Sing-a-longs, instrumentals, novelty tunes and endless fun. That's what you get with The Buffalo Shufflers. An ensemble of five versatile musicians, they perform on banjos, tuba, trombone, keyboards and washboards. The audiences can't resist singing, laughing, clapping, and stomping their feet to the music. It's all an indescribable good time. One presenter reports: "I booked The Buffalo Shufflers on a whim, thinking they'd help round out a solid program of music. Imagine my surprise when they became the hit of the year. The crowds loved 'em!".

The Buffalo Shufflers have brought their own brand of entertainment to audiences throughout the United States. From Roanoke, VA to Pocatello, ID, with every Midwestern state in between, their rollicking performances have tickled the fancy of crowds of every age. In 1986, they added Symphonic Pops Concerts to their list of accomplishments. Since then, they have performed with 25 orchestras including the St. Louis, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Phoenix symphonies. The Roanoke Times and World News stated: "The Buffalo Shufflers ran off with the second half of the concert, the orchestra willingly taking a back seat to their obviously well-oiled performance . . . the Shufflers had the entire Civic Center audience singing along to several dozen pop classics."

However, they don't require an orchestra to back them up. The Buffalo Shufflers are equally at home as a quintet, playing to audiences in historical theatres, community arts series, and outdoor festivals. Their programs are energetic. Packed with familiar songs, one-liners, dancing and comedy, The Buffalo Shufflers are talked about long after the lights have dimmed and their fans have departed.

If you're looking for a unique and different pops concert, particularly a program that's devoted to American popular music, bring in the fun of The Buffalo Shufflers. They may be out of step with the times, but they're perfectly in tune with the good old days!

The Buffalo Shufflers can be heard on their recent recordings "Let The Chips Fall Where They May" and "The Buffalo Shufflers Live!".

Individual Biographies

Arthur Neil, began his professional career as a banjo soloist in the Chicago area billed as "The Dynamo of the Banjo".  His performances centered on the historical and the musical evolution of the banjo in America.  During the 1960's, he performed regularly at Your Father's Mustache, a Chicago speakeasy nightclub.  It was during this time that he met Robert Bauchens and through this association, the Buffalo Shufflers were formed.  He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Masters of Science degree.

Robert Bauchens, tuba, together with Arthur Neil, founded the Buffalo Shufflers in 1968.  He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and Northwestern University, holding a Masters Degree in Music Performance.  He was on the faculty of Northern Illinois University for 17 years as well as a member of the Chicago Brass Quintet for 27 years.  He is currently a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra.

Jon Warfel, trombone and piano, graduated with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Northern Illinois University.  He joined the Buffalo Shufflers while still a student.  Jon is on the faculty at Waubonsee Community College and the pianist in the Lloyd-Ford/Warfel Duo.  He has been a featured piano soloist with the Orchestra of Illinois, the Fox River Valley Symphony, and the Illinois Chamber Symphony. 

Terryl Jares, piano, banjo and fiddle, began her musical career as a classical violinist.  She holds degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from Illinois State University.  Soon after college, she began performing in theaters as well as with symphony orchestras.  Along with the Buffalo Shufflers, she performs regularly in the Auditorium Theatre Orchestra, having played violin and viola for touring productions of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon.  She also is the leader of the Hawthorne String Quartet.

Michelle Lee Bradley, flapper-girl-extraordinaire, has been entertaining audiences throughout the country since graduating from Illinois State University, where she received a degree in theater.  She has been involved in a variety of shows and theater productions in the Chicago area.  She has appeared in television commercials for White-Castle Hamburgers, Pepe's Tacos, Fingerhut, and Sears.  In demand  for industrial shows, Ms. Bradley has done presentations for Goodyear Tires, Taylor Wines, and Fuji Film.  Her latest corporate production is a multi-media event for Sprint.