Biography

Rural Rhythm Records is pleased to announce a new gospel single release, AMAZING GRACE, produced and performed by CARRIE HASSLER. This song is the first commercial single release on the new RURAL RHYTHM CHRISTIAN imprint label dedicated to creating fine Christian Music from America’s Heartland. AMAZING GRACE will be available on ITunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, Zune and other digital outlets on March 10, 2009 and also featured on the upcoming new Gospel Collection summer release, MOUNTAIN SOUL directed to both the Christian and Mainstream markets.

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain have been able to cross many music genres with their music - from Bluegrass and Country - to Roots and Americana - to Inspirational and Gospel from CD sales, airplay and at live performances. Carrie has been performing AMAZING GRACE a cappella at their live concerts for some time now - garnering a huge audience response with fans continually requesting a recorded version of the song.

Rural Rhythm just released the band's second bluegrass radio single, FAITH & HOPE from their current chart topping album, CHHR2. The song was written by band member, JOSH MILLER who also contributed seven other original songs to the album.

Chart success continues for CHHR2 including jumping to #1 on Cashbox Magazine’s Rockygrass Album Chart this month and climbing to #5 on the March Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s Top 15 National Bluegrass Survey Chart. The first bluegrass single release, I CAN GO BACK ANYTIME (written by Jennifer Strickland) climbs to #5 on the March Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's Top 30 Singles and reached as high as #2 in the U.K. on Hot Disc Country Radio charts.

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain were recently honored for another successful track on CHHR2. The emotionally charged Alzheimer's themed tune, SHE’S A STRANGER IN HIS MIND (written by Mark Brinkman) was the winner of the SPIRIT AWARD for COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR by Strictly Country Magazine. Other Spirit Award winners this year included: MIRANDA LAMBERT, BROOKS & DUNN, BLAKE SHELTON, JULIANNE HOUGH and MERLE HAGGARD.

Add yet another song from CHHR2 receiving success is the newly released U.K. country radio release of COUNTRY STRONG that climbed to #8 this week on the U.K. Hot Disc chart.
Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain’s next appearance is the sold out concert on March 14, 2009 at Williams Community Auditorium in Berryville, VA along with group, Nothin’ Fancy. On March 28, 2009, CHHR heads to Hugo, Oklahoma for the Early Bird Bluegrass Festival followed by numerous other performances in the U.S. this year. The band will make their first overseas tour this summer with concert and festival dates in France and Switzerland.

HARD RAIN band members include: JOSH MILLER, TRAVIS ANDERSON, KEITH MCKINNON, KEVIN MCKINNON and JAMIE HARPER. For more information and a complete tour schedule, please visit:
www.CarrieHasslerandHardRain.com
www.RuralRhythm.com
www.HopeRiverEntertainment.com