see you all out on the road!!!!!!!!! God bless and stay
tuned for more updates and, hey, if you ever have questions or
comments, please give me a shout!!!!! Tell everyone to make sure
and sign up for the mailing list. That is a good way for me to
keep everyone posted on upcoming news and events!!!!!! Thanks
again and love you all!!!!!
9/20/06
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