Buddy Comfort

Buddy Comfort is a cosmic folk singer, heart minstrel, alchemical balladeer, songwriter, composer, performer, recording artist, producer, and song circle leader.

He sings songs from the heart about the questions of life: "Why am I on the planet"?, "What's my relationship with Source"? He sings about the love of nature and the nature of love.

…accompanies himself on the piano, keyboards, guitar, hurdy gurdy, zither, tamboura, harmonica, and frame drum.

Musical influences include Nat King Cole, Harry Bellafonte. Buddy Holly, Elvis, Sam Cooke, Tony Bennett, Johny Mathis,The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Moody Blues, Donovan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Bach, Mozart, Dave Brubeck and others.

…has sung and played on Kauai, throughout California, as well as Canada, Glastonbury England, and Assisi Italy

…has shared the bill with such diverse musicians and artists as William Ackerman (Windham Hill Records), Bruce Becvar, Stephen “Huzur” Coughlin, Dolphin the Mime, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Steven Halpern, Lorraine Hunt, Iasos, Steven Kindler, Schawkie Roth, Daniel Kolbiaka, Susan Osborne, Utah Phillips, Sophia, and Kate Wolf.    

…has also performed on programs with such visionaries as Ram Das, Yogi Bhajan, Shakti Gawain, Gerald Jampolsky, Margaret Mead, Robert Mueller (Assistant Secretary General of the UN), Michael Murphy, Carl Rogers, and Swami Satchidananda.

…is the singing voice on two Cleo Award winning jingles. New Age Retailer Magazine placed Buddy Comfort in the Best of Vocalist category along with Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Eliza Gilkyson, and Bobby McFerrin.

…has provided musical support for conference, workshop and retreat leaders at Esalen, Westerbecke Ranch, Mann Ranch, and Orrs Hot Springs, and the East West Retreat Center in Assisi, Italy. He was known by many as retreat musician for the California School of Herbal Studies. He was music director at the Center for Spiritual Healing in Kentfield, Unity of the Spirit in Berkeley/Orinda and soloist at many Sonoma County, San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area New Thought congregations.

…performed at the first Kate Wolfe Retrospective Concert at Caswell Vineyards, and was the Hurdy Gurdy Man and on stage at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival. He was a performer for Bread and Roses at convalescent and retirement homes, children’s wards and hospitals.

Described by Ramblin’ Jack Elliott as “not just a songwriter, but a true craftsman of songs”.  Comfort has also been described by Michael and Justine Toms of New Dimensions Radio as “one of the Bay Area’s foremost practitioners of healing music”.  He is committed to the use of song as a connection with Source, a form of communion and a vehicle for individual and world peace. He provides a soothing and nurturing environment for the opening of the heart through Universal songs and chants of love and nature.

Buddy Comfort / Tellurian Records 

Website: https://www.buddycomfort.com

email: hello@buddycomfort.com

Buddy Comfort Interview:

He walks the Beauty Way and is committed to the use of song to inspire peace within each individual and collectively the world.

His recording of "Brother Sun Sister Moon" on Tellurian Records, received notable acclaim in the company of Enya and Loreena McKennitt.  it was inspired by a pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy.

His second release , "In the Heart of All", has moving and beautiful inspirational songs with timely messages for today's troubled world.

A remastered release of his first eponymous recording is now available as 'Mythical Beauty".
 
"My whole life has been about the discovery of what sound has to offer our spirits"

He has long been described as “one of the foremost practitioners of healing music”, by some as “an alchemical balladeer”, and by others as a “cosmic folk artist”. It doesn’t seem to matter who is describing him, for they always seem to create a category that belongs to him alone.

In describing his own music: “Can you remember a time when cares and troubles dropped from you like gentle spring rain? Through my music I hope that you can experience such a time again.” Musician, composer Julian St. George has described Buddy’s music in this way; “At times it seems his voice washes away everything but the moment in which you experience peace with the Universe and Yourself.”

Buddy remembers one of his teachers stating, “Music is a positive expression of beauty, and beauty itself is a universal medicine.”

Comfort’s music has always been known for it’s rare and rich blend of poetry and mythical images and love of nature. It truly does seem as if it carries the very echoes of the soul. It is as if it were meant to provide “wings for the spirit”. The warm and nurturing melodies are accompanied by an equally fascinating array of instruments including guitar, piano, hurdy gurdy, zither, tamboura, harmonica, frame drum, and electronic keyboards.

He considers long contemplative walks in nature a “necessity of life”. He also enjoys photography, films, writing and gardening.

Comfort’s formal music training began at the age of six with studies in classical piano at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. “My parents were always strong supporters of my creative talents.  They saw to it that I had music and art lessons.  I developed a deep love for music and a sense of beauty from a very early age. Music also gave me a place to go in troubled times as a child, and throughout my life.”  He started playing guitar and folk music in high school, studied classical guitar in college, and played in two rock bands. He sang in choirs from grade school through college, and studied music at the Firestone Conservatory in Ohio, "while listening to alot of folk, psychedelic rock, classical and jazz recordings."

He’s always had a love for ancient sound sources such as bird, frog cricket, wolf and whale songs, Earth drones, overtone chanting, and indigenous poly-rhythms Also Celtic melodies, early sacred choral, and music from the renaissance and baroque periods. Perhaps this is why his music seems to have become a unique subconscious blend of some of the deepest music transcending time.

Comfort seems a quiet and gentle man, though he has had strong feelings for many years around issues involving the environment. He expresses great delight that the early efforts of what seemed to be from only a few in the vanguard are now becoming stronger and more widespread on the planet. He grieves for the many human and environmental tragedies, but chooses to remain hopeful. He states, “As greed, shortsightedness, selfishness and duplicity run amok, we all have to keep focused and clear and stay committed to our vision - the vision of a renewed, sustainable, peaceful, harmonious, natural, sane and healed planet - to walk in the Beauty Way.”

He goes on to say “Each one of us has talents that we can use to bring about positive change. I’ve been involved in music all my life. I have always been drawn to how music and sound can effect our health. This has become the focus of my work. I feel that we obtain nurturing for our spirits through music. I’ve spoken out for becoming aware of noise pollution in our environment, and the need to consciously surround ourselves with sounds that soothe, nurture, and allow us to steady ourselves - to quiet our hearts and recharge our inner resources. Sometimes that means being in silence. Music can take us on many wonderful journeys and paths. No one can argue against the magical effects of the sound of delighted laughter!”

Buddy Comfort made his home in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma County for many years. His current home is on the shore of the Monterey Bay.  He says he is fortunate to have always lived in beautiful places. “I think that for many looking outward, embracing the wonders of nature, is the first step to being able to look inward to see the wonder and beauty of ourselves.”

 “Receptivity for heart level music that addresses the human spirit and soul is getting lost. There is a need to reconnect with what is real in an increasingly chaotic, superficial and alienating world. We could be taking time to be gentle with ourselves. That seems healthy, balanced and necessary in these constantly changing stressful times.”

"People are looking inward and learning to care for themselves - love themselves. That’s where it all has to start. Nature has always been here to teach us these lessons. I’d like to think my music can contribute to that.”