Jim Busta is the band leader of the Jim Busta Band. Jim began playing a button accordion at a very early age during his boyhood days on the family farm in northeast Iowa. At a later time, he became more aware of concertinas as bands from Minnesota and Wisconsin often used these instruments. The concertina became his musical love. Jim is a self-taught concertina player.

Polka music was ever-present in the Busta household. Wedding dances, which often featured polka bands, were very common in the area communities of Spillville (IA) and Protivin (IA). Jim and his wife, Mary Lou, both enjoyed listening and dancing to polka music. They often took their four children—Lisa, Chad, Mollie, and Jason—with them to dances and festivals. The children all enjoy music and dancing. Two of the children, Chad and Mollie, are members of the Jim Busta Band. All of the children and Mary Lou have song on several of the recordings.

When not playing in the band, Jim’s profession is that of K-12 education. He taught and coached for five years, and then moved into school administration. He has been the Superintendent of Schools at Spring Grove, Minnesota for the past 18 years (1985 – present, 2003). Without a doubt, music and specifically, polka music, is his first and foremost hobby. Jim has been inducted in the Polka Club of Iowa Musicians Hall of Fame.

Jeff, from rural Cascade, IA, has been with the Jim Busta Band since 1981. “Sparky” comes from getting electrocuted on state at a polka gig. Sometimes, he's called the "gas man," but that's another story!

Jeff was active in junior-high and high school band. He attended and graduated from Northeast Iowa Community College. Jeff is employed as an auto body specialist in Dubuque, Iowa.

Jeff Biermann has recorded on all five of the Jim Busta Band recordings.

Chad, son of Jim, hailing from Onalaska, WI, joined the band at age 7 (1984), after practicing night after night in the Busta front entryway and filling in with the band here and there when he was 6. When he began, his father needed to modify the drum set so that Chad could reach the petals. Early in his career with the band, some dancers could hardly see if there was a drummer there since they heard a drum, but often could not see the drummer.

Chad musical studies included Junior-High and High School vocal music, saxophone and drums, and parts in various musical/drama productions. He attended and graduated from Wartburg College. While at college, he was a member of the Wartburg choir and also was a regular on the college radio station. Chad is a communications major, and now Chad works for Channel-8 television in LaCrosse where he is the productions manager. Chad also is a DJ and runs sounds for local groups and shows.

Steve, from rural Anamosa, IA, joined the Jim Busta Band in 1985. Words cannot explain Steve – so, we’ll do our best. He is a "garbologist" in Marion, IA, during the week and a comedian/stunt man on the weekend that stands in the center of the Jim Busta Band stage. Besides falling down stairs, bouncing around stage, teasing Mollie, Steve plays a great trumpet with his own polka style.

When not playing with the Jim Busta Band, Steve plays cornet with the Eastern Iowa Brass Band, out of Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Mollie, Jim’s daughter, "officially" joined the band in February of 1991 as the second trumpeter at age 11. Since then, she has added other instrument, became the lead vocalist and now shares the announcing with Jim. Mollie is never afraid to show her energy and love for music on stage or on the dance floor. Mollie’s vocals, smile and stage presence are recognized by many. Mollie has done the musical arranging for many of the Jim Busta Band recordings.

When Mollie is not playing with the Jim Busta Band, she often plays with Karl and the Country Dutchmen out of Trempealeau, WI. Mollie also enjoys attending polka fests of all kinds: Dutchmen style, Slovenian, Polish, etc – and all over the country from Pennsylvania to Arizona. During the school year, from Monday through Thursday you can find Mollie teaching children how to sing and play instruments both in her private studio in her hometown of Spring Grove and at Lanesboro Public School (MN).

Mollie was very active in musical endeavors throughout her elementary and secondary school days in Spring Grove, Minnesota. She attended and graduated from Luther College with majors in music and music management. While at college, she performed in both instruments groups and in vocal groups.

In addition to the Jim Busta Band recordings, Mollie has also released two separate recordings—one being a Christmas album “Have a Jolly Mollie Christmas” and the other is a mix of selections “A Song for Everyone.”