Country Comfort

Dan Altana (guitar and vocals) started his first rock band in 7th grade. After high school he was in a punk band called Send Help that played all around Long Branch and New Brunswick, NJ and released an EP. After that he was only playing the occasional acoustic open mic night when he started hearing some of the newer country sounds coming out of Nashville. It wasn't long before he wanted to become a part of it. That's when he ran an ad and started Country Comfort with drummer Dan Zimmerman. Daniel Zimmermann (drums and vocals) has been playing music since he was 8 years old. Upon hearing the huge sound of the band Queen he knew he wanted to play music. He started out playing guitar in a few pop-punk and rock bands in high school. But he always had a love of drums because one of his four brothers played. He started playing drums in a few rock/indie bands after high school but nothing sparked his passion until he found and fell in love with country music. He answered an ad on craigslist for a country drummer in 2011 and has been playing with Country Comfort ever since. Stephanie White (vocals) may not consider herself a "Redneck Woman", but when she heard Country Comfort needed a female lead, she said "sign me up, y'all!". White pursued her passion for writing and performing after college, auditioning and qualifying as a Top 42 contestant on American Idol, Season 5. But she didn't allow her departure from the show to discourage her from pushing forward. She co-founded "Stephanie White and the Philth Harmonic", performing nationally and releasing two original albums. She is excited to put her energy behind Country Comfort. She'll argue with you that there's no magic in a pair of cowboy boots but she whole-heartedly stands behind the southern philosophy of "the higher the heels, the closer to God". Patrick Burns (pedal steel guitar and vocals) was hooked on the sound of the pedal steel guitar when he first heard players like Rusty Young on Buffalo Springfield's "Kind Woman", Jerry Garcia on CS&Y's "Teach Your Children", and Al Perkins on Steve Stills "Manassas" album. About a dozen or so years ago he decided to do something about it and bought his first pedal steel guitar. Several guitars and several classic rock and outlaw country bands later, he answered a craigslist ad for a contemporary country band looking for a pedal steel player, and has been with Country Comfort since - giving him the opportunity to make those pedal steel sounds he has always loved, and to share them with you whenever and wherever he can. Ken Esposito (bass guitar and vocals) has been playing music since the age of 6 when he started out on accordion. Moving to saxophone and flute and playing in bands through all of his school years, he was influenced to change instruments after seeing Orleans and The Eagles with their strong vocal harmonies. At 16, he started singing, picked up a used bass for $15 and never looked back. He has played with local and touring acts all over the US and Japan, and has been with Country Comfort for over 2 years. Jeff Kurtz (lead guitar) has had a passion to play guitar since 1993 while commuting to NYC. He played at the PNC Bank Arts Center opening for BB King in 2000 and was in the house band for Share-A-Walk for Breast Cancer in Central Park’s band shell in 2002.He has played in various blues bands and country bands over the past 5 years before joining up with Country Comfort 2 years ago. So folks, if you’ve read this far, then in the words of Brad Paisley and Keith Urban “Start A Band”. Winner of NASH FM 94.7 's Battle of The Country Bands "North Jersey's Premiere Country Cover Band" - Jesse Addy, NASH FM 94.7 NYC