Carrie Hassler
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Carrie Hassler

Crossville, Tennessee, United States | MAJOR

Crossville, Tennessee, United States | MAJOR
Band Country Bluegrass

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Michael Martin Murphey's Widfire given new life as a duet with Carrie Hassler"

Michael Martin Murphey's "Widfire given new life as a duet with Carrie Hassler"
from his new album BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS II - Driftwood Magazine


"high octane excursion"

CARRIE HASSLER/CHHR2: Better buckle your seat belts before light hits byte on this set, her debut was no fluke. Whether she was holding back or just honed her chops more with 2 years of road work, Hassler is the future of bluegrass. With playing and singing that can easily rival the great ladies at the fore of the form these days, Hassler doesn’t need to elbow them aside as the drive, passion and pure musicality puts her toe to toe with them. Firmly establishing herself as a front runner, this is not polite bluegrass, this is a high octane excursion that opens the ears and gets the blood flowing. Hot stuff.
- MidwestRecord Reviews


"Rich and Powerful Vocal Performance"

"Once or twice a year I come across a CD from new artists that simply blows me away. Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain have done it with their debut self-titled effort. Backed by an extremely talented group of young players, Carrie, who has been gifted with a voice that produces a rich and powerful vocal performance, and Hard Rain have a very bright future. This is one of those CDs I'll have to replace because I've played it so many times at home, in my car and at the office." ~C.J. Snow – Country Buyer with Borders Group, Inc. said, - Border's Group, Inc.


"A Voice as Pure as the Mountain Whippoorwill"

“With a voice as pure as the mountain whippoorwill, Carrie Hassler moves with ease from hard driving bluegrass numbers to traditional country or gospel melodies. Produced by fiddler and artist Jim Van Cleve, the disc surrounds Hassler's bold, soulful alto with a seamless blend of modern country and bluegrass touches that reflect both her range of influences and her love for bluegrass. The set offers a perfect showcase for the young singer's distinctive approach, with country and bluegrass classics like "Leaving On Your Mind" and "Our Last Goodbye" studding a set of new material that includes a masterfully crafted anthem of longing in the first single, "Seven Miles From Wichita." Now that's how Carries publicity sheet opens for this CD and after listening to the 11 songs I would certainly agree. Shades of Krauss, Vincent and Emmy Lou at times with outstanding playing from instrumentalists riding high. Any doubt about the country content here is dismissed with her tender rendition of the Webb Pierce classic “Leaving on your Mind”. The band is strictly not a bluegrass band, but one of their guest musicians Jim Van Cleve on fiddle (on only 4 songs) clears that distinction aside. (He also plays guitars, strings, sings backup as well as harmony and produces). Hard Rain contains Josh Miller on banjo, Kevin McKinnon on mandolin, Keith McKinnon guitar, Josh Swift on gramophonic guitar and Travis Anderson on bass. They stand alone on the great instrumental “Sensabaugh Tunnel”.

The a cappella version of “ Least that I can do” shows great harmonies. There's a mix of fast paced songs “Restless State of Mind”, “Going on the next train” “Love is our business” and “Hard Rain” which gives the band its name. The slower songs include lovely ballads like “Now that she's gone” and “Our last goodbye” This is an outstanding introduction to an artist who is more than ready to take her place on the national scene, and with the right publicity and radio exposure you will be hearing lots more about and from Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain.
- Country Music & Dance Scotland


"Hybrid Between Bluegrass and Country"

"Hassler offers something of a hybrid between bluegrass and country. Some critics have referred to this mix as contemporary bluegrass, a style that draws from bluegrass but blunts its more rustic edge, making it much more radio friendly. Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain is an honest effort, well played and well sung.” AllMusic.com - AllMusic.com


"100 MPH"

RE: 2006 DEBUT self-titled CD by Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain

“WOW!! Where has she been hiding? I’m glad I took my heart medication before playing this CD. This project starts out at 100 mph. and doesn’t stop until the CD is done. This project has everything you could ever want in a first class production: beautiful singing, flawless instrumentals, and superb song selection.

The pulsating sound of Josh Miller’s banjo, along with the McKinnon brothers and Josh Swift’s Dobro, keeps driving this project onward and faster. This project contains different types of music for everyone. I found myself mesmerized the entire time I was listening to this CD.

