Missy Raines

Missy Raines (born April 6, 1962) is a bassist. She has achieved acclaim in the world of bluegrass, including seven International Bluegrass Music Association Bass Player of the Year awards. In addition to being one of the most awarded instrumentalists in her field, she is the only woman to win more than one instrumental award.

Raines has toured internationally with Jim Hurst and The Claire Lynch Band. She has formed a band, Missy Raines and the New Hip to explore fusions of jazz, bluegrass, pop and funk forms. She has signed with Compass Records, and Missy Raines & the New Hip will release several albums on that label, beginning with Inside Out which was released on February 10, 2009.

Hailing from Short Gap, WV, Raines began touring professionally as a teenager. She has performed and recorded with several first generation bluegrass legends, including Josh Graves, Kenny Baker and Jesse McReynolds. She is regarded for her ability to play both straight-ahead bluegrass and more progressive forms of music.

In 2011 Raines began teaching bass online at the School of Bass, as part of the Academy of Bluegrass.