"Hugh Ragin is an American jazz trumpeter.

Ragin was raised in Houston, Texas, and began playing trumpet in his early teens, taking lessons in classical music, and was a member of the Houston All-City High School Orchestra. He received a degree in music education from the University of Houston and a degree in classical trumpet performance from Colorado State University. He continued his education in 1978 at the Creative Music Studio with Roscoe Mitchell. One year later he performed with Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and the Creative Orchestra at the Moers Festival in Germany. He then toured with Anthony Braxton. During the early 1980s he toured with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He began an association with David Murray, becoming a member of Murray's band in the 1980s."

Steve Scholbe is a guitarist and reed player associated with Biota and the Mnemonist Orchestra. His instrumentation includes acoustic archtop guitar and rubab, contributing to the ensemble's diverse sound palette.

Randy Yeates is a visual artist and musician involved with Biota and the Mnemonist Orchestra. His musical contributions include keyboard work, notably the biomellowdrone, and he has been part of other groups like Artco and Viewpoint.

William Sharp is an American composer, producer, and audio engineer, best known as the co-founder and creative force behind the experimental music ensemble Biota. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sharp co-established the group in the late 1970s, initially under the name Mnemonist Orchestra, alongside Mark Derbyshire. Their early work combined abstract sound collage with visual art, reflecting their backgrounds in science and community radio engineering. By 1984, the collective split into two factions: the visual arts group retained the Mnemonists name, while the musical ensemble became Biota.

Sharp's role in Biota encompasses production, engineering, mixing, editing, electronic processing, and arrangement. He has been instrumental in shaping the group's distinctive sound, which blends elements of experimental music, electroacoustic techniques, musique concrète, and free improvisation. Biota's compositions are characterized by their unpredictable organization of sounds, inviting listeners to engage with the music in a personal and interpretive manner.

Under Sharp's guidance, Biota has released numerous albums, primarily on the Recommended Records (RēR) label. Their work often explores themes of displacement, solitude, and the consequences of long-term institutionalization. Notable releases include "Rackabones" (1985), "Bellowing Room" (1987), "Tinct" (1988), and "Tumble" (1989). The group's meticulous approach to composition and production results in music that is both timeless and teeming with life, motion, and complexity.

Beyond his work with Biota, Sharp has contributed to the broader experimental music community through collaborations and performances. He continues to influence the genre with his innovative techniques and dedication to pushing the boundaries of sound and composition.