Big Ray & The Kool Kats REVIEWS

Big Ray and the Kool Kats were a pleasure to work with and the highlight of the night. They had a history with the event that pre-dates both Brigitte and I, and never missed a beat. There was a minor miscommunication about parking when they first arrived, but that was resolved quickly. One of our other vendors was parked in the wrong space an added some confusion. Otherwise, it went very smoothly and easily adapted to changes during the cocktail reception.

- Joe I.

(Jun 01, 2023)

Guests from all throughout the country called this the wedding of the century and completely loved the band! Big Ray & the Kool Kats were fantastic - they played everything we requested and also read the crowd. I've always dreamed of having a great dance at my wedding and I was thrilled! The band is musically gifted, and kept playing such fun songs. All our guests were dancing throughout the night, and even my grandparents surprised everyone as they stole the dance floor and danced to Blue Moon (total crowd pleaser as it was such a sweet moment). 10/10 times I would hire Big Ray and the Kool Kats. They're incredible!

- Jane

(Jun 04, 2016)

Just wanted to let you know that Big Ray and his band crushed it last night.  May have been the best I have ever heard them.  Great mix of experienced musicians, younger ones...  Really perfect.  My clients were super super pleased and I look forward to seeing Big Ray again soon!  It’s nice to have a band that you know is going to bring it on every level.  Professional, fun and talented.  He is so different from so many other bands and I am happy to have his style to offer to clients!

- Dina O.

(Apr 23, 2016)

Dear East Coast Entertainment and Big Ray, Words cannot express the joy we have when thinking of the special night our daughter had because of your band.The music was spectacular and Big Ray made the bride feel as if she really was a princess for the day.Truly an amazing experience and we wanted you to know that the whole band from singers to instruments to timing and even allowing our “really friendly guest” up on stage they never missed a beat.Please pass this on to Big Ray and his band, they need to know how grateful and over the moon impressed we all are!!!

- Teresa and John M.

(Jan 06, 2016)

Big Ray & the Kool Kats was a spectacular part of my daughter's wedding. Everyone had a wonderful time dancing to the band's music, and, of significantly less importance, BR was most accommodating in complying with silly requests from the bride's father concerning the wedding toast. BR and his band are the tops!

- Eddie W.

(Oct 24, 2015)

It was an absolutely honor having them perform at our wedding reception. From the start, I knew that this was going to be seamless. Big Ray gave us his cell phone number to call any time leading up to the event with questions or concerns. We did end up calling him once with questions and he was extremely patient listening to our questions and really took the time to explain how he could help. At the event, he came up to us before we were introduced to say hello and joke around with us (we were so nervous!) to help calm the nerves.Now for the music. It was truly unbelievable! I had guests coming up to us at the reception to get his contact info and hear about how we had found this band. If they weren't coming up to ask about the band it was just to tell us how talented they were - and they truly are!Another GREAT thing about this band - my mother at one point thought that it was a tiny bit too loud and she went up to Big Ray and he immediately worked with her to get the right level. She agreed with me that it was an amazing response as not all bands are likely to agree with "the old fogies" as my mom calls herself :)Big Ray and the Kool Kats take it to another level. While there were certainly a few bumps in the road during the wedding (there always will be!), there were absolutely zero with the band. I wish I could have them at every event! Big Ray - let me know if you ever put out a record, I'll be first in line to jam along in my car!!Thank you, Big Ray and the Kool Kats, for making our wedding experience a truly unforgettable one!!

- Kerry C.

(Oct 10, 2015)

