From   the   beginning

Hardscrabble Road formed in the fall of 2015, when Larry and Katie met and began singing duets. Jim Nordstrom soon hopped on the wagon and the band headed down the road to rockin' paradise. Hardscrabble Road has been entertaining audiences, both listening and dancing, throughout the Santa Cruz Valley ever since. With Bill Foraker (Sweet Ole Bill) on percussion and Jim White wailing the lead guitar riffs, the band has become one of the most popular in the South Tucson/Green Valley area. HSR provides music appropriate for any occasion from weddings to cocktail parties to rocking, swinging, shuffling dance parties. Artists covered include Bill Haley, Eric Clapton, the Everly Brothers, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, George Strait, and many more.

the band members

Larry Worster has been rocking his socks off for 60 years. He has discovered many of the the great truths of life. For example, one cannot have too many guitars. He has recently added keyboards to his obsessions. In his former lives, Larry was a Ph.D. Professor of Music, a gourmet chef, a PGA Golf Professional, and a goatherd. He still does all of these jobs at times!

Katie Sayre has been singing most of her life in choruses and choirs, but always dreamed of singing in a band. Since she grew up in a musical family, she loves all kinds of music including oldies from the 30s/40s, musicals, country and rock. When not singing, she and her husband, Ray, own and run Casa Paloma B&B in Tumacacori, AZ.

Zac Johnson, sax: Before moving to Arizona in 2022, saxophonist/clarinetist Zac Johnson had been performing professionally in and around the San Francisco bay area since 1978. Zac has backed up artists such as the Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, The Temptations, Huey Lewis, Eddie Money, Billy Eckstein and Al Martino. He has done recordings with artists such as Steve Erquiaga, Stevan Pasero, Canoneo, Christopher Spheeris, and the modern speakeasy band Tumbledown House. ​Since moving to Arizona, Zac has performed with local groups such as the Lucky Devils band, Sonorous, Hardscrabble Road, the Green Valley Summer Jazz Band, Pete Swan’s Jazz Band, and jazz singer Ada Redd Austin at the Tucson Jazz Festival.

Jim White comes to Hardscrabble Road via the Chicago and Central Illinois Music Scene.  Playing in bands for over 40 years, he started seriously gigging while still in High School, playing Chicago’s club scene and college fraternity parties.  After college Jim moved to Peoria, Illinois where he made music a full-time job.  Jim’s style is informed by the music of his youth:  Beatles, Stones, Clapton, etc.  His eclectic style works well with Hardscrabble Road. It’s clear that he is now having the time of his life. 

Kevin Heiderman, bass: Kevin plays with Mr. Skynard and bring a wealth of experience to Hardscrabble Road, both in his bass playing and his vocals.  Kevin's mantra is "drawn to happiness. Enamored with nature. Intrigued by science. Moved by music."

Jerry Sommers, drums: Jerry Sommers has a career that has spanned the glory years of rock & roll, punk/disco/alt/grunge and beyond - and he has never stopped rocking. He has worked with some of the great players of the 20th and 21st centuries on stage and in the recording studio.  His roots are in Chicago, he started drumming in Arizona, and for many years his home base was Hollywood, CA.  His motto is "let there be drums!"