About this vendor
When only the best will do!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats is a 12-piece Charlottesville Wedding Band dedicated to delivering a highly professional, musically diverse, and multi-talented live music experience designed to lend sophistication and generate excitement for your event. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, Big Ray and the Kool Kats regularly serve all couples throughout the country, such as Richmond, VA, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, Washington D.C., and many more.
We can perform literally thousands of songs, and most importantly, we perform them with style and authenticity. From early evening dinner jazz & swing performed at a PERFECT VOLUME (so guests can talk), to the best in cross-generational dance music when the party switches gears.
Big Ray leaves nothing to chance in order to ensure the smooth success of your celebration. From the early arrival of his uniformed setup crew, through the performance of that special song to make the day yours, BRKK delivers a performance so dynamic, so professional, and so responsive to your entertainment needs, that you'll certainly join their roster!
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Instruments
- Bass
- Flute
- Guitar
- Keyboard
- Percussion
- Piano
Music Genres
- Classical
- Country
- Dance
- Jazz
- Latin
- Pop
Music Services
- Live Music
- MC Services
- Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
- Ceremony
- Reception
Awards and Affiliations
Pricing
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.057 reviews
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats consistently receive glowing reviews for their exceptional performance at weddings. Reviewers praised their energy, talent, and ability to keep guests of all ages on the dance floor. The band's personalized service, responsiveness, and willingness to learn specific songs and accommodate special requests were highlighted. Guests and newlyweds alike were impressed by the band's professionalism, versatility in playing different genres, and ability to read the crowd to create a vibrant and memorable atmosphere. Overall, Big Ray and the Kool Kats are highly recommended for creating an unforgettable and fun-filled wedding experience.- Top reviews
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Big Ray and the Kool Kats played at my wedding and I couldn’t have chosen a better band. They did a phenomenal job! They learned our first dance song and other songs we wanted played at our wedding. I had SOOOO many guests say how great they were and even some of my friends decided they want them to play at their wedding one day. They kept guests of all ages on the floor and brought so much energy! Ray was also amazing as he would update me throughout the night on what was next on their agenda and if I was enjoying everything. Don’t hesitate on booking them because I promise they will be everything you want and more for your event!
HIRE THIS BAND!!! Big Ray and the Kool Kats made my wedding a PARTY!!!! My husband and I knew we wanted a band instead of a DJ right away, and did a lot of research to find one that sounded good and wasn't too overpriced. Boy, did BRKK deliver on that (and then some).
Ray was responsive and helpful the entire process, taking Zoom calls whenever we had questions and asking thoughtful questions about the timeline. The band learned EVERY song we requested (including Jump Around!) and they all sounded spectacular and like they'd known them for years. Whatever you don't see on their song list, they will learn and play to perfection.
The rate for the band is extremely fair, considering it includes ceremony music and cocktail hour music (you usually have to pay more for that!).
Ray emceed the event with humor and personalized touches; so many guests came up to us to compliment him specifically. The rest of the guests RAVED about how good the band sounded (the guitarist was shredding away!!!) and how much fun it was to dance. Ray checked in with us before the reception to make sure his notes and song requests were all in order.
Thank you to Big Ray and the whole band for making our wedding the best night of our lives. Worth every penny (and then some!)
We loved working with Big Ray for our wedding! He was so easy to work with from the start and really took the time to get to know us and what we wanted for our big day. He and his band really delivered - they were incredible and played all night. They played a great variety of songs from their set list and even learned several special songs just for us. All of our guests commented on what an excellent band we had and Big Ray had everyone on the dance floor. Thanks for a wonderful time!
Any questions?
Big Ray & the Kool Kats are an absolute MUST HAVE for your wedding! I could not be happier with their service. Ray is an awesome guy and you become part of the family when you work with him. He made sure everything went as I imagined. I love music and had envisioned certain songs for special moments and it all went perfectly. He had his dj help us put together a custom mashup of songs for a surprise dance, he brought in their country singer Tommy Wood who altered the lyrics of songs to my request, and they even allowed my brother to come up and play a few songs with them. When he says he will do whatever you want he means it. Everyone has been talking about the band and how great they were at reading the vibe of the room and playing the best songs. Without hesitation I would book them again and if you are considering a band for your wedding seriously look no further, this is THE band.