We cannot say enough great things about Big Ray and the Kool Kats! Our friends actually had Big Ray at their wedding reception back in 2010, which my husband (fiancé at the time) and I attended and had such a wonderful time at, and 5 years later, we were still talking about the band and the amazing job they did at our friend’s reception so we reached out to them when our big day came around and we could not be happier! Ray was an absolutely joy to work with in the months leading up to our wedding and his band was phenomenal! Everyone at our reception was up and on their feet (even the non-dancers) and Ray kept the party going! I have a fairly conservative family, so I was a bit nervous how the reception would go trying to keep both young 20-somethings entertained as well as our 90 year-old grandparents but Ray and his band pulled off a night made for everyone! They played music from Bruno Mars to Frank Sinatra and everything in between. My husband and I had taken several private dance lessons and had our first dance choreographed so I was a bit nervous if we’d be able to perform to a live version of our song since we had only practiced with a recorded version from the artist’s cd, but again, it went perfectly! The band and the singers followed our steps and adjusted their tempo to our dance-- I was so, so, so impressed! I obviously cannot say enough great things about this band! If you’re lucky enough to book them (they book quickly!) you will not be disappointed! We’re a large military family and have family members representing every branch of the military so Ray included a few sound bites of the different military marches which our crowd loved and added such a personal touch! Bands are quite a bit more expensive when considering the prices of DJs, and we toiled back and forth a bit with the price, adjusting our budget here and there to make it work and I will tell you that Big Ray and the Kool Kats set the tone for our entire evening and the experience was better

- Francoise D.

(Sep 12, 2015)

Big Ray and the Kool Kats- absolutely the best. We were choosing among several bands and Ray just had that extra something. He met with us in DC one time to go over everything and we knew it was going to be a great party. He made some excellent suggestions - things we hadn't thought of. We gave him four new songs to learn to expand the hora and the hora was incredible.Big Ray and the Kool Kats definitely made the party. One of the guests came with her husband who is a well known actor. As Ray said, you could tell it was a great party by the fact that everyone stayed on the dance floor and didn't go over to the actor. We got so many compliments about the band...

- Andrea S.

(Sep 06, 2015)

I have been meaning to write about the amazing Big Ray and the Kool Kats but unfortunately life got in the way. Our wedding was over a month ago and everyone can't stop talking about how fun and awesome our band was! Everyone was on the dance floor all night. From the very first moment I talked to Big Ray he was so accommodating and I knew it would be a great night. I told him my family was Cuban and we were hoping for a few Latin songs. They band exceed our expectations and played a ton of Latin songs that they learned just for us. Big Ray even let some of us get on stage to sing and dance. Exceptional does even come close to saying how fantastic Big Ray and the Kool Kats are. I would definitely recommend them for any event. Thank you Big Ray and the Kool Kats for making the best day of our lives even more memorable!!

- Hortensia R.

(Aug 01, 2015)

You were fantastic - all the way around. From our first meeting to the last dance. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed listening and dancing to your music. You made the party. Our friends are still talking about it and many inquiring how to get in touch with you. So I suspect that maybe I’ll be seeing you again - soon I hope.My mother thoroughly enjoyed herself and was quite disappointed to leave the party. Apparently after she was taken back to her room she asked why she had to leave when it was her party...Many thanks again, I can’t tell you enough how much we all enjoyed your music. You made it an evening to remember. You and the rest of the group were terrific and I can’t thank you enough.

- Ellen E.

(Jul 31, 2015)

Our event is an annual ball, corporate event is as close as we can get in the "Event Type" and we count on Big Ray and the Kool Kats to keep the party going! Big Ray et al have been the go to band for our event for many years now. This is a 25 year old event where in the past our patrons would complain about the same band after a couple years. They all now look forward to Big Ray (they even call to be sure Big Ray and the Kool Kats are playing). They could not be a nicer group of folks, they read the event and play the music that keeps everyone on the dance floor, they are just as much fun during the last song as they were the first. Your event can NOT GO WRONG with Big Ray and the Kool Kats.

- Joyce F.

(Feb 21, 2015)

Wow- Big Ray and the Kool Kats are great!!! The band is awesome- friendly, talented, played a nice mix of music. Great background music during dinner and then they really took it up so that everyone danced and had a wonderful time. All of our guests commented on how great the band was. We danced so much some of our guests could barely walk the next day! Music really makes a party and if you want to have an awesome party then hire Big Ray and the Kool Kats!

- Bryan K.

(Feb 14, 2015)

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Big Ray & the Kool Kats. They had everyone dancing the entire time they played! They sounded fabulous and were just wonderful to work with. I wholeheartedly recommend them and hope we can book them again for our next event!Children’s National Medical Center

- Ellen W.

