William Russell Staines (February 6, 1947 – December 5, 2021) was an American folk musician and singer-songwriter from New Hampshire who wrote and performed songs with a wide array of subjects.

[2] He performed about 200 times a year and appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and The Good Evening Show.

[3] Staines's songs include "Bridges", "Crossing the Water", "Sweet Wyoming Home", "The Roseville Fair", "A Place in the Choir", "Child of Mine", and "River".

They have been recorded by many other artists, including Peter, Paul and Mary, Makem and Clancy, Nanci Griffith,[2] Mason Williams, The Highwaymen, Glenn Yarbrough, Skip Jones, Jerry Jeff Walker, Schooner Fare, Grandpa Jones, The Grace Family, Hank Cramer, Wendy M. Grossman, and Priscilla Herdman.

Staines lived in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, with his wife, Karen; his son, Bowen, a folk singer, and their springer spaniel, Andy, who appeared on the cover of his album Old Dogs.