Response from the Vendor on 07/25/2024
What a beautiful and FUN wedding at Musket Ridge Golf Club. You and your guests made the party, my band and I were just along for the ride. Anytime, Anywhere. Ray
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were awesome and incredible. Everyone at the wedding weekend raved about them… from dance music, Frank Sinatra impersonator, oldies, etc… top shelf… and Big Ray was great to work with, and overall a great guy and a real gentleman. When I reviewed their YouTube promotional video before deciding to work with them, they were even better in person… which is usually just the opposite. I could not recommend them more…
Big Ray and the Kool Kats exceeded our expectations for our wedding at Crushpad Wines on the Downtown mall this past weekend. They were professional, fun, and ensured a smooth timeline of the evening. We were so happy! Would highly recommend. We got so many compliments from our guests regarding how much they loved our band. Thank you Big Ray and the Kool Kats!!!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats did an incredible job for my wedding!! Their talent is unmatched. Everyone couldn't stop talking about how great the band was! Big Ray and his team are also so kind, helping to make sure everything was running smoothly. They brought such a fun atmosphere to the party. If you're even considering using Big Ray and his team, you must do it! You won't regret it for a second!!
My family loves to party and they loved Big Ray and the Kool Kats! I received such positive comments all night long and for days after my daughter's wedding on April 20.
From the ceremony, where the combination of instruments made each song special, to the perfect music to accompany cocktails, to turning the reception into the fabulous party it was, Big Ray and the Kool Kats was perfection.
When I mentioned that your band had been booked for the wedding, a friend of mine who used to work events at a local country club exclaimed, "OK, that's it, that's all I need to know. It will be fabulous!" She was right!
All ages, 11 to over 70, were on the dance floor all night! One of my college friends commented, "This is my kind of music.'' The younger crowd was certainly loving every minute as well. You knew to add a bit of the new songs at just the right time.
Beyond that, Ray, you were a pleasure to work with. You offered your expertise and accepted suggestions and requests like the pro you are.
Thank you for your commitment to quality, attention to detail, and enthusiasm.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were incredible. They came highly recommended, so they were the very first vendors we booked after our venue. Ray was in contact with us for over a year and we had a few video calls in the last couple of months leading up to our wedding. They worked closely with our wedding planner and photographer on the timeline and were very professional and easy to work with. They did an amazing job and were able to accommodate all of our requests, including some songs for my German family members and a beautiful rendition of Nothing Else Matters for one of our ceremony songs. They also did really great with the AV- our wedding was moved outside and the sound quality was amazing. They even made sure that our officiant and groom had clip-on mics. Ray is a perfectionist and he did such a great job as an MC and made sure everything was running smoothly. The musicians and singers
were all incredible and had such great stage presence. They also did a great job of reading the audience and making sure they were playing the right songs and had the amount of energy to make sure everyone was on the dance floor and having a great time. Our guests were raving about what a great band they were. If you’re able to book Big Ray and the Kool Kats, you have to book them. They truly exceeded our expectations and made our wedding! Thank you Big Ray and the Kool Kats!
I can not say enough amazing things about Big Ray and the Kool Kats. During the planning process, Ray and his team were so responsive and helpful. The ceremony music was everything we wanted and more. They took care of everything from learning the new music, playing with the specific instruments we requested, providing the power and microphones, plus more! By the time of the reception, the weather got COLD! The band got everyone off their feet and even handled the guests joining them on stage because we were all having so much fun. They are truly amazing and we are already trying to think of another event that we can have them there for. Do not hesitate to reach out. You most certainly will not regret it!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were incredible. They were professional and knowledgeable throughout the planning process and then provided the most amazing day of experience. Ray and his team arrived early to our venue to set up audio in three different locations and then expertly managed the different combinations of musicians through ceremony and cocktail hour to provide the perfect ambience. Then the full band was swinging during reception and the guests were on their feet dancing all night.
Each musician in the band was talented in their own right and obviously has perfected playing together across a wide variety of genres. Ray is the consummate band leader and a joy to have on any wedding day.
Title: An Unforgettable Night - A Father's Review
Dear Music Enthusiasts,
As the father of the bride, witnessing the pure joy on my daughter's face and the smiles on all our guests as they danced the night away was a gift beyond measure. The band's contribution to this celebration of love will forever be etched in our hearts. You elevated the entire experience, creating a lifelong memory that we will cherish for generations to come. So many guests have commented that they have never seen a better wedding band and have never seen so many guests dance and truly have a great time! So many guests have taken your contact information so that they too can have such a fabulous experience at their child’s wedding!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats, thank you for an unforgettable night. You complement each other perfectly and really know how to showcase each other’s talents. In addition, your repertoire is diverse, offering a musical journey that caters to so many tastes and generations. It was so fun watching you effortlessly transition from genre to genre, unifying the young and old in perfect harmony! What a night!
