Tony Buffalo

Tony Buffalo retired in 2023 after a distinguished career as a district manager for Guitar Center. His father was a trumpet player and leader of a swing band called Vito Buffalo & His Orchestra, and as you can imagine, he grew up in a very musical home. Following in his father's footsteps, Tony honed his skills as a guitarist, leading his own band, Night Watch, to local fame in Central Illinois's vibrant music scene. With a passion for music and a knack for sales, Tony joined Guitar Center in 1986, quickly excelling as a top salesperson and rising to the role of store manager within two years. Throughout his tenure, Tony's ideas, such as implementing a return policy and establishing guitar repair services, helped shape Guitar Center's customer experience. He forged meaningful connections with renowned artists, leveraging their support to raise funds for charitable causes. Tony's dedication to his work and his customers earned him recognition as one of the company's top district managers, a role he held proudly until his retirement. Tony cherishes the friendships made, the lessons learned and the joy of providing exceptional customer service, which he fondly refers to as "edu-taining." One of his proudest moments was introducing his father to the industry at The NAMM Show in 1987, a testament to his deep-rooted love for music and family.