Doug Winters Music

Five starts for Doug and the BKS! We are beyond thrilled with how our wedding turned out, and Doug and his team were the biggest reason why. Doug knew exactly how to structure the reception, and was happy to work with us to learn our songs and build the setlist that would lead to the party of our dreams. Doug took the time to get to know us in the lead up to the big day, understanding who we are, our specific needs, and what we would need to have the party of our lives. All this, and I haven’t even mentioned how good they sounded yet! The singers were all outstanding and knew how to keep the energy up. And all the instruments created such a full sound. Even our most musically discerning guests were loving it! Cannot thank Doug enough for all his help making our Wedding Day special.

Doug Winters Band absolutely exceeded every single expectation and hope I had for the perfect wedding band. From our first zoom call to everything that followed Doug was kind, courteous. helpful, excited, enthusiastic, accommodating and over the top amazing !!!!! The entire crew exceeded what I could have ever dreamed of. Every single person whom commented on the band said hands down the best wedding band ever ! They learned songs I love, I sang a solo for my husband and they were so incredibly helpful and delightful to work with. I’m not sure there is one thing they could have done better or differently. I know several people have used him from my wedding as well as made referrals for him to play upcoming events. THE BEST!!!!!

Hiring the Doug Winters Band was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. Doug Winters and his band did such an outstanding job and had us all out on the dance floor all night long. Before the wedding we gave Doug a few songs we wanted him to play and him and the band learned them for us and played them to perfection. Also, we loved that members of the band came out into the crowd to really get the party going. Our guests can't stop talking about how amazing our band was and some came up to me and told me this was better than the band at their own wedding. Doug is also very easy to work with. I highly recommend.

Doug and his band were everything we wanted and more at our wedding! He really went out of the way to make sure everything was special for us. Leading up to the wedding, Doug was professional, and easy to communicate with (even letting us add terms to the contract without any issue and answering all our follow-up questions) and stayed in regular contact about the itinerary. On the wedding day, Doug arrived early and the ceremony music and officiant sounded clear. During the cocktail hour and reception, he made sure everything moved seamlessly, keeping things moving along seamlessly. Doug, Shaliek and the rest of the group brought THE PARTY and kept everyone on their feet from start to finish. The sound and vocals were excellent and their song selection was perfect -- a mix of classic wedding songs, pop songs and new hits. They played music continuously (no breaks with recorded music), which was important to us, and during dinner service the tremendous trumpet player (Jim Hynes) did some solo pieces. He and the band enthusiastically went along with the sister of the bride to sing a song, learning it ahead of the wedding. After the reception, a bunch of guests were asking Doug for his business card. The only downside was our venue required them to stop playing at 11! We would recommend Doug and Best Kept Secret to anyone!

We had an amazing experience with Doug Winters Music at our wedding! The band was fantastic and kept up a great energy for our reception. The set list was great and was perfect for our guests with varied music tastes and of different ages. Doug was incredibly helpful to us and his attention to detail during our planning phase was so much appreciated. He spent considerable time with us making sure that our wedding and the execution of the music would be perfect. Lastly, the recurring comment we got from our guests over and over again was how much they loved the band and the music. That says it all right there. We cannot recommend Doug Winters Music highly enough!

Doug Winters band simply rocks! They kept everyone on the dance floor for our entire wedding, playing nothing but hit after hit. From the vocals to the horns and everything in between, we felt like we were at our own personal concert (even to the point of chanting for an encore). Doug and his band work tirelessly to make sure the music is on point and the party keeps going. Thanks again for the great memories!

WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL! And it never would have been the same without you. We're so amazed that you pulled off the music WHICH MADE our wedding at my parents' apartment this past Monday night so AWESOME-- eight pieces in a NYC brownstone! The band was PERFECT. SO WHAT if it was a lot smaller than we ever expected? And not everyone could be there -- because we changed the date and venue on you -- and everyone at the last minute? But it was because of a VERY happy, great expectation in October that we decided to move up our June 6th wedding and celebrated under what might have been compromising conditions to other people but you made it all come together. And you rocked West End Avenue!WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES...you made us dance all night and how you got all your musicians together, literally on five days' notice -- we will never know. But we will have a lifetime to tell this story and we forever grateful, Doug! It was a blast. You and your musicians were brilliant. Thank you so much for going above and beyond in every way. A lot of takeout food and four hours of dancing in every room of a four bedroom -- one of my favorite things was that there were singers moving through our hallways! Thank you Doug and the spectacular musicians of your band, Best Kept Secret.

No idea how to express my gratitude to Doug and Best Kept Secret, his band, for his performance on March 7 -- just three days ago!!!!-- at my wedding. We were worried about many things but the only thing we knew would be perfect was the band. and Doug and his band totally delivered with so much passion, excitement, professionalism and enthusiasm. Erica, my new wife, and I were blown away completely. Doug is a phenomenal musician and the extra vocalist we hired rounded out a practiced, tight and completely expert ensemble who covered EVERY SINGLE GENRE of dance music for the past fifty years plus a bunch of very esoteric tunes for during the dinner set. The highlight, of course, was the four hour reception during which NO ONE SAT DOWN FOR FOUR HOURS! The chant for "one more song" was graciously performed by the tireless band who only wanted to keep us dancing and on the dance floor all night long. Our phones are ringing off the hook: "where'd you find that band?" ever since Sunday morning. That said it all. Sari, Doug's wife and partner, had amazing ideas and held our hands throughout -- even lending emotional support. Together, they are an awesome team, Doug, his wife and the incredibly talented, expert musicians that comprise Doug Winters Music. If only all our vendors were as generous with their time and talent. HIRE THIS BAND IF YOU WANT AN UNFORGETTABLE CELEBRATION!

THANK YOU DOUG WINTERS! We just got married last weekend and are about to leave for our honeymoon but we had to thank you and your amazing band before we left. Hands down, you were the best vendor of everyone we hired!!!! Yes, the venue and the food were outstanding, but Doug Winters Music was flawless. Thank you for all the time you spent with us helping us plan our wedding and for totally "bringing it" on the night of...you totally MADE THE WEDDING the crazy success it was! Your energy and that of the band's was so infectious, everyone keeps saying "the room was filled with love! My new husband and I didn't hop from table to table, we found everyone on the dance floor and danced and celebrated with them. It was so perfect because Doug, you read the room perfectly. And you knocked it out of the park. Thank you so much for everything! Everyone keeps asking us, where did you find these guys? You delivered everything your promised -- and SO MUCH MORE! You.. and the singers and players were filled with energy and even more talented, exciting and engaging us and all of our guests much more than we could have ever imagined. And Doug, you went far above and beyond anything we could have hoped for. Do you want the most incredible time at your own wedding and entertain your families and friends with music that will make your night the wedding of your dreams? Book this band because they will make it happen . THANK YOU DOUG FOR EVERYTHING!

We found Doug here on the Knot almost six months before our wedding and we are so lucky we did. He gave us the greatest night of our lives! My fiance, Jules and I, got engaged four months after we met because when it's right, you know it! And luckily we did not go with our original plan to be married at City Hall in a small wedding -- we would have missed the total excitement that our wedding turned out to be -- a non-stop dance party that we never, ever could have ever anticipated. Doug promised us high-energy and we loved the video and him from the very beginning. He lives up to his stellar reputation. The wedding really took place on the dance floor all night -- and our family and friends and WE loved it. The farm we got married at was gorgeous, and it was a warm summer night so the stage was set. But Doug made it all happen. The band played and sang their hearts out and Doug remembered every little detail we discussed -- including that we wanted everyone to dance with us during our First Dance. We used an old Stevie Wonder song we love and it was fast and that was many of the highlights of our perfect evening. I know our wedding planner and my mom did everything but Doug really pulled it all together, with music that kept everyone excited and engaged -- we never stopped dancing. THANK YOU, DOUG and Best Kept Secret! We love you!