(Feb 07, 2015)

Hi Ray!  I’ve been meaning to email you to thank you once again for doing such a remarkable job on my wedding day. I can’t tell you how much it meant that you guys learned Queen of the Slipstream, it was truly a great surprise for a girl who is impossible to surprise and please. You guys completely nailed it. My parent’s friends also keep raving about the wedding and of course they all say “don’t even get me started on the band”! Thanks for making my day so wonderful and filled with the music that truly moves me. You guys really did an outstanding job.

- Jen T.

(Jan 03, 2015)

Big Ray & the Kool Kats are an amazing Band. I have been in the Nightclub and entertainment business for over 30 years and booked hundreds of acts, Big Ray is one of the most professional groups I have ever dealt with! They are incredibly talented musicians, excellent vocals and put on a great show. Big Ray is a strait up guy, you can count on him for no hassles or headaches, he over delivers every time they have played our events. I highly recommend this Band!

- Robert T.

(Dec 31, 2014)

Big Ray & his Kool Kats are second to NONE. Hands Down. Full Stop. End of Story. Ray & his Kats deliver in the most memorable of ways thanks to their one-of-a-kind blend of talent, showmanship, professionalism, class, and WOW factor. A "wedding band" boasting top-caliber musicians AND star quality entertainment ability/stage presence is hard to find... but this rare combination of awesomeness is exactly what you'll get when you book Big Ray & the Kool Kats for your special Event.

- Katharine G.

(Nov 14, 2014)

Big Ray was excellent to work with! We had a complicated request with having each wedding party member enter to their own song. The band easily learned songs for us and made the entrance fun and memorable for our friends and family. They were the hit of the party and no one wanted the night to end. I would recommend Big Ray and the Kool Kats for any party!!

- Heather M.

(Aug 23, 2014)

As a wedding coordinator it was such a pleasure to work with Ray. He is such a nice gentleman and such a professional. His band is amazing and kept the guests engaged the entire time. If you are planning a wedding book him now!

- Julee S.

(Aug 09, 2014)

We love working with Big Ray and the Kool Kats, they make our jobs so much easier! Ray is super responsive and really knows how to command a room. They play a great selection of music and are always so organized. We don't have to worry about a thing when they are here!

-

(Aug 08, 2014)

We can't thank you and your band enough for such a fabulous wedding reception on Friday! Meredith and Sam both said it was "the best night ever" and we would definitely agree! We received SO MANY compliments about you and your band members! It was the number one thing mentioned about the evening. We've talked about how we've never been to a wedding reception where everybody was on the dance floor the entire evening!  So, thank you for everything. You kept us organized and kept us moving:) We hope you had a happy birthday............and thanks so much for sharing your day with us!

- Craig & Pat J.

(Aug 08, 2014)

Big Ray and the Kool Kats played at my daughter's wedding. He was always responsive before the wedding, and our wedding planner said several times what a pleasure he was to work with. They played what the crowd wanted - and were entertaining the whole night. At our request, the music was lighter during the dinner hour, and then they ramped it up for the rest of the evening. There were huge crowds still on the dance floor at midnight when the reception ended. The feed back from guests consistently referred to how great the band was. I was very grateful to them also for the way the band improvised when the fire alarm went off - they played to the beat of the alarm and kept everyone focused for the short time on music and dancing. They made the wedding reception a huge success.

- Elizabeth Q.

(Jul 26, 2014)

I cannot say enough great things about Big Ray and the Kool Kats! They were absolutely incredible entertainment for our wedding. They played with high energy and had the dance floor packed during the entire reception. Big Ray was a great emcee and did a great job personalizing the performance to suit our preferences. The band was even willing to learn songs that were special to us to play throughout the night. Big Ray was extremely professional and a joy to work with. Our guests have not stopped raving about how phenomenal the band was. I would highly recommend Big Ray and the Kool Kats to anyone!

- Tara N.

(Jun 06, 2014)

Big Ray and the Kool Kats gets Five stars in all categories. They completely exceeded our expectations. Many of our guests told me it was the best wedding ever, and the twelve member band played a major part in this. The band also worked with the fireworks company to choreograph music to the fireworks. It was fantastic. The best fireworks to music that I have ever seen.Thank you Ray and all of the other band members for helping make my daughter's wedding so special!

- Robert M.