Your talent, passion, and sheer dedication to your craft are unparalleled. May your journey continue to resonate with others as profoundly as it did with us. We wish you continued success and hope to cross paths again in the future.
With deepest gratitude,
A Proud Father
Mark Loving
Big Ray and the Kool Kats played at our daughter's wedding at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC. From the first song until the last, the dance floor was packed. So many people came up to us and said it was the best wedding band they had ever seen. The horn section was incredible and all the musicians were very talented. They played everything: old standards, 60's hits, Motown, disco/70's stuff, Hava Nagila, Country, Taylor Swift, The Killers. They even played the Notre Dame fight song (maybe this was their only misstep of the evening; the band didn't realize that a huge contingent of the guests are alumni of a rival Midwest school). We also really appreciated the diverse set of talented vocalists. They were very energetic and enthusiastic.
Prior to the wedding my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and I agreed that Ray was personable, interested in our views, and very easy to work with. I don't think you can go wrong by hiring Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
Response from the Vendor on 07/10/2023
Thanks so much for the fabulous review! Any time for your family who were exceptionally easy to work for. It's so helpful when folks know what they want, convey it to me, and all my team has to do is execute!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND “BIG RAY AND THE KOOL KATS” with the same passionate enthusiasm as other clients shared in their testimonials! This band is an extremely talented group of professional musicians - with an awesome song list - who deliver as promised, “a highly professional, musically diverse, and multi-talented live music experience…!” Band members performing at my daughter and son-in-law’s wedding reception included: keyboard, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, country singer, Motown specialist, 2 female vocalists, and a guest vocalist. The instrumentalists and vocalists exceeded our expectations in every respect! All the band members play with outstanding musicianship, confidence, and a fabulous connection on stage! The vocalists are amazing – each with a fantastic delivery, impressive control of sound, and lovely tone quality overall!
We will never forget Big Ray and the Kool Kats’ marvelous production on every song or the way they made our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding celebration extra special! The enthusiastic response from our wedding guests to dance and sing along - for the entire evening - made it clear how much everyone enjoyed this band’s performance! Family and friends who had not danced in years were out of their seats and dancing! Other musicians in the room asked where we found such an accomplished group! The band provided music for the entire reception (4:00 PM to 10:30 PM). A few of the musicians played background music during the cocktail hour, and the entire band played background music during dinner and dancing. The musicians were considerate of volume and on point in every situation (i.e., quiet enough for conversation during appetizers and dinner, and then cranked up to perfection for dancing)!
Special thanks to the band for sharing their fabulous stage, lighting, and several percussionists with us to help family members perform one “surprise” song dedication to the bride and groom (My Wish – Rascal Flatts). The bride and groom had absolutely no idea what was happening on stage. Their reaction was priceless when they realized family members were playing the keyboard, alto saxophone, trombone, and serving as vocalist. We cannot thank Big Ray and the Kool Kats enough for working with us to make this unusual request happen.
Above all, we extend our deepest appreciation to Big Ray and the Kool Kats for sharing their musical gifts, friendliness, and professionalism with us! We count ourselves among the lucky ones to have found an open date on their calendar! Working with Big Ray and the Kool Kats and hearing their music played at my daughter and son-in-law’s wedding reception is an unforgettable memory our family will treasure for years to come!
If you are looking for an AMAZING band, look no further than Big Ray and the Kool Kats! The dance floor at our daughter's wedding was packed all night long. Ray also provided ceremony music which was perfect for the prelude and processions. Ray was wonderful to work with throughout the entire planning process and honestly is just the nicest person you could ever hope to meet! He is kind, personable, and our guests enjoyed interacting with him throughout the evening. Big Ray and the Kool Kats are simply the greatest!
Big Ray & The Kook Kats delivers above and beyond again and again!
This is the second time that Big Ray & the Kool Kats have played for one of our events and without exception they were top tier professionals from start to finish. We had a hiccup and had to postpone our son’s wedding for a year, but Big Ray was easy to work with and made the change happen. He had a 3-piece ensemble play during the wedding ceremony followed by another group playing at the pre cocktail party then the 11-piece band raised the roof for the reception. If we heard it once, we heard it a dozen times from our guests “That band was awesome!” The only minor problem we had to deal with was that too many guests stayed to the bitter end, and we had to get another bus to transport them back to the hotel. That pretty much says it all. We are already looking for another reason to host a party to bring Big Ray back to town.