We can't begin to express how grateful we are to Doug Winters and his band, Best Kept Secret, who performed at our Thanksgiving Eve wedding. It was so beautiful and we all it all to Doug. We didn't hire a wedding planner, but thanks to Doug, we didn't have to. He's SO knowledgeable about everything weddings - especially helping us work out the logistics of a wedding at our grandparents' home. That is why when people call and email us to rave about the music at our wedding and how they spent time mingling with friends on the dance floor all night long, we tell

I have no idea where to begin when it comes to describing Doug Winters Music. The first words that come to mind are "beyond perfect." From my first phone call to the night of the wedding, they crushed it. Doug himself is a consummate professional, a remarkable musician and a great guy to talk to -- and he was always there for my wife and myself. We were in constant touch throughout the process of planning the music for the wedding. Doug was like our event planner and he steered us toward the best decisions always. He and the band learned everything they didn't know (which was maybe, one song) and handled contracting a classical quartet for the ceremony. On the night of the wedding, they brought their A++++++-game and kept the dance floor packed and motivated all night. The singers are fun and awesome and the band itself just killed it. They are the best band I've ever heard at a wedding -- my wife and I could never thank Doug enough. He was super attentive to our needs, always made us feel we were his only clients and the music was way beyond phenomenal. If you want a wedding that will feel like a real celebration, this is the band for you.

My fiance and I searched for the "right band" until we finally came to the Knot and found Doug! We sent a message and within five minutes, his wife responded to it and that was it! We had found our band! She was so warm, intelligent and totally "clued in" to what brides and grooms really want to hear from bands. We booked the band without even speaking to Doug, because his video is so amazing and so was Sari, his wife. She promised us Doug would listen and respond -- and he delivered! Sari promised highly individualized attention and Doug came through--responding to every single question and request we had. And Doug is funny, kind, and always available -- he was always texting, emailing and spending hours on the phone with us. Sari promised us the best music we'd ever dance to at a wedding. So... On the night of my wedding, what can I say? They were unbelievable. The musicians are awesome, full of energy and talent and from the mellow cocktail hour through the reception to the last song, they were the best music we'd ever heard live at a wedding. We're so happy we chose Doug Winters Music. THIS BAND WAS THE BEST VENDOR DECISION WE MADE! Our wedding was last May and we're still talking about the music. Plus, we are still in contact with him and Sari; two friends got engaged and we sent them straight to Doug Winters and his band. We are going to meet Doug and Sari for coffee next month and we can't wait to see him play at our friends'weddings in October 2020 and May 2021. If you want everyone up and dancing all night long, don't hesitate to hire this band!

Because of Doug's kind and understanding personality and his highly skilled and experienced background as a musician and event planner, he became so much more than my favorite vendor, he became a part of our family. The music was everything we wanted and more -- this band is so lively and so much fun, he and his musicians did everything they could to make our night very special. What's more, he learned a ton of songs we requested that were not part of his regular playlist; we were very touched by the lengths he went to. He was so accommodating throughout the planning process, as I said, he became our de facto wedding planner. He's full of insights that will make your party amazing. I love his vocalists; they came out into our crowd of family and friends. I could not possibly recommend him more highly.

My husband and I wish we could give Doug and his band a tenth star -- that's how much we loved him and his music. We found him online and knew immediately that his tape was filled with exactly the music we wanted at our wedding. And the singers and the whole band lived up to that promise at the wedding. They kept our families and friends on the dance floor all night long. They have great passion for what they do and they're true artists. Doug is a total pro in every way. For the two months leading up to the wedding, Perry and I spent countless hours (almost every day) on the phone with him. When we thought of a song, we texted back and forth constantly. Doug is warm, understanding and a major problemsolver. For great client support and hot, soulful, nonstop pack-the-dance-floor music and every kind of music -- from jazz to folk -- you might want, Doug Winters Music can't be beat. Go with Doug and his band; he will surprise you with excellence beyond compare!

