Hard Scrabble
Meet The Band
The roots of Hard Scrabble can be traced back to the days of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Some members began their career performing at the New York State World's Fair.
Ivy Austin
Actor - Comedian - Singer - Writer and the Voice of Lilly the Lady Bug
Ivy's career highlights include a four-year stint as the "girl singer" and comedienne on Garrison Keillor's, "A Prairie Home Companion."
She appeared on Broadway as Raggedy Ann and in the New York City Opera productions of Candide, Sweeney Todd, South Pacific, and The Music Man.
For a decade, she wrote for and performed with The Thalia Follies satirical revue in New York City.
Ivy recorded over 100 songs with the "Muppets." Songs you grew up with watching "Sesame Street." You've heard her voice for years without knowing it's Ivy.
Richard Muniz
Singer - Actor - Voice of Jerome the Firefly
Rich starred on Broadway as Lancelot in Lerner and Lowe's Camelot with Richard Burton and Richard Harris.
He appeared for three years on Garrison Keillor’s The American Radio Company of the Air and received a Drama Desk nomination for The Pajama Game.
Leonard Bernstein invited Rich to join the cast of his Broadway musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He starred in the The Fantasticks, the Broadway production of A Most Happy Fella and the TV soaps Ryan’s Hope and Another World.
Leslie Carrera-Rudolph
Singer - Master Puppeteer - Actor - Comedin - Voice of Waffles the Junk Yard Dog
Three-time Emmy Award-winning performer Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is a multi-faceted entertainer, puppeteer, voice actor, artist, writer and creator. She is best known for bringing to life Abby Cadabby (and Tango) on Sesame Street—a role that has earned her multiple Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Puppetry Performer. Leslie also received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Experience as part of the NBC Olympics Host team, performing as Abby.
Leslie is also the creator and sidekick of Lolly Lardpop a true candy obsessed force of nature. Together they entertain audiences with an interactive musical comedy experience that's fun packed from start to finish.
John Tabacco
Singer - Musician - Engineer - Editor - Actor
John is our mastermind of engineering and A.I. Above all John is a brilliantly gifted editor. He has mixed music for hundreds of recording artists on some of the industry’s major labels including Columbia, Electra and RCA.
His work has been praised in the New York Times and Keyboard Magazine.
Its not only how a project is recorded, its how its edited and mixed that can make all the difference in the world. Going from paper to success is an art form all its own.
Joe Raposo Jr.
Singer - Musician - Voice Actor
Joe comes from a talented family. His father Joe Raposo wrote the theme song to Sesame Street along with the Song "Sing" written for Sesame Street and recorded by the Carpenters. He also wrote the iconic "Bein Green."
In the 1970s his father developed a close working relationship with Frank Sinatra writing the music and lyrics for four tracks on Sinatra's 1973 comeback album, "Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back."
It's a great pedigree and the apple didn't fall very far from the tree. Joe's great bass playing and vocal contributions help make the music come to life.
Tom Spahn
Musician - Engineer - Voice Actor
is a three-time Emmy Award-winning composer. In addition he was the Synthesizer Programmer for the Grammy Award nominated album by Eartha Kitt,"Back in Business."
Tom is a longtime musical director and arranger and has worked with numerous musicians and composers on myriad projects, performances and recordings.
Richard Cashman
Author - Producer - Musician - Actor - Creator
Rick wrote and produced the "Hickory Bench Playhouse" that aired on iHeart Radio and starred Ivy Austin and Rich Muniz. He authored and produced "The First Crumby Christmas;" a tale about the first two bugs to discover the best day of the year starring Ivy Austin, Rich Muenz and Leslie Carrera-Rudolph.
Rick also wrote a memorable Christmas Song. "Christmas in Old New York" that appears at the end of the Christmas story.