(May 31, 2014)

Just wanted to thank you for doing a fabulous job at Tara & Daniel's wedding this past weekend! It was a great party and evening and you made my job easier by being a great MC and amazing band!

- Anne K.

(May 17, 2014)

Big Ray & the Kool Kats are absolutely stellar! This event had attendees from the U.Va. community, ranging in age from 21-88, and this group did an amazing job navigating the diverse crowd and playing so many favorites, old and new. The dance floor was constantly full, the 12-piece band always lively and engaging, and they have an incredible way of reading the audience. Ray was responsive, easy to book, flexible with their schedule, and affordable. He made great recommendations for the timing of the event and to help us capitalize on their time at the event, playing for both the cocktail reception and for the dancing portion of the evening. I would definitely recommend them for a wide variety of events; they can do it all! Thanks for being so wonderful to work with! Can't wait 'til next time!All of the attendees with whom I spoke said BRKK was the best - much better than our previous band. The band tailored their performance to meet the different ages of the attendees and made sure everyone had a great time! We could not have made a better choice.

- Cate & Tom L.

(Nov 02, 2013)

We had a great experience with Big Ray and he contributed to making the night an unforgettable experience. People were telling me how they were terrific and asking "where did you get that band." Our dealings with you and ECE were seamless. We will not hesitate to recommend Big Ray and The Kool Kats and ECE.

- Henry H.

(Aug 24, 2013)

Dear Ted, Once again, we were not disappointed by our choice of a wedding band through EastCoast Entertainment. Big Ray and the Kool Kats were amazing. Ray knew exactly how to handle my very type A stubborn daughter, the bride. The dance floor was constantly packed and had everyone raving about the band. My 86 year old mother was even dancing, along with all MIT graduates and Wellesley grads. Ray really knows how to read a crowd. Too bad all our children are married now because I would definitely book Ray again if they weren't.

- Linda D.

(Jun 29, 2013)

Since being home, we have spoken to many of the guest who joined us at the wedding and each guest said that Big Ray was by far the BEST group they have ever seen, which we agree- he is not only a fabulous musician but an extraordinary entertainer. I wanted to specifically mention the way he led the parade to the Jefferson Room for the bride to toss her bouquet, fabulous concept and made this wedding special and different from the rest. Thank you again- there are not enough words to express our appreciation for the fabulous evening.

- Linda B.

(May 11, 2013)

It couldn't have been better. Ray out did himself. Guests commented that the Kool Kats were the best band ever. Everyone danced, sang, some of the little ones were break dancing. Ray was so easy to work with. Aronimink had a most favorable experience with the band. Thank you so much for creating a wonderful, fun, memorable time for Emily and Jacob!

- Irene H.

(May 04, 2013)

I want to thank you and your band for an outstanding performance during Brooke's wedding reception. You exceeded our expectations and made it a great evening for everyone in attendance. I continue to receive accolades for your band's performance. Most importantly, Brooke was extremely pleased as you could tell by the amount of time she spent on the dance floor and the stage! I have personally attended a lot of wedding receptions and I cannot recall any where the dance floor was full from the beginning to the end as it was for Brooke's. Thank you for helping make this such a memorable event for our family and friends.

- Mike P.

(Apr 13, 2013)

The wedding weekend was amazing and everything ran so smoothly. Big Ray was very easy to work with and was great about responding to emails, phone calls, etc. He worked well with both Brent & I. As far as the night of the wedding--they were amazing! We have had so many people tell us what an amazing band we had. They played the songs we loved and got the crowd involved as well. Overall, I would say things went great and they were incredibly easy to work with and performed beyond our expectations. Thank you!

- Katherine S.

(Mar 23, 2013)

You truly are the nicest group of people, Ray, and the fact that you all can sing and play instruments so well is secondary to the joy the you bring to all. Thank you for a wonderful event and we hope you enjoyed your self as much as we enjoyed you.Trish B. (Jan 26th, 2013)Mother of the Bride

- Trish B.

(Jan 26, 2013)

Thank you all so much for your invigorating, fantastic talents that truly had everyone singing, dancing and smiling on January 17th in the Science Museum. The Penguin Ball remembering the Tenth Anniversary of my Inauguration as Governor was perfect in all respects. Your song selections and quality were the best.

