How long have you been playing, singing? 
 
 My folks bought me a drum set when I was 14. I’ve been playing & singing in bands & doing solo gigs ever since. 
 
  What other kinds of events do you play for?
 
Catholic liturgies, Protestant worship services, memorial services/funerals, youth rallies, a children’s shelter, nursing homes, a soup kitchen. 
 
 Can you remember any funny and or memorable stories from past wedding’s you’ve played at that are worth sharing? It can involve you or members of the wedding party.
 
 The groom was so late at this one wedding, I performed what amounted to a mini-concert for the sake of crowd control while we all waited for him to arrive. It was a good 45 minutes after the scheduled start time. 
 
 What advice could you pass on to other aspiring musicians/singers out there who want to be good and be successful?
 
 Prepare. Be VERY prepared. 
 
 What do you think set’s you apart from other musicians/ singers like yourself? What are your strengths?
 

I prepare, trying to pay great attention to detail. I sing with all the passion I can muster and accompany myself on piano. 
 
 What is it about playing / singing for weddings that you enjoy?
 
I’m a married man & witnessing vows never gets old for me. 
 
 List for me in order your top 5 musical influences.
 
GOING BACK: The Beatles, Sly & The Family Stone, Wilson Pickett, Mad Dogs & Englishmen featuring Joe Cocker, & Peter Gabriel 
 
 Are you involved in other musical projects, groups, organizations and if so what are they?

 I am the minister of music at a Presbyterian church and I music-direct teen choirs at my parish and the Catholic high school where my kids attended. 
 
 What are some of your other interest and hobbies that you enjoy?
 
I have written a lot of children’s music: 34 songs for PBS’s Barney and many toy commercials.

I’ve been a “Mac enthusiast” since I got my first Mac in 1985. Yes – it’s kind of a cult. I follow national politics closely. I love the Italian language & culture.

Check out this catchy tune produced by Angelo!!

 01_san_pellegrino_mp31

 What is your experience as a wedding musician?

 Can you share with me some of your more memorable wedding moments that you have experienced? This can include you, the wedding party or all of the above.

  What are some your other interest? 

I enjoy sports. I love to play tennis and basket ball and I love to watch football. I enjoy cooking especially Italian food. Then again I’m a bigger fan of eating Italian food more than I like to cook it. I also love to garden and hang out in my back yard! My daughters are singers and I enjoy making music with them and helping them with their performances. 

 If you could do anything else in your life, what would it be?

 What advice could you share to the young musician out there hoping to be successful in music?

Adding a string instrument to your wedding ceremony or mass  like a violin or a cello could really be a nice touch and the kind of home run you are looking for to take your wedding to the top!  There are so many directions you could go with the music, but sometimes it’s just a matter of priority and the kind of picture perfect setting you are trying to portrait.  Remember, you could also save the strings or chamber ensemble for the cocktale hour before the reception during drinks and appetizers.    Your wedding day will not only be a beautiful day to remember and cherish for the rest of your living days together as a couple but your guest will always remember the kind of time and special care you added so as to set your day apart from the rest.  You’ve heard,”don’t forget to cross the T’s and dot the I’s” ?  Well this just might be your opportunity. 

I plan on having a number of string players and groups on my site very shortly.  Stay tuned!  In the mean time, listen to this awesome arrangement of One Hand One Heart! Imagine this with just a piano player and a violinist.  The combinations of musicial recipe’s are endless and at your grasp!

I got a chance to meet up with Bob Kirby, well known working musician in the Boston area.   He can sing, play the piano, the organ and his saxaphone playing has got to be, bar none,  top 10 in Boston.  I asked him a few questions and here’s what he had to say!

How long have you been playing, singing?

Playing saxophone professionally in wedding bands for 24 years
Over 800 wedding receptions (30-50 a year average), over 200 wedding ceremonies (15-20/year)

Can you remember any funny and or memorable  stories from past wedding’s you’ve played at that are worth sharing?

It can involve you or members of the wedding party.

Yes, but not fit for publication. Most of them are rather tragic. Once I had a trumpet player that started playing a processional in a different key than I was playing on the organ and didn’t switch over for about 8 excruciating bars. That was fun.

What advice could you  pass on to other aspiring musicians/singers out there who want to be good and be successful?

Find your niche and set yourself apart as someone unique that will create a Brand people will desire. Don’t let your worst performance let you down; keep striving forward and don’t look back.

What do you think set’s you apart from other musicians/ singers like yourself?  What are your strengths?

