Fred Bugbee is Professor of Music and Music Department Head at New Mexico State University. He also serves as the Director of Percussion Studies He has held teaching positions at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., and the Brevard Music Center, in Brevard, N.C.

He holds a Doctorate and Master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he was also awarded the coveted Eastman Performer's Certificate. He also holds a bachelor's degree, with distinction, from the University of New Mexico.

 Bugbee's professional orchestral background includes performances with the El Paso Opera (Principal Percussion), Las Cruces Symphony (Principal Timpani), Juarez International Symphony (Principal Timpani), Brevard Music Festival Orchestra (Principal Percussion 1992-95), Santa Fe Symphony (Principal Timpani 1993), Santa Fe Opera, El Paso Pro Musica, El Paso Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Greenville Symphony, Asheville Symphony, and the Las Cruces Chamber Players.

 Bugbee has been recorded on the Capstone label, and as a member of the Eastman Wind Ensemble on the Sony label. He has given solo as well as ensemble performances at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the national convention of the Society for American Musicians, the International Trumpet Guild Convention and the International Horn Society Convention. In addition, Bugbee has premiered several works for solo marimba at conventions of the Society of Composers. He has had articles published in "Percussive Notes" and in "Medical Problems of Performing Artists".

 Bugbee was a founding member of the Tempus Percussion Quartet, an ensemble which toured the southeast extensively, specializing in the music of John Cage. He is currently a member of the LINKS Trans-media Ensemble, and gives frequent solo recitals. In addition, he is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the southwest.

Fred Bugbee is an endorser of Evans drumheads and Pro-Mark Sticks.