“When I got sick of people asking if I’d be insulted if they paid me to play their wedding, I decided to become the best wedding singer in the world. I love weddings. I love wedding music. I love playing the Greatest Songs of All Time. I play originals too  - but I won’t play a song of mine unless it can stand up next to The Beatles.”  - Ben Rose

Ben Rose Wedding Band is a great source for live wedding music in Alberta. Ben Rose’s fresh take on classics makes for memorable, unforgettable wedding moments. Check out the videos below for a sample of Ben Rose’s take on Etta James’ “At Last, and the timeless classic, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

This song is perhaps the best First Dance song ever written. Ben and his Wedding Band cover Etta James’ classic ode to love in their own “Burlesque Rock” style. On that theme, the video follows a very demure “Stripping Bride” (Jackie Gately; footage courtesy Prelinger Archives) who does her own special dance here.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - performed by The BEN ROSE Wedding Band

When Ben sings this classic song to a bride coming down the aisle, grown men cry. It’s a stunning accompaniment to a beautiful bride in the most important walk of her life. The video here features a variety of brides and grooms to get you inspired, as photographed by the unique and romantic vision of Tara Whittaker (www.tarawhittaker.com).

For more information, visit www.benrose.ca

By Ben Rose

Let me start by saying that I love Christmas music. If I could only take 1 album to a desert island it would be a fight between an Elvis and a Chipmunk’s Christmas album.

That said, nobody who books me for a Party/Wedding in December wants to hear Christmas Carols all night.

My top 10 songs for holiday parties and weddings during the holidays goes something like this…

1) At Last, Etta James: This is the perfect first dance for a wedding or any couple in love.

2) Can’t Hurry Love, The Supremes : Get the party off to a great start; when we rock this one out, the dance floor fills instantly.

3) I’ll Be Home for Christmas: You can’t have happywithout sad, and this may be the saddest song of all time…if only in my dreams.
4) Twist and Shout, The Beatles: Even the Beatles turned to this one when the party needed a boost.
5) White Christmas: An obvious choice, but I like to speed it up into a fun ska number.

6) Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison: The most requested song in the book, but we don`t hold that against it.

7) Baby it`s Cold Outside: A witty, charming duet you can only play…when it’s cold outside.

8) Island in the Sun, Weezer: Counter-programming for the people that are sick of the cold.

9) Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Monty Python: A lot of people get depressed during winter (especially Christmas), and if my rocked-up version of this one doesn’t cheer them up nothing will. It’s also on my new album, Cowtown.

10) Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Lastly, the most beautiful song ever written. Whether the Bride is walking down the isle or the party is winding down someone will have a tear in their eye.

For more of Bens’ insights…http://www.benrose.ca