I cannot say enough great things about Big Ray and the Kool Kats! First, Ray was very clear with his communication before the big day which helped make sure we got all the songs we wanted played.
Going into the big day, Ray was absolutely so helpful getting everything to flow throughout the ceremony and reception. Not only that, but we had an impromptu moment where I ended up on stage and my new husband and I sang a Taylor Swift song together. It was the best experience and one that my guests have not stopped talking about. I cannot highly recommend them enough!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were the HEART of our wedding reception! From the very beginning when we were investigating different bands, all the way to the reception itself, Ray and his team were professionals through and through. Ray was always willing to hop on last minute Zoom meetings to talk through any questions/ concerns and made us feel immediate comfort each and every time. It felt like we had known him for years! They showed up to the reception looking like professionals and seriously knew how to throw a party. They played music that had all ages of guests on the dance floor all evening! There was hardly a person seated the entire night. Ray was an AMAZING MC as well. He was funny, entertaining, and amped the guests up. We had people coming up to us saying hands down they were the best band at a wedding they had ever seen. A guest even signed a contract with Big Ray and the Kool Kats for their upcoming kid's wedding haha! The absolute cherry on top was at the very end when the crowd began to chant for "one more song" and pretty much forced them to play a song they had not prepared for or practiced, they figured it out and rocked it. I could not have imagined our wedding day without them performing. Thank you for EVERYTHING!!
Big Ray
When our wedding planner asked us if we wanted a DJ or a band, we said we weren’t sure. Long story short we hired Big Ray. Ray was everywhere that day. He handled all our sound needs for the ceremony making sure our officiant was miked as well as our readers. He played his trumpet for the ceremony with a piano accompaniement which added so much to the day. During the reception, Ray and his band serenaded our guests while they ate. After dinner, our guests really rocked out to their incredible music. Everyone was asking us how we found them. They really
added to our celebration.
Ray did a great job as the emcee and the band was awesome! We received so many compliments on Big Ray and Kool Kats and were told by numerous people that it was the best reception and band ever. People were saying "how did you find this band?". I can't say enough about their performance and how much we enjoyed them. It is not too often that people are chanting "one more song" at the end of a reception. I would highly recommend them for any event. My daughter (bride) and us are thrilled with their performance!!!!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats did an amazing performance at our wedding outside of Charlotte, N.C. in October 2022. My wife selected them after loving their performance at another wedding. They are phenomenal, and we received lots of positive feedback from our guests about how much they enjoyed the music. Very strong vocal and instrumental talent. They have a great repertoire of older and newer covers; guests of all ages had something that they recognized and enjoyed! They did a great job with their sound design as they were sufficiently loud enough, but guests could still have conversations on the side. Ray was a pleasure to work with and an excellent emcee. The band members were not only incredibly talented but very friendly and pleasant. We would highly recommend. We are thankful for Big Ray and the Kool Kats for helping to make our wedding an even more fun and special event!
Big Ray was an actual hero in our wedding planning journey, and needless to say I couldn’t recommend his band enough!!! Just one month away from our wedding date our previous band fell through, and that’s when we came across Ray. He was incredibly supportive, responsive and beyond kind and accommodating. We trusted him from the minute we met him, and knew his band would be the perfect fit for our big day. The dance floor was packed all night long and they kept the party alive!!! We hope to be able to have a future event to hire Big Ray and his band again. Hire him and you will not be disappointed!!!
Big Ray and his band mates were absolutely fabulous. We danced the night away- the dance floor was rocking all night long. We got endless complements from our guest about how great the band was and how much fun they had at our daughters wedding.
I'm trying to come up with another event to host just so I can book them again!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats absolutely raised the roof at our wedding! They played an incredible array of genres and styles - from classic jazz at our cocktail hour, to Motown, to modern rock, to Latin hits (which greatly impressed my Guatemalan family)! My fiance and I had a very specific request for our first dance and were convinced that we would just have to play a recording, but Big Ray succeeded in performing an absolutely stunning live cover that moved us to tears. This band electrified the energy at our reception - if you want to keep your dance floor full all night long, look no further than Big Ray and the Kool Katz!
We were led to Big Ray based on a recommendation from our wedding planner, and it was such a great decision. We worked with Big Ray leading up to our wedding reception on the type of music we liked (and didn't like) and he was so great. We made it clear to him that we wanted our wedding reception to be a party, not a wedding in terms of music, and he delivered. So professional and so much fun. And such a hit. We've received so many compliments from our guests about how great the band was! We had so much fun because our guests had so much fun. We have Big Ray to thank for that.
