Buggsy Frank, of Singers Glen, Virginia, got the bluegrass “bug” at the age of sixteen. With the help of his “grand pap” Buggsy first learned to play the resonator guitar and later on moved on to the five string banjo. With some help from Ben May, Buggsy began to create his own technique of three finger style picking.

Influenced by his uncle Wayne of Bergton and Eddie Shifflet of Elkton, Virginia, Buggsy began playing with a local group called the North Mountain Drifters. Over the years he also played with the Shenandoah River Boys and East Coast Grass to name a few. During the course of his musical travels Buggsy was named Virginia State Banjo Champion in 1986 and 1988 and later Maryland State Banjo Champion in 1999. Buggsy’s talents then led him to Nashville for a short time where he did some studio session work, playing banjo on various projects.

While lending his banjo skills to Blue Rose, Buggsy also plays an assortment of other instruments and has recently added the building of instruments to his list of accomplishments. In 2007, band mate Dan Suter and Buggsy pulled their skills to build Buggsy’s “Wild Rose” model banjo which he has a tendency to sport when playing. The team is currently working on a second banjo which, according to Buggsy, “could be for sale”.

Aside from playing music, Buggsy enjoys playing the occasional game of Spider Solitaire and working with wood. When asked about his wood working Buggsy simply replied “Oh, I just piddle”.

Fellow band mate Loni Kirklin had this to say about Buggsy Frank: “Buggsy? Oh, well, we call him “Doc” because he is always writing prescriptions to make our music better! Seriously though, I’ve known Buggsy now for a few years and all I can really say is I am beyond blessed to have him in my life! He’s an excellent musician, indeed, but above all he’s a true friend! And boy can that man make a snazzy picture frame!” Buggsy and his wife Becky have two kids and three grandsons who are definitely PawPaw’s boys!

Loni Kirklin, of Singers Glen, Virginia, started playing guitar at the age of 24, though she’d been singing bluegrass music all of her life. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Loni grew up in the Bluegrass capital of the North, attending countless shows at such places as The Shindig in the Barn and Sunset Park where she got to know such artists as Jim and Jesse, Doyle Lawson, The Lewis Family and many others.

Growing up Loni had many influences ranging from the Shirk Quartet that her mother, Edie, Aunt Lois, Aunt Reba and Uncle Chris had as well as vocal powerhouses Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out and Jim McReynolds of Jim and Jesse. Other influences included country artists Pam Tillis and Alan Jackson. “There is just something about a voice that can make you feel a song”, Loni said, “all my life I wanted to do that for people, to make them feel it like they never felt it before.”

In 2002 Loni began touring with some of the major names on the bluegrass circuit, acting as a roadie and later as a publicist where she learned a lot about what she did and did not want to do. “People call me a traditionalist and I’m okay with that”, Loni said. “This music is extremely special and important to me and I want to keep it that way!”

Loni started writing music at the age of 16 and has since written dozens of songs, some of which Blue Rose is using. One of Loni’s collaborations is found on the Tom T. Hall produced “Back to the Well”, the Daughters of Bluegrass project. “Writing is a great escape for your emotions”, Loni said, “the only problem is, when you write about a painful time in your life, you remember it every time you sing the song!”

When she is not playing music, Loni enjoys spending tyme with her large, extended family. She also enjoys reading, writing poetry, playing pool and doing creative things!

Dan Suter of Bridgewater, Virginia got interested in bluegrass music in the mid ‘90s when he happened upon an Alison Kraus tune on the radio. Dan began playing the upright bass shortly thereafter and his enthusiasm for the music continued to grow. Bluegrass groups such as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Stanley Brothers, the Cox Family and the Johnson Mountain Boys all proved influential in Dan’s style of music.

Since he started playing Dan has played with a few local groups, but said that he mainly just played with friends for the fun of it. Now, with Blue Rose, Dan lends his bass playing and vocal talents, drawing his inspiration and song selection from the earlier music in bluegrass.

When he is not playing music Dan enjoys working on instruments. In 2007 he and fellow band mate Buggsy Frank finished making their first banjo, the “Wild Rose”. Among other instruments Dan has also handcrafted a guitar and the bass fiddle that he currently plays. Dan also enjoys working in his garden and making sauces and dishes from his harvests.

When asked to say something about Dan, fellow band mate, Loni Kirklin had this to say: “Dan is the man! He is one of the kindest people you’d ever want to meet – the ‘give you the shirt off his back’ type. I’m honored that he calls me his friend! Dan is a fine musician and I enjoy playing and singing with him. I think my favorite thing about playing with Dan is that we have so much fun making the music. He’s a gem!”

Luther Arbaugh of Broadway, Virginia, is no stranger to the art of “mountain music”. Growing up in the hills of West Virginia Luther was part of a music loving family. He started playing the guitar around the age of 12. He attributes his love of music to his uncle Willie Arbaugh and close, family friend Joe Kline.

Some of Luther’s favorite bands include local band The Stump Jumpers as well as Country Ham, White Top Mountain, the Country Gentlemen and the Stanley Brothers.

While playing lead guitar in Blue Rose, Luther plays a variety of other instruments. He enjoys signing a good bluegrass ballad and playing songs with feeling and meaning.

“I met Luther a few years ago at a jam session, I think”, recalled band mate Loni Kirklin. “I called him a few times to play music here and there and we found a few songs we liked to sing together. He’s a talented player and singer and I’m glad that God saw fit to cross our paths. He’s a good guy that seems to want to help any and everyone…even me!”

When not playing music, Luther enjoys riding motorcycles and keeping up with local basketball.