I have extensive experience performing both secular and sacred music, so I can draw on both experiences to inform the other. I tend to have a bit of jazz influence in my playing, but definitely strong R&B roots. Add the fact that I grew up on classical church music and made records with a boys choir and you’ll see my traditional side.. While Contemporary Christian Music dominates much of what I do, I still enjoy traditional hymns like Ave Maria, both by Schubert and Bach-Gounod, and Panis Angelicus, Ave Verum by Mozart , etc.

What is it about playing / singing for weddings that you enjoy?

I like to be able to find the formula that will most move the Bride and Groom to enter in more deeply into the moment. It is like unlocking a puzzle to find their emotional key.

List for me in order your top 5 musical influences.

In the Christian genre (most applicable to weddings): Matt Redmond, Rich Mullins, Matt Maher, Tom Booth and Stephen Curtis Chapman

Are you involved in other muscial projects, groups, organizations and if so what are they?

The Johnson Brothers (a.k.a. The Swinging Johnsons), Blue Heaven, Elated, Bernie Choiniere and the East Coast Band, LIFT worship band, Celine Dion tribute Band featuring Gina DiMia,

What are some of your other interest and  hobbies that you enjoy?

Recording and producing albums, reading about History, traveling (particularly to Italy and speaking Italian)

Did you see the video below? Remember, when you have your “once in a life time” event, bring your best, “sense of humor”, and you better not forget to put your party on, because you never know when you’re going to need to RIZE to the occation. What could go wrong? According to the wedding below, everything just did! But she could have saved the day if she just simply laughed at herself a little! Nes pa? I know, the gowns ruined, her make up is smeared, her $200 shoes are soggy with sea weed, and she didn’t bring an extra bra. But let’s face it kids, that was AWESOME!! I’ve gone to alot of weddings. I’ve seen grooms pass out, and brides puke on the alter. I’ve seen freak digital piano accidents when out of no where, the piano went possessed and went into a big band / Glen Miller / Jitter Bug for going down the isle, when they wanted the Wedding March. I even saw Mrs. Farqua come into the church with her little, white, well groomed show dog poodle and pee on the pew!! But during it all, I laughed because if I didn’t, there would be alot of “AWKWARD” all over the place. And yes, a little music is always a good thing to have during awkward moments. Wouldn’t you agree? Send me your best wedding stories! Would love to hear them.

Pray this never happens on your wedding day! Can you top this?

Check out this funny wedding video:

What funny wedding videos do you have that you’d like to share?

Do you love wedding videos like we do? Check these out and let us know which one you think is the funniest.

Video 1:

Here’s another funny one:

Video 2:

Which one do you think is the funniest?

Here’s an idea. During your year of planning for your gala wedding reception, try thinking about ways to create memories for your guest. After all, you want your guest to have a good time right? You want to give them something to talk about right? So be creative, and give them their money’s worth. Do something different and maybe even shocking. Step out of your comfort zone and dream up a situation that will leave your guest speechless. Maybe it happens during the toast. Maybe you can cook something up for the meal. Maybe it involves your wedding band or DJ. What ever it is that you decide to do for your wedding, give them memories that they can keep and take with them. Wedding’s today have taken on a new meaning altogether. It might as well be yours. But all in all, don’t just sit there at the head table. Walk around and greet your guest. Here’s a little clip for your enjoyment. Now this couple really know’s how to have a good time with the element of surprize!

There are a number of directions you can go. Let’s cut to the chase. You want them to be good. Whether it’s your local cantor / soloist from the church or the local organ player down the street who happens to be your Grand Mother, let’s make sure they can play and or sing. Can you relate to what I’m talking about?

Here’s a story for ya. At a wedding I did a couple years ago, everything was in place. The bride and groom were beautiful. The flowers were exquisite. The whole atmosphere was first class with a touch of arrogance, yet every one was classy and friendly. Well, the family soloist went to sing her meditation hymn, and she completely bombed! I mean, she had some troubles. She was sweating, she was off key, mostly flat, and she obviously was uncomfortable and embarrassed. Who wouldn’t be? I felt bad being the accompanist wondering how could I save this person from complete humiliation. She went to sit down, tripped on her self and almost fell to the floor. Needless to say the bride and the groom were even more embarrassed and may have regretted their decision to use Aunt Debbie to sing for them.

Get my drift? Don’t risk it. Think very carefully about who!  Make it perfect!

I would love to hear about your best wedding disaster. It could have happened in the church, at the reception hall, you name it. Make a comment and send me your best story.