Doug's band was the highlight of my wedding night and my feel still hurt from dancing almost two months later. From the beginning, Doug's attention to detail and flexibility to work with my fiancée and i during hectic times helped put as at ease. He was so involved, helpful, and really made us feel listened to and in good hands. The energy the night of was amazing and he "read the room" perfectly, keeping people dancing all night long. It's true that music can make or break your party, and I'm recommending Doug's band to all of my friends getting engaged because they will absolutely make it.

My Family and i love Doug Winters Music, the band dramatically exceeded our expectations. They took everything special request and worked closely with us for months before my Wedding. Doug Winters Music is amazing.

Doug Winters gave my daughter the wedding she always dreamed. They are so funky and elegant at the same time; everybody cannot saying “this is the best band we’ve ever heard .” They were spectacular and the best choice we ever made. Hire them today!

Doug and his band played my wife’s 50th BDay party in Manhattan. They were absolutely one of the highlights of our evening. They had our guests up and dancing all night. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. On the personal side, Doug gave me great advice throughout the planning of the event. He has a ton of experience and is an incredibly friendly guy. We had an awesome event and the music was a huge part of it. Highly recommend!!

Doug's band played for my brother's wedding and we loved the group so much that we hired them for ours. He got everyone on the dance floor and the music was amazing. The musicians he works with are true professionals and they sounded incredible! We requested some Latin songs, which they were able to learn, and it really made the night special for us. Highly recommended if you want someone who will really bring the energy for your event!

Doug and his amazing band are so great to work with. Their lively music had everyone dancing from the beginning and they did such a great job making our entire reception go smoothly. There were so many comments and raving reviews by our guests after the wedding. You will be so happy you went with Doug for your wedding or other big event.

Where do I begin?? Doug became what felt like a member of my family before I ever met him and his band. My husband and I had hired Doug and the band without ever hearing them play live- and it was best decision we ever made. From the first conversation with Doug he made me feel at ease, answering any questions I had whether it was about the music or any other part of the wedding. He was available whenever I needed him, late night texts or weekend phone calls- it was always welcomed. Doug ended up feeling more like my event planner in the end and had great advice for us on how to best to set up the day. When our wedding day finally came, his band exceeded even my highest expectations. They were fabulous and the party started from the very first song and went all night. Our guests didn’t sit down all night! The amount of energy and talent these guys have is unlike any wedding band I have ever heard. As if my husband and I weren’t impressed enough, our wedding guests are still calling to tell us how incredible they were and how it was such an amazing party thanks to the band. Doug and the band- you made the wedding of our dreams come true, and we wish we could relive it all over again! If you are looking for a party that you and your guests will never forget, don’t hesitate in hiring Doug and this band. We got lucky enough to have an unbelievable band for our wedding and make a lifelong friend!

The Doug Winters Band is truly amazing--working with Doug was an incredible experience and we felt so taken care of and understood. He was a great listener and he went above and beyond to make our vision come true! He and his band were an integral part of making our wedding day such a memorable, magical, incredible experience. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about how great they were and still talk about it to this day!! They kept people on the dance floor all night long and were interactive with the crowd which we loved. The band even had learned a few songs just for us :) It was truly a pleasure to work with them and I couldn't recommend the Doug Winters Band more!!

The Doug Winters band is beyond amazing! I highly recommend! Everyone kept asking about the band and saying they’re the best band they’ve heard- I agree completely. We had everyone on the dance floor. Made us feel special on our big day!

It was like love at first call and I’m not talking about the person I married. Doug was so personable and easy to work with and we hit it off the first time we spoke. After hearing their music on YouTube and having great recommendations I knew he was the band to go with. We stayed in constant contact through out the whole planning process and he even learned a whole bunch of songs we wanted because he wants to make your day extremely personal and special. The day of was no different and he and the band killed it! We had people coming up to us (if they weren’t on the dance floor) asking where we found him and saying how great the music was. Go with Doug Winters if you want the best party ever!

