The Buffalo Club
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Country music |
| Founded | 1996 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Key people | Ron Hemby, John Dittrich, Charlie Kelley |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 3 |
The Buffalo Club was a country music ensemble based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Its lineup consisted of Ron Hemby (lead vocals, guitar), John Dittrich (vocals, drums), and Charlie Kelley (vocals, guitar). Prior to joining, Hemby performed with the Christian group The Imperials, Kelley had experience playing guitar for Doug Stone, and Dittrich was known as the drummer for Restless Heart. In 1997, The Buffalo Club issued a self-titled album through Rising Tide Records, which yielded three singles that charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs listings, including the top ten track "If She Don't Love You". Critics highlighted the album's rich vocal harmonies. Following Dittrich's exit in August 1997, Hemby and Kelley continued briefly before disbanding by the end of that year. Dittrich returned to Restless Heart in 1998, while Hemby and Kelley moved on to other endeavors.
Formation
Established in 1996 in Nashville, Tennessee, The Buffalo Club was formed by John Dittrich after his tenure as drummer for Restless Heart. With Restless Heart dissolving in 1995, Dittrich desired more artistic freedom but preferred a group setting over a solo career. He connected with Ron Hemby, formerly lead singer of contemporary Christian group The Imperials, and together they enlisted Charlie Kelley, who had previously supported artists such as Charly McClain and Doug Stone. Hemby assumed lead vocal duties; Kelley and Dittrich provided harmony vocals while playing guitar and drums respectively. Under the management of Dan Goodman, they produced a demo that caught the attention of Ken Levitan from Rising Tide Records’ Nashville division, resulting in a recording contract.
Their musical style drew inspiration from 1970s country rock bands like the Eagles (band), focusing on vocal harmonies and acoustic instrumentation with a minimalistic approach compared to typical country productions of the era. Hemby described their sound as featuring "more aggressive harmony." Initially operating under the name Johnny Ringo, they changed it to The Buffalo Club after Rising Tide executives expressed concerns; the new name was inspired by Western-style bars found in Buffalo, Wyoming.
Producer Barry Beckett was chosen by Dittrich for his admired production techniques and a less domineering approach noted by Hemby. By late 1996, The Buffalo Club began promoting themselves through acoustic showcases at offices of Nashville record executives.
Debut album
In early 1997, Rising Tide Records launched "If She Don't Love You" as The Buffalo Club's first single. It climbed to number nine on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reached number twelve on Canada's country charts according to RPM. Co-written by Trey Bruce and Marc Beeson, the song had previously been offered to Restless Heart but was declined. Joel Hoffner, Rising Tide’s vice president of sales and marketing, implemented innovative promotional strategies such as distributing plastic buffalo figurines followed by promotional cards to industry insiders, generating significant attention. The single's CD included the track repeated twenty times to enhance radio play.
The band's self-titled album, The Buffalo Club, was released on March 25, 1997. Produced by Beckett—who also contributed keyboards—the record featured prominent session musicians including Eddie Bayers and Michael Rhodes. Band members Dittrich and Hemby co-wrote songs such as "The Funny Thing Is" and "Wish for You". Reviews from outlets like Billboard and the Richmond Times-Dispatch praised its harmonies and songwriting reminiscent of the Eagles. Nonetheless, some critiques pointed out that stronger material was necessary despite solid vocal performances. During 1997, The Buffalo Club toured alongside Tracy Lawrence, with Sherrié Austin also part of the lineup.
Their second single, "Nothin' Less Than Love", co-written by Rusty Young of Poco, peaked at number 26 on Hot Country Songs. In August 1997, Dittrich left the group citing difficulties associated with establishing a new act within the genre. Subsequently, Hemby and Kelley intended to continue as a duo. The final single released by The Buffalo Club was "Heart Hold On", co-written by Henry Paul from Blackhawk, which reached number 53 on country charts. Its music video marked Trey Fanjoy’s directorial debut; she later became a leading director in country music videos.
Disbandment
The Buffalo Club dissolved in December 1997. Rising Tide Records ceased operations in March 1998, with the Buffalo Club standing as the label's sole country music chart achievement. According to Rising Tide executive Ken Levitan, disagreements stemming from Dittrich's choice to participate in Restless Heart's 1998 reunion tour played a role in his exit. Furthermore, the split between Hemby and Kelley arose because Hemby sought exclusive lead vocal duties, whereas Kelley favored sharing lead vocals. Dittrich rejoined Restless Heart for their reunion tour in 1998. By 2013, Kelley had established the polka duo known as the Boxhounds alongside Lynn Marie. Meanwhile, Hemby performed with David Kersh before transitioning into a worship leadership role in Franklin, Tennessee, and later creating the Eagles tribute group Eaglemaniacs.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||
| The Buffalo Club |
|
69 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| "If She Don't Love You" | 1997 | 9 | 12 | The Buffalo Club |
| "Nothin' Less Than Love" | 26 | 42 | ||
| "Heart Hold On" | 53 | 77 | ||
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Heart Hold On" | 1997 | Trey Fanjoy |