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Big Ray & the Kool Kats Reviews

Big Ray & the Kool Kats

Big Ray & the Kool Kats

Charlottesville, VA
5.0 out of 5 rating, 159 Reviews
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Reviews

5.0 out of 5 rating
159 Reviews
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98% Recommended by couples

Awards

159
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
  • L
    L. Hagspiel Sent on 04/14/2024
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    Exceeded our expectations!

    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!
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    Jessica L. Sent on 10/14/2023
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    The best wedding band around

    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.
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    Brittney J. Sent on 10/30/2023
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    Best Wedding Band Around!

    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!
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    Stacy B. Sent on 02/05/2024
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    Every Wedding Planner and Couples Dream

    As a Wedding Planner, I get to work with some wonderful talent throughout the year. In September I got to work with one of best out there. There is nothing that this talented group can not do for their couples and the pros that work beside them. Communication was fantastic and as a planner, most times this can be a challenge. Transitions were seamless, sound quality perfection (outdoor reception), energy level from the whole band was perfect. That evening reception was frigid, but you would have never known that because they had everyone up on their feet, singing and dancing all night through. Big Ray & the Kool Katz have jumped to the top of my recommendation list. From a professional standpoint, they check every box that a couple SHOULD BE LOOKING for in a band for their special day.

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    We feel the exact same way about working with you. Let's do it again! I love a planner who "gets it". Ray
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    Laura B. Sent on 06/06/2023
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    Phenomenal Band!

    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 hands down the greatest!

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    Charming family, great venue, and fun all the way around!
    Anytime anywhere for the Bair family! Thanks!
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    Sherrie W. Sent on 06/22/2023
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    HIGHLY RECOMMEND “BIG RAY AND THE KOOL KATS” with the same passionate enthusiasm as other clients shared in their testimonials!

    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!



    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    Thanks so much for the kind words. Not much makes Big Ray and the Kool Kats happier thank helping to join two great families. And what a special moment you asked us to be part of with a surprise performance by the bride's family! Anytime, anywhere.
  • Andres
    Andres S. Sent on 05/07/2023
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    A band that has it all!

    Big Ray and the Kool Kats were great! We haven't stopped hearing about how great the band was from friends and family! They were quick to learn new songs for the First Dance and the Mother-Son dance. We were looking for a band that can do some spanish songs and they delivered on that as well. We have 2 family members who play instruments and the band allowing them to play a couple of songs with them was such a special moment for all of us!
  • Colleen
    Colleen S. Sent on 03/24/2023
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    Big Ray and the Kool Kats - Best Band Ever!!

    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!!
  • Judy
    Judy Sent on 12/06/2022
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    Best Band Ever

    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.

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    What a fun and very elegant event! It was our honor to share the evening with both families. And thanks for noticing my trumpet work during the ceremony. It's a challenging piece and always at such an important moment as your daughter comes down the aisle. Thanks again. Ray
  • Richard
    Richard B. Sent on 11/21/2022
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    "Best Band Ever" - quote from many of our guests

    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 & the Kool Kats's reply:

    What a great party and it was so nice to see everyone dance all night, ESPECIALLY the bride! Anytime, anywhere for your family. Ray
  • Abigail
    Abigail S. Sent on 05/13/2023
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    Couldn't have been happier!

    If you want a night filled with fun dancing for the whole family, this is your band. Big Ray and the Kool Kats couldn't have been more fun the night of and easy to work with as we prepared for the big day.
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    Nate E. Sent on 11/05/2022
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    The Ideal Band for Your Wedding!

    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 & the Kool Kats's reply:

    What a charming venue and even more charming couple! We certainly enjoyed celebrating with you. Ray
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    Nicole L. Sent on 10/22/2022
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    Big Ray was the best part of our wedding!!

    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!!!
  • Harry
    Harry B. Sent on 06/14/2022
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    The Very Best

    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.
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    Meredith S. Sent on 06/22/2022
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    Our guests are still talking about Big Ray!

    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.

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    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.
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    Maria G. Sent on 05/11/2022
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    Book them for an amazing dance floor

    One of our wedding "non-negotiables" was an awesome band to keep the dance floor packed. If that's what you're looking for -- Big Ray is it. They are SO fun and keep the party going. They also played great instrumental music for our ceremony and background music for cocktails and dinner. Can't recommend them enough, it was so much fun.

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    What a fun event with some unique choices for music both at the ceremony and the reception. More fun than usual for the band!
    It's always nice being at Castle Hill Cidery
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    Sue Sent on 05/16/2022
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    Big Ray and the Kool Kats are the Best!

    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!"
  • Chelsea
    Chelsea B. Sent on 05/04/2022
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    Great experience with Big Ray and the Kool Kats!

    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! :)
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    Mollie M. Sent on 04/02/2022
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    Hire Big Ray & the Kool Kats!

    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!!!!

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    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.) Ray
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    Andrew S. Sent on 03/06/2022
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    Excellent band + experience

    Big Ray and the Kool Kats were INCREDIBLE! A great MC and performer and we received compliments from everyone
  • Jenny
    Jenny B. Sent on 11/07/2021
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    Big Ray and the Kool Kats is the best!!

    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.

    Big Ray & the Kool Kats's reply:

    Thanks so much, and what a beautiful event. We're honored you chose us! We hadn't been to Knoxville in a long time and i hope we see you again.

    Ray
  • Nancy
    Nancy A. Sent on 08/31/2021
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    Great music great dancing

    Big Ray and his musicians are just a blast. Fun, energetic, entertaining and they bring the party! I promised our daughter she’d love the band and she was thrilled! Ray even played the Redskin’s fight song so our daughter and her WRC - cheerleaders could do their dance! It was a big hit. 10 out of 10.
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    Richard P. Sent on 08/19/2021
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    Upbeat Band and Lots of Fun

    We had Big Ray and the Kook Kats at a banquet for our doctor association's annual meeting. They were absolutely fantastic. Everybody had a wonderful time, and I even observed one of our members break dancing with another member's 5-year old son. Now that's a sight to remember! Ray is a terrific band leader, the musicians are great and the singers are wonderful. I highly recommend the Kool Kats!!!
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    Oskar R. Sent on 08/22/2021
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    Top Notch!

    The only complaint we heard about our 7/31 wedding in Wytheville, Virginia was that the dance floor wasn't big enough! Once these guys got started, people streamed on to the dance floor and never returned to their seats. Over and above the talent and professionalism, Ray was incredibly thoughtful... the grandmother of the bride told him a story about a another band twenty years ago who had played a couple of songs on the piano post show, and he had one of his guys do the same thing.... It was a great wedding and the Kool Kats was a key part of making it great.
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