Professional and incredible. Cannot reccomend highly enough!

Doug Winters is a very talented musician. He is extremely easy to work with and provides a lot of one on one time before the wedding to understand what the couple desires for their wedding entertainment. I planed my wedding myself and booking this band was the best choice I made. Everything worked seamlessly with no added stress. I received many band compliments from my guests and most said that Doug Winters made the wedding fantastic. I would highly recommend booking him if you want live music and a very memorable experience.

Doug Winters Music was the shining star of our reception. I don’t think there was one minute our guests were not on the dance floor. We were a rowdy crew that loves to get down - and Doug and team knew exactly how to keep the party going with us. He worked very closely with my husband and me - learned what music we liked and what we expected for our reception. He also accompanied our sobrano and strings for the ceremony. Multiple friends and family members have raved to us about how incredible the band was and how much fun they have. The horns definitely were the icing on the cake (and would highly recommend the extra spend for them). All around - I can not speak more highly of Doug and his musicians. They were incredible, and we so enjoyed working with them. I mean absolute rock stars!!!

Doug and his team were amazing and so easy to work with! They arrived early and played beautifully the whole time and exactly as we discussed. I would highly recommend them and definitely rebook for another event!

Doug was fantastic to work with from beginning to end. He was always available to chat, and loved all of our ideas for first dance, cake cutting, and mother/son and father/daughter dances. He even played a few of our requests that weren't on his normal rotation. Doug also coordinated our ceremony music (string trio with a trumpet) and he played during our cocktail hour, so we had continuous music from start to finish. He also knew how excited we were about the trumpet player, and orchestrated a beautiful trumpet solo during dinner that elicited a standing ovation from our guests. All of our guests commented on how great the band was, and one friend took down his information at the end of night for her wedding next summer! When it's not just the bride and groom that are happy you know it's a great vendor. Thank you, Doug for your attention to all of our needs, and for making the party such a blast.

As soon as the band played their first song the dance floor was full and it stayed that way all night!

The Doug Winters band was the best decision I made for my wedding! They are SO much fun and sound absolutely amazing. All of us had to keep reminding ourselves that it was live music because the singers sounded so much like the original artists. At several points, the singers came out into the crowd and sang surrounded by the crowd - it was exhilarating and a blast. Don't hesitate - book this band today.

We were referred to Doug Winters by a friend who had been to a wedding where the band had played. As soon as we spoke with Doug on the phone to introduce ourselves to see if he would be available to play at our wedding, we knew it was a great match. His positive energy and enthusiasm for music made working with him such a blast. Doug was always available whenever we needed to hop on a call and he had amazing advice on all music related parts of the day. Even our wedding planner told us how much she liked working with Doug because he was more organized than any other band she'd worked with before. When we finally met him at the reception he did not disappoint! Everyone was up and dancing the entire reception. Even days after the wedding we had friends and family calling us to tell us how amazing the band was and how much fun they had. Thank you, Doug, for living up to your reputation and making sure we had the best night ever. It wouldn't have been the same without you! If you're looking for energy, a smiling face, and a night full of dancing, then look no further than Doug Winters Best Kept Secret.

If you're getting married, this is the band you want to play at your wedding. Doug and his band played at my wedding last September and they were absolutely incredible. My husband and I spent the entire night on the dance floor and so did everyone at the party. They learned a lot of songs that were important to us and were totally accessible throughout the entire process. One of my bridesmaids just booked Doug for their June 2019 wedding. Call them early to make sure you get them!

I planned a 120 person wedding in 2 months, and can honestly say that I could not have done it without Doug's help! We talked about toasts and special requests, and the band even learned new songs just to make my night happen! He is a complete professional with vast experience, and his love for music and people is evident. When it came to wedding night, people asked me throughout who they were and how I found them... they are literally the Best Kept Secret. Every band member sounded AMAZING! We had soooo much fun! I cannot recommend them any higher -- YOU WANT THEM! Trust Me!

