A couple of recent testimonials:
“Had a great time there last night. You guys sounded awesome.” SL 4/18/25
”you folks blew the place up!” DPW 1/31/2025
About the Route 15 Band
Bill Clark- lead and harmony vocals/acoustic slide and rhythm guitar/Singer-Songwriter
Bill Clark, a Singer-Songwriter born/raised in Louisville, Ky., played in his first 7-member band in 1966. 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. (RIP Floyd Knobs aka Vince Callahan).
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.
Eli Lewis Hall
Eli and the Clark family go way back to the 1970's, when he traveled the countryside with singer-songwriter, Mickey Clark and the Blue Norther. There's been plenty of music throughout, from a fender telecaster to his main instrument, pedal steel. The latest member to join Route 15 in 2025.
Steve Walls
Steve Walls is the newest member of the Route 15 band. Steve is a well-seasoned bass player who's been playing bass since the 1970's. Bill Clark and Steve go back to the Rosebud Willy Band, in 1979. They had the pleasure of opening for John Hartford and Merle Travis. Long time staple in the Louisville blues circle, Steve has enjoyed the top tier of blues bands in the region for years.
(Photo from 1979)