Carrie brings you into her special place and keeps you there the entire time this CD is playing. This CD really got my request line in overdrive. I played the entire CD. As soon as the first song started, my phone was ringing off the wall. All songs were requested to be played again. This CD will be my constant companion for many weeks to come.”~ Al Shusterman/KCBL Backroads Bluegrass - KCBL RADIO


"The Lady Sure Can Sing"

"If someone asked me for a short list of new bluegrass vocalists to add to their collection Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain would be on it. The Lady can sure sing. "- Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar Magazine (from the album review in the January 2007 issue) - Vintage Guitar Magazine


"Most Promising New Female Vocalist"

Terry Herd of the Bluegrass Radio Network says of the rising star, “Without question, Carrie Hassler is the most promising new female vocalist in bluegrass. The future is waiting for her to take it wherever she chooses.” - Bluegrass Radio Network


"Album is a Must Hear"

“Carrie Hassler is blessed with a beautiful and diverse voice. She just belts out and is able to tie the bluegrass sound together. And her band is gifted. The musicians play with so much love and passion. I put this in and was kept excited from the first song to the end of the list. It is a must hear for any bluegrass lover.”~ John Shelton Ivany’s TOP 21 - Ivany's Top 21


"Top-notch...an Alison Krauss on high-octane gas"

Regarding the new 2008 CHHR2 CD:

This is a top-notch bluegrass band, an Alison Krauss on high-octane gas. While some of their their songs (Country Strong, Seven Miles to Wichita) come to mind wouldn't feel out of place on a say, a Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride or even Faith Hill album, this is a kick-tail bluegrass band with incredible instrumentalists on fiddle, banjo, Dobro and mandolin. All led by Hassler's sweet and strong classic country voice." - Mac McDonald, Monterey, CA - The Herald - Monterey Herald


"Holy smoke!"

REGARDING NEW 2008 CHHR2 ALBUM,

"Holy smoke! Hassler's latest-no-holds-bared release demonstrates remarkable talent. From her blistering arrangement of "One Way Track To Nowhere" to an affective "Turn The Page," Hassler is at the top of her game." - Bob Mitchell, Radio Bluegrass International - Radio Bluegrass International


Discography

2011 - new album release tba

2010 The All-Star Jam - Live at Graves Mountain (4 IBMA Nominations including ALBUM OF THE YEAR

2010 - New single release: "Wildfire" a duet with Michael Martin Murphey and Carrie Hassler seen on his new album, "Buckaroo Blue Grass II"

2008 - CHHR2 (Release date: July 29, 2008)

2006 - Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain - self-titled album on Rural Rhythm Records (Release Date: Sept 06)

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Bio

Carrie Hassler's amazing voice, highly entertaining performances, and numerous #1 albums and singles have garnered great attention over the last several years. She has received the Country Song of the Year Award by Strictly Country Magazine, appeared on the cover of Bluegrass Music Profiles Magazine, and in 2011 received two IBMA nominations for Album of the Year ("The All-Star Jam - Live at Graves Mountain") and Recorded Event of the Year ("Graves Mountain Memories"), among numerous other recognitions. She also garnered the #1 country single, "Country Strong" on European country radio and several #1 albums and singles on bluegrass music charts here in the U.S.

Carrie jumped on the scene late in 2006 with the release of "Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain" album on Rural Rhythm Records. The album was produced by Jim VanCleve of the band Mountain Heart and received immediate success debuting at #11 on Billboard Top Bluegrass Top Album Chart (retail sales) and spending nine months in 2007 on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey Top 15 Album Chart (airplay).

Just over a month after the initial album release, the single “Seven Miles From Wichita” hit the #1 spot on Sirius Radio’s Bluegrass Top 40 and went on to spend 10 months on the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Single Chart and was also a crossover in country radio as well. While that single was still charting, another single, “Going on the Next Train,” hit the same chart and appeared until January 2008. Yet another track, the gospel bluegrass song “Least That I Can Do” spent a year on Bluegrass Now Magazine’s Gospel Truths Chart.

In 2008, Rural Rhythm Records released her second album, "CHHR2" again produced by Van Cleve. The album made its debut at #5 on Billboard’s Top 50 Bluegrass Chart (retail sales)and climbed the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 15 Album Chart along with many other charts. The first single, “I Can Go Back Anytime” hit #1 on the May 2009 Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 with the second single, Faith & Hope also hitting the #1 spot on Power Source Magazine’s Top 10 Bluegrass Songs.

She has also been honored by her hometown of Pikeville, TN where the Mayor presented her with the Key to the City and proclaimed “Carrie Hassler Day."

Carrie has been influenced by a wide range of talents including Sheri Easter, a gospel singer who tinged her music with some bluegrass sounds along with the gospel message; Etta James, Patsy Cline, Dale Ann Bradley and Alison Krauss. "To this day, I remember the people I looked up to and I hope to make the same kind of mark in lives as these women did in mine," said Carrie.