We loved working with Doug Winters and his band, all total pros. He and the whole team showed generosity and panache, and most of all showed that they know how to put on a real party. The band could read the room, and kept our guests on the dance-floor. We only wish we could've had them play until dawn. And we consider Doug a new friend! We cannot recommend the Doug Winters band more highly. — Emily & Martin

Doug Winter's band played at our daughter's wedding and we cannot be more enthusiastic about their music. The band really read the crowd well and kept the dance floor full all night long. People of all ages raved about the music to me and my husband the next day and said that it was one of the best wedding bands they had heard. Besides the music they played, Doug was a joy to work with over the months leading up to the wedding.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Doug Winters Band/Best Kept Secret! My now husband and I are both musicians and we wanted to work with an incredible group o musicians and that is exactly what we got. Doug and his band took new (not very well known) songs and made them very special for our day. Singers are also FANTASTIC> On the spot the band was able to work with myself and my husband separately to make special musical tributes for another, and help my maids of honor to their own musical toast. It was a lovely musical wedding thanks to Doug and his crew!! Please take advantage of these incredible musicians for your wedding our event, you will not regret it!!!

Thanks to Doug Winters--our wedding felt like a party. It was amazing to see have so many of our friends and relatives up on the dance floor with us--we basically didn't have to go table to table to make the rounds because we were able to spend time with everyone on the dance floor! Doug works with you from the very first time you contact him--he even responded to a request that I sent the night before the event! He listens to all of your ideas, and tells you which ones will work, even the ones you think won't, and has suggestions for how to make everything even better. My husband and I had a fairly esoteric first dance song, which they learned very well! Doug not only lead his amazing band and made sure the music was top notch, but he kept the party kept the evening going smoothly, and had great ideas on how to time the speeches and special dances to avoid breaking the flow of the evening. The father daughter dance was sort of an inside joke, and Doug suggested (though it wasn't planned) that my father give a little explanation behind our father-daughter dance. This suggestion is one of the examples of how DOug understands how to do a great job with events to make everyone at the reception feel included in the experience. The band was great- when the guests were hesitant to stop partying to come watch the cake cutting, the lead singer broke into an impromptu rap about it being time to cut the cake, which got a lot of laughs and people's attention. We were married months ago, and everyone who we talk to about the wedding mentions the band. Thanks!

Doug Winters / Best Kept Secret was spectacular at my wedding! They had the dance floor PACKED even before our bridal party was introduced at the very beginning of the reception! Doug was a pleasure to work with during the planning process, and he and his band are so incredibly talented. They listened to our requests and truly made the evening so special for us. Throughout the 4 hour reception, the dance floor was packed. Even the solos that were performed during dinner took my breath away. I had to stop walking around greeting people at one point to just watch them sing and take it all in! My family and I are so happy to have had them play at our wedding, and we were complimented on them throughout the evening by our guests and by the manager of the club. I highly recommend Doug Winters' Best Kept Secret, they were amazing!!!

Forever grateful to Doug Winter's Music Band for he was amazing from our initial contact prior to booking, to the last song of the night! He was receptive to our needs and a great listener with lots of great ideas too. He played the perfect music with perfect acoustics for the Ceremony, Cocktail Hour and Reception. He had our guests dancing from the moment they entered the Reception. We had a packed dance floor with our guests saying over and over that this was the best Event Band they have ever heard. They were able to play and sing every special song we needed. From the teenage guests to the 93 year old Grandma, our dance floor was rocking all night! He coordinated the night's events seamless, just like we wanted. His vocalists and musicians were incredibly talented and sooo much fun. They lifted the energy of the entire Reception venue. It is true that 'The Music' is at the top of the list to make a wedding perfect and this was true with our wedding! We could not have been more pleased and thrilled with our music, Doug Winter's Music!