Raised in a musical family- Bud's dad was a jazz bassist and his mom a public school music teacher. He tried violin and piano early on but found his true instrument with a second hand guitar. Exposed to jazz, classical, opera and show tunes, he favored blues and rock. He earned a B.A. in Music Performance from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville focusing on classical guitar and playing in the college jazz band. He travelled the midwest/south and recorded two records with "The Shotdown Band" a contemporary country group. He later played guitar for "Tizzy" (80's rock), "Calson"(Country), "Night Train" (Blues/Soul)and "The Stingers"(Classic Rock) before going solo in August of 2006. He has released three CDs of original music and averages 140 shows a year in the St Louis, Chicago, Michigan and Nashville areas. He occasionally plays with various duos and also does a handful of shows each year with classic rock group "The Stingers", a band that plays his original music "The Floyd Duncan Orchestra" and a contemporary christian group "Grace Street"

Bud's been a member of the music faculty at Principia College, Greenville College and Lewis and Clark College. He's been a guest instrumentalist on ten records and has had two of his songs recorded by other artists. His first full-length solo CD project "Golden" was released in May of 2008 followed by "Eons" released March 6, 2010. A live recording of a solo show at Chicago's Elbo Room was released in 2011 as Bud Summers "Live in Chicago". His fourth album is an instrumental compilation of holiday music entitled "Midnight Clear" set for release in late spring of 2012.