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Big Ray and the Kool Kats is a 12-piece wedding band located in Charlottesville, Virginia and regularly serves all couples throughout the country, such as Richmond, VA, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, Washington D.C., and many more. Founded by longtime professional musician Ray Caddell, they have performed at countless wedding receptions since the group's inception over 25 years ago. Ray and his talented team of musicians strive to provide first-rate wedding entertainment services to each couple as they celebrate their special day.

Services Offered

The team at Big Ray and the Kool Kats offer a number of services for your upcoming milestone celebration. Ray begins the planning process with an in-depth consultation to discuss event style, size, and budget. From there, he and the team will carefully curate a personalized setlist that authentically reflects your personality and style. Big Ray and the Kool Kats musical range is extensive and they can play a wide range of genres, from Motown to classic rock. They also wholeheartedly welcome any personal requests you have. The group can provide professional dance floor lighting and a state-of-the-art sound system for your big day celebrations. Additional services include the use of microphones and a professional MC, along with musical accompaniment during breaks in reception speeches.

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FAQ

Which of the following are included in your wedding reception music package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
Lighting
MC
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Sound/PA System
Travel Expenses

Which of the following are included in your popular wedding package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
Lighting
MC
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Sound/PA System
Travel Expenses

Are you an agency or a band?

Band

How many musicians are in your band(s)?

7+

What genres of music does (do) your band(s) play?

Big Band
Classic Rock
Country
Dance
Funk
Jazz
Latin
Motown
Orchestra
Pop
R&B / Soul
Rock
Swing

What music services do you provide?

Instrumentals
Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learning New Songs
MC
Reception Music
Music During Breaks
Vocals
Liability Insurance
Willing to Travel

What items are available?

Lighting
Microphones
Sound/PA System

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Big Ray & the Kool Kats

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Big Ray and the Kool Kats consistently receive rave reviews as an outstanding wedding band, highly recommended by multiple reviewers for their exceptional talent, professionalism, and ability to keep the dance floor packed all night long. Ray and his team are praised for their communication, flexibility in learning special songs, and energetic performances that cater to guests of all ages. Whether it's providing ceremony music, cocktail hour tunes, or a full reception band, they excel in creating a fun and unforgettable experience for any event, making them a top choice for weddings.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Big Ray and the Kool Kats consistently receive rave reviews as an outstanding wedding band, highly recommended by multiple reviewers for their exceptional talent, professionalism, and ability to keep the dance floor packed all night long. Ray and his team are praised for their communication, flexibility in learning special songs, and energetic performances that cater to guests of all ages. Whether it's providing ceremony music, cocktail hour tunes, or a full reception band, they excel in creating a fun and unforgettable experience for any event, making them a top choice for weddings.

Ellen
Ellen Sent on 11/19/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Best Band EVER!!

Big Ray and the Kool Kats are simple the BEST band ever! HIRE THEM NOW! Everyone couldn’t stop raving about how amazing and talented the band was….even a few weeks later people are still talking about how much fun the band was!

They handle all the music from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. Ray was wonderful to work with from start to finish. And he is an AMAZING MC…he’s entertaining, personable, and got all our guests out on the dancefloor.

Hiring Big Ray and the Kools Kats was the greatest and easiest wedding decision we made! I hope I get to see them again…might have to crash their next event 😊
Brianna
Brianna Sent on 10/22/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible band!!! 10 out of 5 stars!!!!

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!
Caroline
Caroline Sent on 06/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wine Bar Wedding

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!!!
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Awards

168
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
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
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Are you interested?

Real Weddings

Caitlin & Justin
28 photos · 10/03/2020
Deidre & Eric
53 photos · 06/01/2019

Professional Network & Endorsements

Donovan-Groves Events Donovan-Groves Events Wedding Planners

We love working with Big Ray & the Kool Kats! They are a great band, not just a great wedding bad! Easy to work with, flexible and keeps the guests dancing! We love working with Big Ray, as do our clients!

Blue Ridge Event Production Blue Ridge Event Production Wedding Decor & Lighting

We have worked more than a few times with Big Ray and his Kool Kats and crowd pleasing and entertaining are always the words heard after the event. It has always been a real pleasure to work with them. They are grade A professional and extremely easy to work with. If a live band is your entertainment choice, you can't loose with Big Ray & the Kool Kats.

Barb Wired Barb Wired Wedding Planners

If you want the best time EVER for your wedding or special event, you need this band! It is important to me as a wedding professional for all to work together as a team. Big Ray does it right and is a joy to work with.

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