- George Allen

(Jan 17, 2013)

We have received great reviews of the band! People were on the dance floor all night long and the energy was contagious! Ray called me yesterday afternoon to check in and see how everything went. The event was definitely a huge success and we are so pleased with the band.

- Tracy W.

(Jan 01, 2013)

Ray: You and your band were absolutely fantastic - thank you! We are so grateful - our families and friends are still raving about you and the Kool Kats. You guys did everything we could have hoped for and much, much more. Everyone loved the music, and the selection, and the execution. And you in particular were just perfect: flexible and friendly, and the way you handled the evening's events just far exceeded what we were even wishing for. We loved every second of our wedding and you and the band were such a major part of that. Thank you so very much. 

- Rebecca G.

(Dec 01, 2012)

To say Thank You for everything (everything!) you did to help make our day so absolutely FABULOUS on Saturday. I can say, without any hesitation, that it was an absolutely perfect evening for me and Scott and there is NOTHING we would have done differently. Nothing. Big Ray's performance completely MADE THE NIGHT! We have received an endless line of compliments, Facebook posts, and emails speaking to how wonderful "the band" was - you all were a complete hit and kept the dance floor packed the whole night - which was exactly what Scott and I had hoped for :) And I know that you and your team learned several songs specifically for our wedding - they were carried out beautifully and clearly they were a hit! You all made the night something we will never, ever forget - THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER! Truly, you all deserve nothing short of a standing ovation :)

- Christine K.

(Nov 18, 2012)

We could not have been happier with Big Ray and the Kool Kats. They were AMAZING! They made the reception so fun, with people dancing from the minute the Bride/Groom and Father/Daughter dances were over until the end of the night. My husband and I heard comments all night about how it was the best reception ever, etc., and it was all due to Big Ray and the Kool Kats. People who never dance were dancing, even a pregnant friend who arrived exhausted after a long car ride was dancing. The few people who didn't dance still loved the music. And, I have to say, it was kind of nice to tell people that the band was opening for the Temptations the next night. I think some people thought we must have hired them from Los Angeles or New York. My daughter and her husband are on their honeymoon right now. They were as happy with the band as my husband and I were.

- Nancy T.

(Nov 17, 2012)

On behalf of all of us who participated in Carolyn and Jeff's wonderful wedding in Kiawah, I want to thank you for a truly memorable performance. We could easily have continued dancing to your great music. Since the wedding, we have been contacted by so many of our guests who complemented your band for its fantastic music and energy. You had us dancing the entire time. My son's girlfriend wore her shoes out. Ha! People usually remember the wedding ceremony and the reception music, and we will never forget either. "New York New York", "God Bless the USA" and "Sweet Caroline" always get our families going. I have another daughter whom I hope is planning to be married in a year or so. With any luck Jennifer will be calling you again if you are rested! Thanks again.

- Jim P.

(Oct 06, 2012)

Steve, Big Ray and the Kool Kats were unbelievable!!! I can't begin to tell you how good they were. They absolutely MADE the wedding. From the moment the dancing started until they played they last song the dance floor was full. So many people told me they felt like they were at a concert!! The next day the topic was OMG THAT BAND!!!!! Not only were they amazing but they were so nice and fun. THANK YOU so much your help with the band!!!

- Jennifer P.

(Oct 06, 2012)

I just wanted to let you know what an amazing job Ray and the band did for our daughter's wedding. My gratitude is hard to express in words-but Ray was so kind and took care of making sure everyone had a great time - and out of their seats onto the dance floor. I know guests would have loved to dance for another 2 hours! I am sure you know how wonderful (and talented) Ray and his band is-but it was so special to have Ray (and the Kool Kats) as part of such an amazing day for my family. EVERYONE LOVED THEM!!!! Thanks for everything!

- Shawny B.

(Aug 18, 2012)

We wanted to extend a huge thank you for playing at our Bicentennial Gala of the War of 1812 at the Maryland Historical Society. Your music was incredible and it truly made the evening very special. You all are rock stars and we would recommend you to anyone!

- Elixabeth S.

(Jun 09, 2012)

-

(Jan 01, 1970)