Carrie Hassler- vocals
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.

Travis Anderson - bass
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.”

Travis lives in Dayton, Tn. with his wife Stephanie and Their children Kayla and Ryne. When he’s not playing music he enjoys going to Baseball and Football games and watching them play and cheer.

Josh Swift -dobro
Josh Swift was born on September 25 1986 to Randy and Rhonda Swift. At the age of 7, Josh decided to give his life to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He grew up playing drums with his family in the Southern Gospel Music Industry. He has played drums on numerous albums for various Country/Gospel artists. When Josh was twelve, he was asked to tour with Don McClean as a full time drummer. Josh thought that his education should come first and decided to stay in school. At the age of 15, Josh was playing drums on an album and was introduced for the first time to a Dobro. A local Ohio Dobro/Steel player named Dave Morrison gave Josh his first taste of the Instrument. Josh was lucky enough to receive his first Dobro at the age of 16 free of charge, complements of Gibson. A few years later, He was introduced to a hometown Mountain Gospel group called Set Apart. With Set Apart, he played at many well known Bluegrass Venues (Bean Blossom, IBMA, ect). Josh traveled with Set Apart for just over a year until he came to the conclusion that God wanted him elsewhere. Jim Van Cleve was in charge of pulling together a band for Carrie Hassler. Josh was fortunate enough to get the call! He has also started recording various albums with Kentucky Thunder (Ricky Skaggs Band). "I feel so blessed that God saw fit to lay a miracle in my hands" says Josh. "I will never be able to repay what God has done for me". Josh has also encountered another miracle... "God saw fit to send that perfect girl my way!" Tobi Looper and Josh have been dating for quite some time now and they are looking forward to a future marriage. Josh is currently endorsed by Meredith Guitars, along with GHS strings. He resides in Sparta Tennessee on his family farm. He is currently enrolled at Tennessee Tech University pursuing a Business Degree. He enjoys Hunting, Fishing, Mudding, Cleaning (YES, CLEANING), and spending time with his beautiful girlfriend. "I thank God every night for sending His Son to die for me, for blessing me with great family, for blessing me with a true love, and for blessing me with the priceless gift of music"... "I am TRULY BLESSED".

Kevin McKinnon - mandolin
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!!!!!!!!!

Josh Miller - banjo
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.

Keith McKinnon - guitar
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.

visit Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain website