8-PIECE LINEUP
Male Vocal, 2 Female Vocals, Saxophone/Vocal, Guitar/Vocal, Keyboard, Bass/Vocal, Drums
Male Vocal, 2 Female Vocals, Saxophone/Vocal, Guitar/Vocal, Keyboard, Bass/Vocal, Drums
The Groove That Makes You Move
Affirmative Groove is a high-energy, 8-piece party band hailing from Richmond, VA. With a charismatic leading man, two standout female vocalists, and polished choreography, this band of veteran musicians will bring your big event to life. The first thing you’ll notice about Affirmative Groove is the look. The husband-wife team of Marrell and Sherry Elam infuses classic hollywood flair into everything they do. From attire to hairstyles to wardrobe details, this band is dedicated to presenting a . . .
Affirmative Groove rates 6 stars out of 5! They were a breeze to work with prior to the wedding as well as on the wedding day. From the first note they played till the last, the dance floor was packed. A guest commented he hadn't danced in 15 years, but just had to get out on the floor that night.
Affirmative Groove is a high-energy, 8-piece party band hailing from Richmond, VA. With a charismatic leading man, two standout female vocalists, and polished choreography, this band of veteran musicians will bring your big event to life. The first thing you’ll notice about Affirmative Groove is the look. The husband-wife team of Marrell and Sherry Elam infuses classic hollywood flair into everything they do. From attire to hairstyles to wardrobe details, this band is dedicated to presenting an expertly-crafted look that imparts a classy feel to any festivities. The next thing you’ll notice about the band is the magnetic presence of its frontman. A quintessential showman through and through, Marrell’s vibe and style blends touches of James Brown, Prince, Usher, and Michael Jackson, and his relentless energy and interaction with the audience is sure to get the crowd dancing. His voice is smooth and polished, full of authentic soul, personality, and charm. Marrell feels right at home in any genre and can perform all your favorite songs, including funk, pop, hip-hop, and even classic rock. One of the band’s most notable strengths is their impeccable choreography. The three lead vocalists work together as a unit, moving and dancing in sync without missing a beat. Their dedication to this aspect of every performance helps create unforgettable, captivating moments at your event. Together, Marrell, Sherry, and the band perform the most popular, instantly-recognizable songs that make everybody cheer and hit the dance floor. From motown classics to timeless pop hits, Affirmative Groove can do it all with a style, energy, and onstage chemistry that’s bound to make everyone move!
Trumpet
Additional Horn
Cocktail Hour Music (cocktail music (solo piano/jazz combo)
Continuous Music (3 hours)
Wedding Ceremony Sound System
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Heather Date: Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 11:12 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andrew, It didn’t take me long to find Sam Hill Entertainment and choose Affirmative Groove for our wedding band. First, the Sam Hill website was extremely to use and broke down all of their bands and what they offered. It was also easy to find clips of the band performing. Overall we decided to go with Affirmative Groove because of their sound and that there was no detectable auto-tuning. The process of booking the band, making payments, and communicating was a simple as it could get short of doing everything in person. On the day of our wedding Affirmative Groove provided an 8 piece live band for the reception and a keyboard accompaniment during the cocktail hour. We would first like to compliment the band on their abilities and sound, we couldn’t have asked for a better band to share in our celebration. They sang our first dance song ‘At Last’ by Etta James flawlessly as well as the song chosen for the father/daughter dance ‘My Girl’ by the Temptations. While we were not able to have the larger wedding we originally wanted due to COVID-19 pandemic, Affirmative Groove all but ensured a party. All of our guests complimented us on the band and how well they sounded! I can say this without hesitation, my husband and I would 100% choose Affirmative Groove for an event again and would encourage anyone looking for a wedding band to do the same. They made our day even more special and memorable. Thank you for everything! Heather and Ryan
From: Kate Buzzelli Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2020 at 1:43 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment Hi Justin, Thank you for reaching out and apologies for the delay in responding as we just returned from our honeymoon! Our wedding was absolutely perfect, and much of the fun was due to Affirmative Groove. To be honest, I had lowered my expectations as to what a covid wedding would be like, but they somehow managed to keep a lively atmosphere and got the crowd to socially distantly dance all night long. We had an amazing night, and they were a pleasure to work with. I would recommend both Sam Hill and Affirmative Groove to friends and family in the future, and would be glad to post my feedback on the Knot as well. Thanks so much, Kate & Rob
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Megan Fricke Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 5:51 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Hi Andrew, Thank you for following up with us after our big day! I wanted to write you a quick note to let you know that we couldn't have been happier with Affirmative Groove or our experience working with the entire group at Sam Hill Entertainment. Marrell was an absolute pleasure to work with and accommodated all of our requests to a T. With all of the changes that had to happen for our wedding, it was so wonderful to be able to have the band there that we had our hearts set on from the beginning. Thank you again! All the best, Megan
From: Tara Wolicki Date: Thu, Feb 13, 2020 at 4:27 PM Subject: RE: Feb 7th event To: Andy Jaspen Andy, Friday night went great with Affirmative Groove! They were real champs and went with the flow. They were fun, upbeat and all of the musicians were great. They were a good fit for that sized crowd and they rocked it! Tara E. Wolicki, CMP TOWNEBANK Assistant Vice President and Event Manager
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Landon Hinton Date: Tue, Feb 4, 2020 at 12:37 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andrew, Everything was great with the band. We really appreciate it! Marrell and his team were great to work with and accommodated our requests. They kept the party going all night long! Also thanks to you and your team for what you all did. The process was very smooth and easy! Best, Landon Hinton
From: Claiborne Fletcher
"They were even better than we remembered! Couldn't possibly be more satisfied with their performance. They exceeded all expectations which were high after seeing them perform at a friends wedding. Professional, Classy and an absolute blast! I'm already begging my husband to book them for any celebratory events we have later in life. We will HIGHLY recommend them to all family and friends. " Mary Sheldon Boney Bride, 12/8/19 at Pippin Hill Vineyard (North Garden, VA)
From: Mary Sheldon Boney Date: December 29, 2019 at 2:40:43 PM EST To: Marrell Elam Subject: Re: Thank you for utilizing our services ~ Affirmative Groove Thank you for an absolutely incredible performance. I sent some very positive feedback to your management at Sam Hill Entertainment. I'm already begging my husband to book you for our next celebratory life event! Thank you again, EPIC performance. All of our friends and family have not stopped talking about "how great the band was!"You all superseded all expectations, even better than we remembered! You all have an incredible gift, thank you so much for sharing it with us and making our reception everything that we hoped it would be. Hope all of you had wonderful holidays. - Mary Sheldon
From: Kate Phillips Date: Fri, Dec 6, 2019 at 11:44 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Clients loved Affirmative Groove & they were easy to work with! Thanks for checking in! Kate Kate Phillips Events
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Maria Elisa Finegan Date: Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 8:36 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew Juge Hi Andrew, Affirmative Groove did a great job for Alex & Whit’s reception. Everyone enjoyed dancing and I got so many positive comments from guests asking about them & where they were from. We will definitely pass on their information.Everyone loved them!!Thank you!Maria Elisa
From: Tarah Carlow Date: Mon, Nov 11, 2019 at 3:45 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove follow up To: Andy Jaspen Hi Andy, Thank you for the follow up on Affirmative Groove at the Children's Hospital gala. We did have a wonderful event, and a large part of it was due to the band. They were very easy to work with and did a fantastic job and were very professional. We will definitely pass their (and your) info along to our next Ball Chairs. Take care, Tarah Carlow Co-Chair, Children's Hospital of Richmond Foundation Gala
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: John Miller
Date: Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To:
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Staud, Jacquie
Date: Tue, Oct 1, 2019 at 8:52 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Becky Danker Date: Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 9:20 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Hi Andrew, e couldn't have asked for a better band then Affirmative Groove. Marrell and the rest of the band put on an INCREDIBLE performance and had our guests on their feet dancing all night! They had some choreographed moves which really elevated their performance and they looked and sounded great. Working with Affirmative Groove was so easy; the band was quick to respond to emails and played our first dance songs exactly as we wanted them. Our guests were blown away by the band and are is asking where and how we found Affirmative Groove. Needless to say, we are singing Sam Hill Entertainment and Affirmative Groove's praises and are passing info along to everyone who asks! Thanks again! Fondly, Becky Reagan
From: Angie Cerimele
Date: Wed, Sep 4, 2019 at 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment
From: Emily Finn Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 9:45 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove follow up - July 20 Wampler-Bailey wedding To: Andy Jaspen Hi AJ, Affirmative Groove were absolutely wonderful at the Wampler-Bailey wedding!! Thank you so much for checking in. We cannot wait to work with them again! Best, Emily Finn Wedding and Event Planner | Farmington Country Club
From: Lisa Braden Date: Tue, May 28, 2019 at 9:52 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hello Mike, Memorial Day went wonderful with Affirmative Groove. As always, they were fantastic! We would like to book them again for next Memorial Day if they are willing to spend it with us again! Have a great day! Lisa Braden Director of Activities and Communications Regency at Dominion Valley Owners Association
From: Mary Elliiott Date: Tue, May 14, 2019 at 11:45 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andy, Flawless!! Affirmative Groove was fantastic, kept the dance floor packed. Sam Hill Entertainment was very good to work with, communication was excellent. We had several friends who have inquired about Affirmative Groove and some who secured their card. Great choice for a band! Thank you for all your help and guidance, Mary Elliott
From: Michaela Brannock
Date: Wed, May 1, 2019 at 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment
"Marrell and his crew put on a great show! I love working with Affirmative Groove on weddings because I know I never have to worry about anything. Looking forward to their return!" Heather Scott The Commonwealth Club, Richmond VA 3/19/19 Schilling-Havermann Wedding
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Russell Raymond Date: Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 10:13 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andrew: my daughter made all the arrangements so she can comment on her experience with Sam Hill. I think it was a very favorable one. However, I can comment on the band itself and Marrell and his lovely wife. They were fantastic. They came in, set up very quietly while we were getting ready for the wedding, and the choice of music was outstanding. They even put together a two song medley that I requested for the father daughter dance. They excited our guests immediately and almost 100% of the attendees were on the dance floor most of the reception. I thanked Marrell several times on stage. Honestly, we could not have expected more. I have communicated our gratitude to Marrell as well. It should be mentioned that all the members of the band were very cordial and kind. I made a point of saying hello to several of them. Sincerely, Russ Raymond
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Dan Coats Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2019 at 12:41 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainmen Andrew, Affirmative Groove absolutely nailed it. Elizabeth and I couldn’t have been happier with Marrell MCing our wedding and his band’s performance. We are so thankful Affirmative Groove was a part of our wedding. Our guests were raving about them. Best Regards, Dan Coats
From: Maria Belcher Date: Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 1:20 PM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove follow up To: Andy Jaspen Hey Andy, Thanks so much! The event was a huge success – and Affirmative Groove was awesome, as always! Cannot say enough positive things about the band's professionalism, energy on stage, everything! Highly recommend them. Will definitely keep them in mind for next year as well! Maria Belcher Donor Relations & Events Specialist Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences
From: Emily Stroud Date: December 30, 2018 at 5:41:05 PM EST To: Marrell Elam Cc: justin@samhillbands.com Subject: Re: Thank you for utilizing our services ~ Affirmative Groove Marrell- I just wanted to let you know that you guys just totally blew us away. The music was fantastic and the performance style and coordination was incredible. We don’t think we’ve ever heard a band that is even close to your level of quality. Even my 88 year old grandmother danced all night, and I truly haven’t seen her dance in years... it brought so much joy to me and to my family. From the bottom of our hearts, many thanks to you and your talented band members- you made our wedding so special! All the best, Chase and Nick
From: Tanya Cornwell Date: Thu, Jan 3, 2019 at 2:59 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino They were wonderful and the guests had an amazing night! I would love to book them again!! Thanks, Tanya Cornwell Starry Night Events
From: Dan Malkin Date: Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 5:57 PM Subject: Affirmative Groove - To: Mike at Sam Hill Entertainment Hi Mike, I wanted to thank you and your team for working with us in regards to the band at our wedding. You and everyone else at Sam Hill were great throughout the process. In terms of the band... Affirmative Groove were absolutely amazing. All of our guests were raving all night and again at our goodbye brunch yesterday morning and once again into today. I’m not just saying that because it was our wedding but their performance was impeccable, completely blew my expectations away. We spent hours going through band video’s when making a decision (as you well know since you answered about 60+ emails from me!) and could not be more thrilled with our choice. From learning a few songs for us, to playing non stop and dancing up a storm they really were incredible on all levels. If there’s a review website that I can leave a write up on please let me know. Thank you to everyone on your team and at Affirmative Groove for making our night that much more special. All the best, Dan & Sarah
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Grace Winston Date: Mon, Dec 3, 2018 at 9:57 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andrew, The band was FABULOUS and we all can’t say enough about them! Affirmative Groove was amazing and we would recommend them as well as Sam Hill’s services to anyone that needs a band in the future. Thanks again! Grace and Matt
From: Alexandria Noble Date: Tue, Nov 20, 2018 at 9:28 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Mike, Affirmative Groove was AMAZING on Saturday - such a pleasure to work with and really made the party. As always, thank you for everything! Happy Thanksgiving! Best, Alex
5-star review on TheKnot.com posted on 11/2/18: "Affirmative Groove made our wedding was so great! Everyone adored them, we do not have a single complaint or suggestion because they were pretty much perfect. They were spot on with the music and kept the party super alive. Working with them has truly been a pleasure, and we hope to work with them again in the future! Definitely try to see them if they’re ever near you, they will blow you away!"
From: Chelsie Proctor Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 6:05 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment Andy, The wedding was so great! Everyone adored Affirmative Groove. We don't have a single complaint or suggestion because they were pretty much perfect. They were spot on with the music and kept the party super alive. Working with you guys has truly been a pleasure, and we hope to work with you again in the future! Thank You, Chelsie
From: Calder Clark Date: Wed, Oct 31, 2018 at 10:53 AM Subject: Fwd: Thank you for utilizing our services ~ Affirmative Groove To: Andy Jaspen; Marrell Elam Dear Marrell, From the client and all of us at Calder Clark Designs, we are super thrilled with having met you and heard you play. Your attitude was nothing short of fantastic, and your performance was over-the-top fab! I loved the guys and girls in the band- they were funny, gracious, polished, and chill. Great dance moves, great voices, just an all-around joy. I will tell Caitlin Whiteside on my staff that you are our new go-to when she’s pushing bands in front of our future clients! I can’t say enough about y’all. Have a wonderful week, and take care! Calder Clark
From: Tracy Campany Date: Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 12:44 PM Subject: Affirmative Groove and the September 13 event To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, I can’t say enough about how fantastic Affirmative Groove was! They were professional and accommodating on every count. They delivered an AMAZING performance in the face of a crowd that’s generally very serious. I’m so glad we booked them! It was a real pleasure working with you and with Affirmative Groove. Best regards, Tracy Campany Event Coordinator
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nathalie Celcis Date: Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 5:20 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Mike! I know its been a while but I wanted to leave my feedback on Affirmative Groove on the Knot and Wedding Wire and also let you know directly. We hired Affirmative Groove for our February wedding and my goodness they are hands-down the best wedding band I have ever seen! They kept the seats empty all night long and made the wedding such a fun experience for our family and friends. Hire Affirmative Groove and don't shop around. They are worth every penny! Thank you for being so accommodating and great to work with! Professional top to bottom! Thank you! Nathalie
From: Justin Masters Date: Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 9:54 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Andy, Thanks for checking in. From a groom's perspective, everything went extremely well: the band arrived and set up without a problem, they got the hora / father-daughter dance / mother-son dance, they played all of our "must-haves" and used their judgment to add in a few extra songs throughout the night. Overall, they helped make the night a great party, which is exactly what we wanted. We were all getting compliments and enthusiasm from a lot of our guests throughout the night that the band was excellent, including comments along the lines of "it was fun to even just watch and listen when I wasn't dancing." I wholeheartedly agree! I will definitely pass along the word to anyone looking for a band for a private event. Thanks for making this easy and fun for us. Cheers, Justin
From: Amy Arons Date: Wed, May 30, 2018 at 10:09 AM Subject: Our daughter's wedding May 27, 2018 Pippin Hill To: Marrell Marrell, Well, Affirmative Groove really knocked it out of the ball park! We have had only RAVE reviews of the band! Each and every guest commented on how fabulous you were! Alison and Phil, and my husband and I were overwhelmingly pleased with your performance. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. The dance floor was full the entire evening! With hearts full, we thank you and the band members for a night to remember. You were FABULOUS! Amy & Barry Arons
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lisa Braden Date: Tue, May 29, 2018 at 12:51 PM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! As usual, they were fantastic. Marrell was on his game last night. We would like to book them again for next Memorial Day. At your convenience, send me a contract. Let’s just do it! Hope you are having a great day! Lisa Braden Director of Activities and Communications Regency at Dominion Valley Owners Association
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nica Lewis Date: Tue, May 22, 2018 at 8:59 AM Subject: Re: See-Bruse Wedding To: Andrew Juge Andrew, One word to sum up Affirmative Groove, PHENOMENAL!! Everything went very well. The Bride and Groom along with his parents were very satisfied with their performance. Nica
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alana Futcher Date: Tue, May 15, 2018 at 9:46 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike! They were AMAZING! Marrell was great to communicate with throughout the course of the event and was flexible with mc’ing which is always helpful! Thank you!!
From: Colleen Mollison
From: Kiri Hahn Date: April 25, 2018 at 6:42:07 PM EDT To: Marrell Elam Subject: Re: Thank you for utilizing our services ~ Affirmative Groove Marell, Davis and I can't thank you and the entire Affirmative Groove band enough for such fun night. We cannot tell you how many wedding guests requested your name and were so impressed with you energy & talents. We couldn't have chosen a better band and couldn't believe you guys didn't take a break...rockstars! On a personal note, Davis and I were so happy you incorporated our song preferences while expertly playing a mix of old, new, fast and slow songs. We will not hesitate to recommend you to friends and family and hope to utilize your band again in the future.! Best, Kiri & Davis
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cindy Savage Date: Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 4:23 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Andrew, Affirmative Groove was awesome! Blair wanted people to be on the dance floor and they were definitely on the dance floor. This was first time using Sam Hill and we were definitely happy! Thank you! It was such a fun evening and I know a lot of it has to do with having Affirmative Groove as our band. Cindy Savage
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Beverly Johnson Date: Tue, Jan 9, 2018 at 2:52 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Fantastic! Affirmative Groove and Marell Elam were so wonderful at our daughter's wedding reception. The crowd loved them, stayed on the dance floor all night long and asked repeatedly, "Who is the band? Where did you find them?" We have already given your contact information to a future bride and groom. Thanks for making our celebration such a happy time! Sincerely, The Johnsons and Beasleys
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Paul Bates Date: Sat, Dec 2, 2017 at 8:44 AM Subject: Affirmative Groove - brilliant! To: mike @ sam hill entertainment Mike, Just a short note, ‘hot off the press’ to say how fantastic Affirmative Groove were at our Winter Ball last night. Ultra professional and EXTREMELY talented musicians led brilliantly by Marrell who was forward leaning and flexible. The sound from the band is phenomenal and they played such a wide range of music - the dance floor was full the entire night. So many of our guests approached me to say how brilliant Affirmative Groove were - a point echoed by the hotel event manager who I suspect has seen many groups This band could play and sing the phone book and everyone would be dancing! I will be telling everybody - If you want a sure fire hit for any event, book Affirmative Groove! Regards Paul Bates President of the Washington Association of Military Attaches Winter Ball Committee
From: Katherine Dorey Date: Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 12:10 PM Subject: Re: Thank you for utilizing our services To: Marrell Elam Marrell--- Wow! Thank you and your team SO much - we had the best experience with Affirmative Groove! ! We had absolutely the best night of our lives. One of our main goals was to have the dance floor packed the entire evening--and it truly couldn't have been better. You all brought so much energy and enthusiasm and made the night all the more memorable. The last dance--the one that was going to be private (thank you for indulging that last min switch!)--was quite possibly the hit of the evening and was the best note to end on. Everyone was asking us who the band was--so hopefully we get to see you all play again soon! Katherine & Adam
From: Barbara Pollygus Date: Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 3:29 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove follow up To: Andy Jaspen Andy, Affirmative Grove did a great job at the Four Ball !! The members loved them and they kept everyone on the floor to the every end. The variety of music was spot on and I loved how they got out in the crowd!!! Hopefully they will be available for one of our club events next year. Barbara Pollygus Eseeola Lodge at Linville Golf Club
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Janet Penuel Date: Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 8:46 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" I really can't say enough about how much I enjoyed Affirmative Groove. The music was great! The entertainment was wonderful! Just what we were looking for in a band. I have no complaints at all! Just wonderful praises. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone who is looking a band who not only is great but helped in every way to make it a special night for Kristen and Steven. They certainly made our special day complete! I could have listened to them on and on!! They were truly awesome. I am so very glad we chose them to share in this special day. Janet Penuel
From: Cinda Hoege Date: Thu, Sep 21, 2017 at 8:13 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove follow up To: Andy Jaspen Hi Andy, Thank for checking in. Affirmative Groove was great at Lindsay's wedding! Absolutely loved them! I will definitely be recommending them to my clients in the future. They sounded fabulous! Thanks, Andy! Cinda Hoege White Birch Events
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Katie Ross Date: Mon, Sep 18, 2017 at 8:41 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Good evening Andrew! You and the rest of the Affirmative Groove team were amazing. For the moments I had on the dance floor, I had a blast. Red Hot Mama (the song they learned for Bobby and I) was great! Everyone really enjoyed that song and added a special touch to the night. People told me they felt like they were at a concert. You all were a big reason for the success of the night. Thank you again for everything!! I would love to share my amazing experience with others. Please thank everyone who made our wedding night so much fun and very memorable. We hope to groove to you all in the future! Kindest Regards Katie Ross
From: Warlick, Corey Date: Thu, Jun 29, 2017 at 1:15 PM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove for NC Bankers last Fri 6/23 To: Andy Jaspen Andy, Affirmative Groove did a great job last week for the NC Bankers Association. Marrell is amazing to work with - great guy! Their jazz set is the best I have heard in 7 years at The Greenbrier. Thanks for asking. I’d love to have them back. Corey Warlick Manager of Music & Entertainment The Greenbrier Resort
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Natalie Jones
Date: Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 10:42 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lisa Braden Date: Wed, May 31, 2017 at 9:38 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hello Mike, Affirmative Groove is definitely our favorite band at Regency. The residents love them!!! Marrell is always professional and very easy to work with. Thank you so much for checking with me. I am always willing to help with anything regarding this band. Have a great day! Lisa Braden Director of Activities and Communications Regency at Dominion Valley Owners Association
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mercedes Mosby Date: Mon, May 8, 2017 at 8:12 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Mike, Marrell and the band were great! They know their audience and played like there was no tomorrow! Our Dinner Dance Club would recommend them again for sure. They were professional, yet personable! Music was great! Thanks, Mercedes Sent from my iPhone
From: Madison Rogers
Date: Wed, May 3, 2017 at 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Nguyen, Elsa Tuong-Vi -
Date: Wed, Apr 19, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Subject: Re: 4/1 Affirmative Groove
To: Justin Paciocco
From: Joyce Blight
Date: Wed, Mar 29, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sue Kallamadi Date: Tue, Mar 28, 2017 at 1:21 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Mike, We just got back from our honeymoon and are catching up. Everything was amazing, and Affirmative Groove was one of the highlights of our reception. They were INCREDIBLE, brought so much energy, were so nice and just perfect. All the guests raved about them and had such an amazing time. Thank you so much for all your help, it was such a wonderful time! My Best, Sue
From: Mallory Smith Date: Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 9:42 PM Subject: Re: Photos of Your Wedding Band To: Andy @ Sam Hill HI Andy, I just wanted to let you know that Affirmative Groove was such a great band to work with for our wedding! They made the reception so much fun! Marrell was so communicative and did an amazing job. The band had great energy the whole night and kept our guests (of all ages!) on the dance floor. I'm so glad we worked with you guys and hope I'll have an occasion to hear them play again sometime. Our photographer got some great shots of them, too. Many thanks, Mallory
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Erin Daniel Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2017 at 8:50 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Mike - the band was absolutely amazing! our guests are still talking about them - they really played a big part in making our wedding day one to remember! Working with you was very easy & stress free ... everything a bride could hope for! Once I have some time to sit down and not just wing feedback to check the box, I will absolutely leave nothing but positive thoughts about our experience of working with you! Erin
From: Mallory Smith Date: December 19, 2016 To: Marrell Elam Subject: Re: Thank you from Affirmative Groove Hi Marrell, We had an absolute blast on Saturday and are so happy that you all could perform at our wedding! You all made the evening so much fun and it wouldn't have been the same without you! We enjoyed the variety of songs and especially appreciate you putting together the special father/daughter combination for us! Thank you for coming down and I hope that you enjoyed the evening too!! Thanks again and Merry Christmas! Mallory and Ryan
From: Laura Elizabeth Mann
Date: Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 4:22 PM
Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Meem, Lang Date: Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 2:13 PM Subject: Thank you for utilizing our services~ Affirmative Groove To: Marrell Elam Cc: Andrew Juge Marrell, Thank you and Affirmative Groove so much!!! Many people in The Richmond Cotillion have told me that this was our Best Party yet!! You all were Fantastic!! Your dinner/jazz set to start off with was at the perfect volume level and were great songs to listen to while everyone ate their main course. You then moved into your upbeat dance music and kept the dance floor full all night. You had a great selection of songs and continued making our group very happy dancing “all night long” (which you played as well as Lionel Richie by the way). I am also happy that I booked 3 horns because your third horn player not only played his horn well but was a good singer too!! I hope that everyone in the band had fun. I think they did get some energy from us that made them enjoy the night and that made it a night to remember. I am happy to recommend you anytime!! Thanks again, Lang
From: Matt Gaziano
Date: Mon, Oct 24, 2016 at 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: Elizabeth Woodward
Cc: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Jessy Campbell
Date: October 11, 2016 at 1:43:32 PM EDT
To: Marrell Elam
5-Star review on TheKnot.com posted 09/12/2016 "Sam Hill was so easy to work with, from start to finish. The provided us some initial suggestions of bands to look at given our music preferences and our price range. They were incredibly accommodating in helping us pick the band that was the best fit, and we ultimately went with Affirmative Groove. We could not be more thrilled with our experience with Affirmative Groove. Every single guest was up on the dance floor. I would highly recommend working with Sam Hill for your wedding - they will go out of their way to ensure you have the right band for your event."
From: Laura Buzzelli Date: Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 10:55 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Andy, Thanks for the email. We had a great experience working with Affirmative Groove. They were better than we could have asked for! The dance floor was packed all night long, and we had a number of compliments about them from different guests. They even had our older family members dancing - and they're notorious for leaving weddings early, and they stayed well in to the night. Nothing but great things about our time with Affirmative Groove. They were fantastic! Thanks so much, Laura
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Prelletz, Spenser Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 3:42 PM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hey Mike, My business partner, Julie, raved about these guys! Great sound, awesome energy, and a batch of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Sounds like she’s 5 stars across the board! Thanks! Spenser SPENSER PRELLETZ | Manager - Special Events and Entertainment Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
From: The Knot Reviews
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Susan Atkins Date: Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: juge@samhillbands.com They were amazing! The heat was horrific but they were real troopers. Everyone loved the music and the show provided by Affermative Groove! I couldn't have asked for more. I highly recommend them to everyone. Thank you, Susan Atkins
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From: Harris Keefer
Date: Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Sally Russell
Date: Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Brian Cognato Date: Mon, Jul 4, 2016 at 10:08 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Thanks Mike! We'll be sure to leave a review. We'll get back to you in more detail soon, but I do want to quickly say that the band was AMAZING - a highlight from everyone, and both you and Affirmative Groove were a pleasure to work with. Brian