Response from the Vendor on 06/22/2022
Thanks Meredith! What a fun, elegant party at Dumbarton House. And special thanks to Maya at Honey & Lavender Events for recommending us. She's always a pleasure to work with.
We used Big Ray and the Kool Kats for our wedding and could not have been happier! They had the best sound of any of the dozens of bands we listened to online, there fee was reasonable, and Ray was an absolute pleasure to work with. He masterfully MC'ed our event, rolling with some considerable punches, and the band even learned my favorite song as a surprise.
Of the roughly 12 vendors we worked with for our wedding, BRKK was by far the best and most fun to work with. I could not have asked for a better wedding band and cannot recommend them highly enough.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were, in a word, phenomenal. At least ten of my guests went out of their way during my wedding to come and tell me how incredible they were. The dance floor was always full, and this is a high compliment given that there were issues with the A/C during a May wedding in Virginia. Ray was communicative and prompt in all of our interactions, and was willing to work with me on all the specific details I wanted (of which there were quite a few!). I would reccommend this group to anyone, and as a matter of fact already have! Thank you Ray!
Response from the Vendor on 05/18/2022
What a great party. A beautiful venue, Historic Rosemont in Berryville, Va, an international crowd, lion dances and fireworks! We are honored you chose us. Ray
We just used Big Ray and the Kool Kats for our daughter's wedding, and they were great! From the ceremony music, to the happy hour music, to the reception music, they did an awesome job! I would highly recommend Big Ray and the Kool Kats! You will not be disappointed, and your guests will come up to you and say "this band is the best!"
Big Ray and his team are the ultimate professionals. They were very easy to work with - flexible and responsive.
They played for the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, and were 100% on point for everything.
The dance floor stayed full and guests of all ages loved the music selection. Many said it was the most fun they ever had at a wedding!
Response from the Vendor on 05/11/2022
What a great party and your entire family and the groom's were charming. Papa was the high point! So nice to be home n Charlottesville, Va. at one of my favorite venues as well, Farmington Country Club.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats made our wedding spectacular! They kept the dance floor full all night long as well as learned our specific songs for the first dance, mother son, and father daughter. To top it off, they were great MCs too. It was a wonderful night all around and we are so glad we chose Big Ray and the Kool Kats to bring the heat for our wedding! :)
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were the first vendor we hired since we knew music would make the party! Our high expectations were exceeded as Ray was so easy to work with and down-to-earth, in fact, it felt like he was part of the family!! He made the process so easy and SO MUCH FUN!! Our guests sang and danced all night long. The band made it very easy for the groom to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing the guitar on stage with a top shelf band in front of our loved ones. Hire Big Ray and the Kool Kats if you truly want to host the best party your guests will ever attend!!!!
Response from the Vendor on 04/04/2022
Thanks so much. WHAT A GREAT PARTY, and we were just a part of it. Your families and guests were ready that day at Heritage Hunt and Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves (I know your husband and his brother ...
who also played with Big Ray and the Kool Kats that evening sure did.)
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were INCREDIBLE. We received compliments from everyone. Great MC and great band.
Response from the Vendor on 03/06/2022
Completely our pleasure. Thanks! Big Ray
Big Ray and the Kool Kats played at our daughter's wedding reception and they were absolutely wonderful. They could play any genre and Ray was also a fantastic MC. We all had a fabulous time and the dance floor was filled the entire time they played. I've had so many people tell me how much the enjoyed the band and the events coordinator at our club will be recommending BRKK for other functions. Our whole experience from beginning to end was everything we had hoped for and more.
Biggest complaint at the wedding was that the dance floor wasn't big enough - when these guys started playing, the guests started streaming on to the dance floor, and they stayed. Polished, professional, great sound, really nice people...loved having them play.
Ray was such a pleasure to work with! He was so attentive to every detail and made sure that we were happy throughout the planning process. Ray went above and beyond to ensure that the band knew all of the music we wanted. All of our wedding guests said the band was amazing (we agree too). I want to do it all again just so we can dance the night away. I can't recommend Big Ray & the Kool Kats enough. We love them!!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats are INCREDIBLE!!!! As a wedding planner myself, I have heard and worked with a lot of different bands, and Big Ray and the Kool Kats top them all! They had the dance floor packed all night long and our guests have been raving about them since our wedding in January. Ray is fantastic to work with both leading up to your wedding day and then at the actual wedding. He continuously checked in on myself and my husband, as well as our parents. My parents were worried about a band being too loud, and Ray heard that concern before the wedding and honored it. No one's ears were ringing the next day and no one was trying to escape loud music! Their playlist is extensive and their ability to put together sets is fantastic. Our outdoor send-off was impossible due to a giant thunderstorm and I was amazed watching Big Ray and the Kool Kats sing and dance our guests into a big tunnel of love for an indoor send-off. We cannot thank the band enough for making our reception entertainment dreams come true!!
We could not have asked for a better band than Big Ray and the Kool Kats for our wedding. After a extremely tough year of planning through a pandemic my husband and I made the tough choice to host a micro-wedding and postpone our larger party. When we were deciding on the essentials for our smaller event we could not imagine doing it without the band- happy to say we made an excellent call there. Not only was the music amazing but Big Ray went above and beyond to be supportive and professional throughout the process. We switched to an outdoor setting in light of the pandemic and discovered day-of that that it wasn't equipped to connect to Bluetooth speakers for our dinner playlist. Big Ray heard about this and offered to have the band play through dinner- we could not have appreciated his kindness and adaptability more. It made a huge difference to have such an incredibly supportive vendor during these exceptional times. Great news is we get to have Big Ray and the Kool Kats again for our larger post-pandemic event and could not be more excited!
10/10 Big Ray and the Kool Kats were the best part of our wedding. He made our day. He was respectful, professional, creative, accommodating and down right fantastic.
By in large made our night. Not a single person sat once the band got going. We received SO many compliments. Five stars across the board!
Big Ray & The Kool Kats absolutely knocked it out of the ballpark. They were professional, creative, accommodating and outright fantastic. You couldn’t pull a soul off the dance floor once they got going. An absolutely electric, amazing experience. They made our wedding!!! We couldn’t recommend them more. They are worth their weight in gold.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats, were absolutely wonderful. They added a level of sophistication and elegance to our event and even memorized a new song so we could have our first dance.
10/10 experience.
You will not regret hiring Big Ray and the Kool Kats for your wedding!! Ray was so easy to work with throughout the wedding planning process. He's a true professional, allowing us to sit back and trust his guidance. He even spoke with my dad during the planning process who had a musical surprise for me during his toast. Ray made our day so special and was really fun to work with! All of our wedding guests raved about the music, from the ceremony musicians' beautiful music to the great party and dancing songs played by the full band at the reception! They were even gracious enough to entertain a few guests and flower girls on stage with them :) Highly recommend!!!
Big Ray and the Kool Katz were absolutely amazing. We planned our wedding in 10 weeks and and in just a few weeks, Big Ray and the Kool Katz learned new songs for us including an ABBA medley which everyone loved. They added so many personal touches to our wedding in a way we couldn’t have imagined. We are so grateful to Big Ray and the Kool Katz for making our wedding reception so amazing. Each one of the band members are incredibly talented and you will not regret booking Big Ray and the Kool Katz for your wedding.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats exceeded our expectations in every way. Ray worked with us to provide strings for our ceremony, Jazz for the cocktail hour, and absolutely brought down the house during the reception. He also worked with my sister who sang our first dance song, it was a beautiful moment. Ray was open to any idea we had musically. Highly recommended.
Response from the Vendor on 11/06/2019
So glad you were pleased. GREAT party as well as your special day. And your sister can REALLY sing btw. Ray
Simply put: Hire Big Ray and the Kool Kats and know you made the right decision.
They were amazing, everyone talked about how great the band was, amazing songs and energy. If you have a chance to book Big Ray and the Kool Kats don't let it slip by...they made our wedding!
Big Ray and the Kool Kats were amazing- we had so many compliments throughout the night! They were super easy to work with, had extremely talented performers, and kept people dancing all night! True professionals!
We have had Big Ray and his KK's for two weddings....without hesitation we give him our highest endorsement...Big Ray is engaging , attentive, and responsive. He listens to the preferences, sets the appropriate feeling, delivers beyond every expectation on presentation, and will make your event the most memorable you could ever imagine. Don't miss an opportunity to allow Big Ray and his team to join you for your special event.
Big Ray and the Kool Kats exceeded our already high expectations! They played a wonderful selection that was able to cater to a variety of ages and made our day extremely special. Terrific energy throughout the night. Could not have been happier and would highly recommend them. They really made our day ever more special.
After the engagement, we started looking at venues with one goal in mind: find a date that would work for Big Ray and the Kool Kats. We fell in love with a venue, and ensured BRKK could be there, then the rest of the plans fell into place.
When I say that BRKK brought the party, I mean they literally made the wedding everything we could have asked for. From the perfect ceremony music, to cocktail hour, to dinner music, and then the grand slam with the reception, they provided the most personal experience while being the incredible professionals that they are. A little rain? No problem, they’ve got it. Really want Somewhere Over the Rainbow with a ukulele? Consider it done (and REALLY well). Want a country song for your first dance? They’ve got Tommy, their country singer.
From our first interaction with Big Ray, throughout the entire planning process, until the end of our wedding day, this team was incredible. Ask, and not only shall you receive, but it will be even better than you could have imagined. Thank you all for everything you did to make our wedding unforgettable.
We had been engaged one day when I asked my dad to call Ray because it was important to have Big Ray as our band. Ray and his band are the definition of professional. We chatted several times during the planning process to help get a feel of the type of music we wanted in addition to other specifics about us as a couple. When we had a sudden issue with our ceremony music, we contacted Ray and he came to the rescue there as well. Ray and his band know how to keep guests on the dance floor and they do the best job at it! We keep hearing from guests how much fun they had and how it was such a great wedding and "the band was awesome!" When I approached Ray about wanting to do a Last Dance with just my husband and I and the room empty, he loved it and said for us to pick the song and they'd be sure it was perfect. And, it was magical! We will always remember that moment shared and we cannot thank Big Ray and the Kool Kats enough for that and for such a wonderful night!
Yall, this is the highest quality band you can possibly get for your special day! Ray was so willing to meet with us before the wedding (multiple times, thanks to me making changes), accommodated my silly requests with a smile on his face and a complete calm, and maintained a level of professionalism throughout the weekend while also seeming like someone we’d known for years. His experience in the music industry is unmatchable and literally everyone at our wedding was out on the dance floor for entire night. He is able to host/MC in a way that makes him feel like a guest of the wedding but also not the center of the night. He even had one of his crew members run out to the nearest store when a bridesmaid requested a mixer the bartender didn’t have. How amazing is that?! He knows how to read a crowd and truly made our night perfect. Not to mention the absolutely beautiful music he and his band members provided for our ceremony and cocktail hour. Would recommend a million times over!
Big Ray & The Kool Kats, Thank you for a spectacular night of dancing and music at Rachel & Ben’s Wedding! You had our guests dancing all night long! We loved Tommy- the Country singer you hired since Ben also loves Country music. Ray is not only a great Band Leader he is a great person!! Thanks again, Sheryl & Barry Schwartz
Response from the Vendor on 09/11/2019
It was our pleasure! What a fun party! I love being involved from ceremony through the end of the night. Ray
Where do I begin?! Big Ray and the Kool Kats was our wedding band just over a month ago and our guests are STILL talking about them and how awesome our band was! They are so incredibly talented. They played motown/funk , pop,...exactly what we asked for! They really can do anything you want, though. When Big Ray and the Kool Kat's plays a song, it isn't played like just any other band. There's something about them that brings the crowd alive and there's this sudden energy in the room. They kept everyone out on the dance floor and knew exactly how to read the crowd. My husband danced so hard he had to change dress shirts and I changed into a short white fun dress, and they even let my bridesmaids and I up on the stage!
In addition, Ray as a band leader is incredibly organized. He has everything planned and needs very little information. You can tell he's a pro from the moment you first talk with him. He worked seamlessly with our planners and photographer, making the whole event go off without a hitch.
So they have the versatility, talent, and organization, but there's something else that makes Big Ray and the Kool Kats stand out. Ray is incredibly genuine and charismatic. He makes a bride feel special and a couple feel loved throughout the whole process. He, for example, even played our hymn in a different key so that one of my best friends could sing it as a solo for us, and practiced with her before she sang it. Another example is how he recognized our fur baby, dog. Our dog had been in our ceremony and worn a "I Loved Her First" sign down the aisle, and Ray even picked up on it and commented to the crowd, playing that song later. The single most important thing I can say about Big Ray and the Kool Kats is that every year when we look back on our wedding at the time of our anniversary, we'll think fondly of our memories of fun, laughter, and joy, thanks to them, and we'll be reminded each day to smile, laugh, and find joy, just how we started our marriage.
Response from the Vendor on 08/09/2019
How charming of you to take the time to write this. What a great event from the absolutely charming outdoor ceremony right through the party. Thanks for having Big Ray and the Kool Kats
Ray and the Kool Kats were absolutely fabulous! Everyone I spoke to commented how great and "danceable" the music was and how much fun they were having/ had. Ray was so agreeable from the very start and and dedicated to exceeding expectations!! The dance floor was packed for all 3 sets - and dancers ranged from age 2 to 92 - literally!! My daughter, the bride, loved them!!! I have a second daughter - there will be no need to consider any other band... the Kool Kats are the best!
WOW.
For 5 years, I worked for one of the largest wedding agencies in America booking wedding bands out of Richmond all over the country. In fact, I personally booked Big Ray more times than I can count for past clients. I feel I have this incredibly unique perspective of being an ex agent, but also being the Groom now.
I've seen/booked a million wedding bands, but very few stick out like BRKK. Where do I even begin? His ability to have a double digit member band with incredible horn section and multiple leads and vocals? Rays organization as a band leader? The amazing communication throughout your entire event from start to finish? His ability to see your day of schedule and based on his incredibly deep experience, offer advice that no one has thought of yet? The energy they bring as soon as they step on stage? The talent of the band? The classy look? It's all 5 STAR. Ray is worth every single penny and then some.
Do not slack on your music in your budget, it makes the event. People forget so many details about weddings they've attended, but guess the one thing they always talk about years later? THE BAND! Most people want to sit down and talk with band leaders about what specifically they want to hear etc. As an agent, we always advised against getting into specific artists or when to play what, but keeping it more "no this or that, but we love this". The bands entire job is to keep everyone dancing and happy, but part of that is letting them do their thing in terms of tempo and how they structure the set. Once they've got you up, they want to keep you up and dancing. When my wife and I talked with Ray about music, he already knew I was a funk/motown/classic kind of guy. I literally said, "do what you do. Our families loves the funk". I didn't have to say another word. There was no, "I don't like this artist or that artist", just "do what you do". They're so talented that they're able to take this amazing road of feeling out the crowd in an instant and going right off that. They never stopped playing it seemed like! I danced so hard and for so long, that I had to change into a second dress shirt halfway through because I looked like I had been caught in a torrential down pour of rain. Over 2 weeks later and I am still getting emails and text messages specifically about how amazing the band was and how much fun everyone had because of BRKK.
If you want a band, go book a random act online. If you want a customized EXPERIENCE that you will never, ever forget, trust in Ray. He will take care of you and your family as his own!
Ray, you're the man!
Big Ray brought down the house, and was amazing to work with - across the board. He was incredibly flexible with the playlist - and had everyone on the dancefloor the entire night. Would 10/10 recommend!
It is difficult to imagine having a better wedding band than Big Ray & the Kool Kats ("BRKK"). They met and exceeded our expectations in every respect. Quite simply, they were incredible.
We hired the full (12-piece) version of the band to do our wedding reception at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA, in July 2014. Here is a rundown of their performance:
Quality of Service (5/5): BRKK put on an unbelievable performance at our reception. Everything was perfect. The quality of the music and the band's presence in the room outclassed anything I had ever witnessed at a wedding reception. The band also played a fairly wide variety of music at our wedding (a little bit of Top 40, oldies, Motown, swing/jazz, ballads, rock & pop, etc.), thus accommodating a wide range of musical tastes. The band had the dance floor filled literally the entire night once they started playing. We are so glad we made the decision to hire this band!
Responsiveness (5/5): BRKK and their agent were both always very responsive and attentive in our e-mail and phone conversations. They were very prompt in addressing our needs.
Professionalism (5/5): BRKK was polite, courteous, and professional during all of our interactions with them.
Value (5/5): Hiring a big band for a wedding, as we did, is never going to be cheap. However, we feel that for the amount we paid, BRKK was absolutely worth every penny. It was a 12-piece band that performed flawlessly, so it certainly seemed worth the money to us.
Flexibility (5/5): BRKK gets major kudos for being very flexible with us. We submitted a list of preferred and "Do Not Play" songs, as well as a list of requested songs not on their playlist, about a week before our wedding. During the wedding they followed our preferred song requests exactly, and they also managed to work in several of our requested songs they do not usually play.
These people do the best job. Having a great band made our wedding a fabulous party - people are still talking about the band and some friends have already requested their information for their own weddings. They are expensive, but they even learned the exact arrangement of first dance song.
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1131 Rio Rd E., CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | Virginia, North Carolina, Washington D.C, Maryland
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