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The life of a wedding singer

In the age of digital music and the relative bargain of a single DJ, wedding singer Kenney Holmes is determined to keep it real.

For some 15 years, Kenney Holmes and his band, Showbiz, have made an excellent living playing events on and around Capitol Hill, from weddings to Rep. Bennie Thompson's fish fry, bringing in as much as $500,000 a year. But these are leaner days and bookings are fewer and far between.

For some 15 years, Kenney Holmes and his band, Showbiz, have made an excellent living playing events on and around Capitol Hill, from weddings to Rep. Bennie Thompson's fish fry, bringing in as much as $500,000 a year. But these are leaner days and bookings are fewer and far between.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Holmes, seen here preparing before heading to a Jewish wedding reception in restaurant 2941's Koi Room, never intended to become a wedding singer. But growing up in the 1950s and '60s, he was fascinated with popular music.
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<br>He formed a band and began playing at Long Island nightclubs. Though he went to college to become a psychiatrist, he kept finding his way back to music.

Holmes, seen here preparing before heading to a Jewish wedding reception in restaurant 2941's Koi Room, never intended to become a wedding singer. But growing up in the 1950s and '60s, he was fascinated with popular music.

He formed a band and began playing at Long Island nightclubs. Though he went to college to become a psychiatrist, he kept finding his way back to music.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Holmes meets up with wedding planner Joan Sacarob while setting up gear for the wedding.

Holmes was well-suited for the role of event bandleader. His production skills helped him control his band's sound, and his familiarity with country, big-band and classical music made him popular with audiences who wanted, as he says, "a tango or a Viennese waltz," as well as Wilson Pickett.

Holmes meets up with wedding planner Joan Sacarob while setting up gear for the wedding. Holmes was well-suited for the role of event bandleader. His production skills helped him control his band's sound, and his familiarity with country, big-band and classical music made him popular with audiences who wanted, as he says, "a tango or a Viennese waltz," as well as Wilson Pickett.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Holmes left nightclubs to work as a bandleader at events and weddings in the 1990s, hoping for a steadier paycheck. "I could make in one night what I used to make in five," he says. And "it changed the culture of what I was doing. It was no longer cool to get drunk onstage."

Holmes left nightclubs to work as a bandleader at events and weddings in the 1990s, hoping for a steadier paycheck. "I could make in one night what I used to make in five," he says. And "it changed the culture of what I was doing. It was no longer cool to get drunk onstage."

Mark Peterson-Redux

Bride Bonnie Greco, center, and members of her wedding party on the dance floor. "Once we get them on the floor," Homes says, "we keep them on the floor."

Bride Bonnie Greco, center, and members of her wedding party on the dance floor. "Once we get them on the floor," Homes says, "we keep them on the floor."

Mark Peterson-Redux

Holmes and his band coax the wedding guests into a conga line, spearheaded by the bridesmaids, with "Hot Hot Hot."

Holmes and his band coax the wedding guests into a conga line, spearheaded by the bridesmaids, with "Hot Hot Hot."

Mark Peterson-Redux

Homes with maid of honor Mardin Amiri. Playing weddings requires an elaborate sleight-of-hand: the creation of a fantasy, a bride's favorite songs brought to life with a carload of speakers and coaxial cable and a handful of part-time musicians.

Homes with maid of honor Mardin Amiri. Playing weddings requires an elaborate sleight-of-hand: the creation of a fantasy, a bride's favorite songs brought to life with a carload of speakers and coaxial cable and a handful of part-time musicians.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Holmes uses as many as eight musicians and two singers for weddings. He accepts turnover as a fact of running a band, but his current core lineup has, in the mercurial world of part-time performers, been fairly steady.
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This is perhaps partly because Holmes insists on making music. During performances, he lets his musicians take the lead and uses specialized, stripped-down tracks to set the tempo and fill in musical parts when necessary, ultimately preferring the messy alchemy of live music to something more canned. Holmes's respect for the music endears him to his musicians, all long-time veterans of the club scene.

Holmes uses as many as eight musicians and two singers for weddings. He accepts turnover as a fact of running a band, but his current core lineup has, in the mercurial world of part-time performers, been fairly steady.

This is perhaps partly because Holmes insists on making music. During performances, he lets his musicians take the lead and uses specialized, stripped-down tracks to set the tempo and fill in musical parts when necessary, ultimately preferring the messy alchemy of live music to something more canned. Holmes's respect for the music endears him to his musicians, all long-time veterans of the club scene.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Perhaps 80 percent of the weddings Holmes plays are for Jewish clients; he considers them a specialty of his and has learned the traditions, including the Hebrew words to accompany the hora, to help ensure his marketability.

Perhaps 80 percent of the weddings Holmes plays are for Jewish clients; he considers them a specialty of his and has learned the traditions, including the Hebrew words to accompany the hora, to help ensure his marketability.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Kenney Holmes sings to newlyweds Bonnie Greco and Clark Fisher during their wedding reception in Falls Church. Recent times have not been kind to wedding bands, however. There is the poor economy; live music is often one of the first things trimmed from a tighter budget. "I used to have one to two inches of contracts in my book, and now I have just one or two in there," Holmes says.

Kenney Holmes sings to newlyweds Bonnie Greco and Clark Fisher during their wedding reception in Falls Church. Recent times have not been kind to wedding bands, however. There is the poor economy; live music is often one of the first things trimmed from a tighter budget. "I used to have one to two inches of contracts in my book, and now I have just one or two in there," Holmes says.

Mark Peterson-Redux

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Kathleen Hom

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