About the Route 15 Band
Tom Roller comes from a musical family and has had a guitar in his hands since he was three years old. His father was a classical guitarist and college music professor. His mother was a singer. After marrying, Tom’s parents performed together as a folk duo. While growing up, Tom accompanied them on both guitar and a stand-up bass. In his late teens and twenties, Tom studied with several noted Chicago guitar instructors. During this time, he developed a solid grasp of music theory and a profound appreciation for music of all types. After marrying, and starting a family and career, he took a brief break from the guitar. Since moving to Louisville in 2005, he has performed and taught non-stop. Tom’s musical journey has taken him through various styles and genres including Country, Rock, Jazz, Folk, Classical, Christian, Alternative, Solo Fingerstyle, Bluegrass, Celtic, Appalachian, and World. Since retiring in 2015, he considers music to be his second career.
Bill Clark-Lead and Harmony vocals/acoustic slide and rhythm guitar/Singer-Songwriter
Bill Clark Singer-Songwriter born/raised in Louisville, Ky., played in his first 8-piece band in 1965. Enjoys writing and co-writing with others over the years, mainly in the Americana style, sometimes featuring 3 part harmonies. The first album was released in 1976 and was called “Down to Earth with Country Folk”. One of the tunes on the album (co-written with John Gage), Eminor Blues, was chosen by the Louisville Ky. radio station WLRS as one of a handful of original tunes to be featured on their first album featuring regional songwriters. Another original song co-written with Floyd Knobs and recorded by his band Buffalo Squeeze, “Buying a Heartache on the Lay Awake Plan” was chosen in 1981 to lead off another album of regional songwriters for radio station WLRS. All songs were recorded live at the Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville, Ky. Bill comes from a musical family. From one brother (Mickey Clark), who wrote songs for the likes of the Oak Ridge Boys and Tompall Glaser, to another brother (Del Clark), whose band, Stonehenge, opened for the Grateful Dead in 1967. All 3 of the Clark Brothers performed together and even followed the band Marilyn Manson at the Mangy Moose Saloon in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1999. Bill has enjoyed his many years performing in various capacities on stage, TV, and radio. Some of the highlights of performing were opening for John Hartford, Merle Travis, and David Allan Coe, and being on the bill with Chet Atkins and Billy Ed Wheeler in Gravel Switch, Ky. at Penn’s Store (The Great Outhouse Blowout) in 1994. In his 57th year of performing, and nearly as many years writing songs, he still has plenty “left in the tank” with his latest tune about online dating “I Think I Like You” which may cause the listener to smile or even…laugh out loud.
Mark R Miller- Electric Bass
Born in Michigan, then, moving to Louisville, Kentucky, Mark has been known to bring the lighter side of life to the stage and rehearsal. Versatile on electric or standup bass, no matter the song, he plays it with passion, heart, and soul. Plenty of "jams" have broken out around their household as the kids were growing up and beyond…with instruments of all kinds. His time with The Benders, or his most recent years, his time with the “Ida Clare” band, gracing the stage with his bluegrass best. Within the last few years, joining up with the Route 15 band, he’s known to bring his steady style and rhythm from the likes of covers of Lyle Lovett to Asleep at the Wheel. He also enjoys his time playing music with friends at his church. It's hard to know which pair of sunglasses or hat he will bring to the jam, but it is guaranteed to turn a head or two...and then some.
Tom Hardy-long time drummer
A long-time drummer on the Louisville scene, Tom Hardy has enjoyed the stage with The Juggernaut Jug Band, rhythm and blues group Backstreets, blues guitarist/vocalist Brian Curella, jazz legends Jeff Sherman, Helen Humes and Jimmy Raney, just to name a few.
Katrina Harper-long time vocalist
Originally from Texas, Katrina Harper trained to be an opera singer. In the past 2 years the Lexington, Kentucky singer songwriter has been part of kickass projects with Ron Whitehead & The Storm Generation Band and Bill Clark's Route 15 Band along with other Kentucky and Texas artists. Recorded Rosanne Cash’s “September When It Comes” with Bill Clark in 2022.
