Remembering Buddy Hogan

A Life of Music, Stories, and Connections Roscoe VanBuren “Buddy” Hogan, Jr. (August 26, 1935 - October 13, 2025) was a man whose life was deeply intertwined with the world of country and bluegrass music. Although he frequently joked with family and friends that he was a “legend in his own mind,” Buddy lived a full life with many accomplishments that others can only dream of. He was a master storyteller, a gifted musician, and an astute historian of the music industry, with a near-century full of remarkable experiences and connections. Born in 1935, Buddy grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, a city that was a bustling hub for country music in the 1930s and ‘40s. His father, who went by Rusty, was a mechanic at Woodson Pontiac on Williamson Road, where he became a trusted figure among musicians passing through town. Rusty taught Buddy how to play the guitar, sparking his lifelong passion for music. Through his father’s connections, Buddy became acquainted with prominent figur