Stumblin' Buffalo

Stumblin' Buffalo
1981-1984

L to R: Dave Kellerman (guitar & vocals), John Hesterman (keyboards & guitar), Peri Harkins (vocals),
Wayne Pearsall (Bass & vocals), Dave Gibson (drums & vocals) and Garry Greer (lead guitar)

When Scott Ellis and Joe Burke left Menegerie, I was pretty sure the rest of us wouldn't carry on. I had KNOT Radio, part time work at Timberline Productions and jazz casuals with Clare Willey to fall back on. I was surprised when Wayne called and asked me to come to a rehearsal. I was pleased to find Garry Greer there on guitar again (he's a monster player and I used him a lot in the studio) and Dave Gibson on drums, a bit of a non-musical legend around Yavapai County. I figured, OK, let's give it a shot. Musically, it was a very good combination, but it lacked something. That something was Peri Harkins, who we found singing Broadway musical material at the Prescott Fine Arts Association Theater. She was much better suited for us and complimented us well.

We called ourselves Stumblin' Buffalo, a name Dave Kellerman had always liked. Within a few weeks, we were headlining on Whiskey Row and making trips to Phoenix to play. We had everything going for us, including free and full use of Timberline's 16-track studio anytime we wanted it. We only used it once to record an album of cover tunes to be given to booking agents to help secure work.

the Buffalo plays a shopping center grand opening

the Buffalo plays a shopping center grand opening

Stumblin Buffalo had tremendous potential and was an up and coming band (we did work consistantly). A wonderful memory and highlight for me, was the night we opend a Rex Allen, Jr. concert at the Granite Creek Middle School auditorium. Another was the first time we did the three day marathon at Matt's Saloon on Whiskey Row, during Frontier Days (July 4th weekend). I was hoarse for a week afterwards!

I remained with them until 1984, when I heard about another guitarist, Rusty Martin, of The Chino Valley Rangers who was interested in joining the Buffalo. Both ready for a change, we simply switched places.