Wildfire

JON PAYNE- lead vocals/guitarsVersatility as a musician can present unlimited opportunities, and in pursuit of a musical career at an early age, Jon Payne set his sights to seriously challenge his talents by perfecting his skills on both bass and guitar. At the age of 12, Jon was taken under the wing of bassist and violin virtuoso Geoff Perry, who instilled in him the strong work ethics and skills needed to prove himself in the music world. By the time he was 15, Jon had shared the stage with some of the most renowned musicians from the Western New York area, performing at venues and festivals throughout the Northeast, including stops in Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto. Jon's musical resume includes playing a variety of styles, from rock to blues, zydeco, techno and country. Jon spent several years as a member of the award-winning band Fitzhugh and the Fanatics, a colorful, fiddle-driven Cajun blues-rock band fronted by Buffalo Music Hall of Fame resident Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry. On the other end of the musical spectrum, Jon has won several BUFFALO MUSIC AWARDS as a member of the industrial-techno band Elevation of Depression, which won critical acclaim for its wild antics and extraordinary live shows. With his true love and desire to pursue country music, Jon joined forces with Doug Yeomans, well known for his work in the country music genre in Western New York and the Northeast, and also Nashville. Doug introduced Jon to classic country and bluegrass and helped him expand his musical horizons by mastering the "telecaster", enabling him to perform this challenging but pure style of music. Collaborating with several well-established country bands in the Western New York area including Dallas Alice and New York Rockin' Rodeo, Jon has proven himself to be a solid performer. When the opportunity presented itself in 2002, Jon decided to pursue his own project and front his own band "WILDFIRE" with which he has had the opportunity to open for Nashville recording artists Brad Paisley and Gary Allan, Ricochet and Mark Chesnutt. Showcasing his skills on bass, guitar, and his "twang n' bang" down-home country vocals, Jon's love for performing and his enthusiasm on stage has brought a renewed excitement onto the country music scene.AMANDA NAGURNEY- lead vocals/acoustic guitarSinger Songwriter and Nashville Recording Artist Amanda Nagurney was born in Buffalo, New York, growing up with the sounds of country music surrounding her. She began listening to country music at a very young age and realized by the age of seven that singing and performing was what she loved to do. She began taking vocal lessons, singing all genres of music and taking every opportunity to perform. But while on a trip to Nashville recording at the famous Ryman Auditorium, Amanda toured the Country Music Hall of Fame; it was here as she learned the history of country music that she found this is where her heart lies. Amanda has performed throughout Western New York at a variety of venues, festivals, nightclubs and fairs and has performed for many local charities, including The Ride for Roswell, Children's Hospital, Hunters Hope, Red Cross, Ft. Drum, Connecticut Street Armory and many others, and is featured on several local CD projects.Additionally, Amanda has sung the National Anthem for the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and the Buffalo Bisons and has worked with several local bands as well as Lenny Revell, Richie Derwald , and the Diva Show. She has opened for Nashville Recording artists Phil Vassar, Joe Nichols, Sammy Kershaw,The John Corbett Band, Locash Cowboys, Gavin Degraw and Miranda Lambert. She recently finished her Debut Album "Getting out of This Town" which she recorded in Nashville, TN at Soundshop Studios, featuring a mix of Country/Rock, Country/Pop and old style country.---------------------------------------------------- ----------------TOM KOWALSKI- Providing the back beat for the Wildfire rhythm section on drums and percussion is Tom Kowalski, a veteran of the Western New York scene for the past 16 years. Tom's experience has been mainly in the original rock/funk/classic rock scene, having been a member of the very popular original band “Scattered Flurries”, who produced two cds in which legendary producer Jon Mathias (Tom Petty, U2, The Who, Kiss…) personally chose to work with. While with them, Tom had the opportunity to tour the east coast and perform at the famous CBGBs in New York for Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Tom has also done studio work with several other bands, including “Jive Injection” “Euthanasia” as well as several others. Tom brings experience, energy, excitement and fun to the drum set, as well as a new found appreciation of country music, helping to provide the very best in country and rock to the WILDFIRE band.-------------------------------------------CARL MAYER- keyboards-backing vocalsOhio native, C. F. "Bud" Mayer III brings a wealth of musical knowledge and experience to the WILDFIRE Band. Carl began playing the piano at the age of four, later developing his unique talent and improvisational skills under the tutelage of well-known Cleveland pianist-composer, Joe Howard. He studied music and radio production at National Music Camp, Interlochen, MI. Later he attended Hartt College of Music (University of Hartford, CT) where he studied harpsichord, organ, piano, choral music and conducting while majoring in music theory and composition. He also studied with world-renowned arranger, Don Sebesky in New York. Two-time American Song Festival Award winner, Mayer has performed in clubs, cabaret and theatre in the US and Europe as a piano soloist, accompanist and bandleader. Other projects included writing, performing and producing music for radio and television, including work for Connecticut Public Television, The Hartford Civic Center and Aetna Insurance Company. He has worked with major keyboard and professional audio manufacturers in product development and marketing for the music and sound industry. He has also been associated with various artists and organizations including Bon Jovi, Brian Auger, Larry Coryell, and National Association of Music Merchants( NAMM ). He is currently Director of Marketing for A-Line Acoustics speakers, Organist/Music Director for First United Methodist Church of Niagara Falls, NY and Music Director for the Niagara Falls Retired Men's Service Club Chorus. He also served on the board of the Niagara Interfaith Chorale. Recent engagements include performances for The American Heart Association, Buffalo Children's Hospital, WNED Buffalo-Niagara Guitar Festival, Niagara Falls Country Club, Niagara University, Seneca Niagara Casino and popular Fridays@Noon summer concerts held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Niagara Falls where he performed his own music along with works by Bach, Beethoven Mozart, Debussy, Joplin, Gershwin and others. His CD of original piano music, At the Piano was released in 2003.------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------BOBBY "K" KOSONOVICH - Anchoring down the WILDFIRE rhythm section, “Bobby K” Kosanovich is a veteran of Western New York music scene , having been a performer for over 30 years. Bobby's background encompasses many genres, having covered everything from blues, rhythm and blues, rock, funk, and top 40. Bobby played guitar for a good part of his musical career before switching over to bass guitar, which he has done for the past 15 years. He has performed with many of the areas top bands over the years, including the high powered rock sounds of“ASG”, with guitar virtuoso Alyn Syms, one of the top progressive rock bands of the 70's, as well as several top blues/soul bands in the Western New York area, including “Blues Souljers”, “The Electras”, “John C. Mahoney” and Jim Wozniak of “Dr. Z”. Bobby is also a member of the Western New York Blues Society.Expanding his horizons and welcoming a new challenge, Bobby became attracted to today's country music, appreciative of it's complexity and popularity, and welcomed the opportunity to perform in a new musical environment. His funky bass style as well as his positive attitude and professionalism on stage is a welcome addition, adding a unique flavor to the Wildfire lineup.Myspace Layouts Myspace LayoutsHeader Banner Made with MyBannerMaker.com! Click here to make your own!