32 year music business veteran Sam Passamano, Jr. and Pam Passamano his business partner with Rural Rhythm Records (one of today’s top Traditional Country & Bluegrass Label) and his wife of 33 years have formed Rural Rhythm Christian, which is dedicated to creating fine Christian Music from America’s Heartland. 

Their 4 oldest children , Jennifer, Sarah & Sammy III, Tony (who are also 3rd generation Passamano’s in the music business), all hold key positions in the family owned and operated company and are very excited about their new Christian label and look forward to being a part of this new and important chapter in their family’s company.

“Counting the many blessing that we have received throughout our lives has led us this decision and direction.  The ability to spread inspiration through music to uplift our daily lives is one way we can give back and share our faith”, says Pam Passamano.

First title from Rural Rhythm Record’s new Gospel Label RURAL RHYTHM CHRISITIAN - “Dedicated to creating fine inspirational Christian Music from America’s Heartland”

 

Emerging from the Stanley Brothers’ Clinch Mountain Boys band, Larry Sparks carries on with the sounds created by Bluegrass music’s first generation and has always intended to let his music speak for itself—but for those who listen, it has told a story that runs like an unbroken thread through more than 40 years of bluegrass history.

Named as the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2004 and 2005—and as winner of both “Album of the Year” and “Recorded Event of the Year” honors in 2007 —the Legendary veteran Larry Sparks kicks off the new Gospel Label RURAL RHTYHM CHRISTIAN (Rural Rhythm Records) with his new release “I Just Want To Thank You Lord”.   “Lost, found and improved with a fresh new life”is how Larry describes the release of this Gospel album.  Originally recorded several years ago with his band The Lonesome Ramblers, Larry Sparks wanted to record a very special gospel album that would address the spiritual needs of everyday people with songs that touch your heart, inspire your life and faith ! Read More

Second title from Rural Rhythm Record’s new Gospel Label RURAL RHYTHM CHRISITIAN - “Dedicated to creating fine inspirational Christian Music from America’s Heartland”.

Gospel music has been an integral part of Country & Bluegrass even in its early days when it began to take shape in churches in the southern United States.  In the early to mid-1900’s when country folks weren’t playing music on their front porch or at the town picnic, they’d play it in church on Sunday Morning.

Of late, The Blue Ridge Mountains has been romanticized in popular movies such as OH BROTHER, Where Art Thou, and COLD MOUNTAIN.  Many songs like the ones on this collection are snapshots of life as it was lived in the most forgotten parts of our nation. If folklorists had gone into the small towns, hill communities, and hollers throughout the southeast during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we might understand how the music of the old and new worlds melted into one. We now can see how Appalachian Early Country & Bluegrass music andtraditional Mountain Gospel music came together years ago to create this special blend of traditional gospel music that we all know and love. Read More

 

SPIRIT AWARD for COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR    

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 ... Read More