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Denise Oldfield Date: Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 10:33 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Mike- thanks for your note- Everything went well- Affirmative Groove was so great- very professional and helped to create an amazing party- I would give them a positive reference any time- Denise Oldfield
From: Courtney Spencer Date: Tue, Jun 14, 2016 at 5:23 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Andy Jaspen Hey Andy,l The Affirmative Groove band presented really well, was incredibly polite, polished, looked and sounded great! We were all so impressed. Marrell is so nice, and the band did a great job playing "The Horah", too. Thank you for following up with me. Hope all is well! My best, Courtney Spencer Merriment Events
From: Shirley Jonas Date: Tue, Jun 14, 2016 at 11:00 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Andy, Affirmative Groove.... Best Band ever! We all danced the night away. Everyone was raving about the band. The band makes or breaks an event. They definitely made the evening such fun for all of us. I will recommend Affirmative Groove to anyone who mentions needing a band. Thanks again for making our wedding reception a huge success. Shirley Jonas, Mother of bride
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rezet, Beth E
Date: Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nancy Stiebel
Date: Wed, May 25, 2016 at 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Cary Welsh
Date: May 23, 2016 at 5:09:01 PM EDT
To: Marrell Elam
From: Brian Hill Date: Tue, May 17, 2016 at 11:40 AM Subject: Affirmative Groove To: Sam Hill To Whom It May Concern: Sam Hill is a no-brainer for anyone looking for great entertainment for a wedding! Justin Paciocco was fantastic to work with and very professional. He found us an incredible band (Affirmative Groove) that fit our budget and we could not be happier! We had so much fun dancing the night away! Do yourself a favor and use Sam Hill/Justin Paciocco for your wedding and you will not be disappointed! Brian and Susan Hill
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ibbie Hedrick Date: Wed, May 4, 2016 at 9:20 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: mike@samhillbands.com Hi Mike- Affirmative Groove was wonderful. We really enjoyed them. They were everything we hoped they would be and we appreciate all their efforts to make the evening a special one. They did a good job following our guidance on what songs we wanted to hear and didn't. We got a lot of compliments on them from our reception guests and would definitely book them for another event in the future. Thank you!! Isma Hedrick
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hazelgrove, Bruce
Date: Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 2:35 PM
Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Jennings Whiteway Date: Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 3:54 PM Subject: Re: Hapala-Ferrell Wedding with Affirmative Groove To: Andy Jaspen; Marrell Elam Hi guys! Thanks for looping back to get feedback after Leigh & Brandon's wedding last Saturday- you beat me to the punch. Marrell and the band was absolutely AWESOME and was easy to work with, reviewing things with me before and night of the event and staying on top of emcee notes and timeline. The band really brought great energy to the party and everyone was raving about them. I'd love to work with Affirmative Groove again and will definitely recommend you guys! Thank you for having a hand in making their day "perfection", as the bride quoted! Fondly, Jennings Whiteway Belles and Whistles RVA event planning co.
From: Megan Jinks Date: Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 8:29 AM Subject: Re: high school dance w/ Affirmative Groove To: Andy Jaspen Hi Andy, Thanks for your email. Affirmative Groove was absolutely great! The kids were raving about them and I even got calls from parents to get the band's name. Our staff said that they heard lots positive comments from kids. I spoke with Marrell beforehand and he showed me playlist and was awesome. We hope to use them again next year! Thanks again for your help with this. Megan Jinks Country Club of Virginia
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kathleen Sinn Date: Mon, Dec 7, 2015 at 9:15 AM Subject: Affirmative Groove Sinn/Martin wedding 11/21/15 Dear Andrew, Just a note to follow up on the remarkable job Affirmative Groove did at our daughter's wedding 11/21/15. Affirmative Groove rates 6 stars out of 5, instead of 5. They were a breeze to work with prior to the wedding as well as on the wedding day. From the first note they played till the last, the dance floor was packed. A guest commented he hadn't danced in 15 years, but just had to get out on the floor that night. Thank you for helping make the reception a great success. If you are considering booking Affirmative Groove for an event I would highly encourage you to do so and know you won't be disappointed. Kathy Sinn Bride's mother
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rebecca Sinn
Date: Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 9:58 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Gouge, Catherine Date: Mon, Nov 16, 2015 at 2:34 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hello Mike, Our Anniversary Fundraiser was a great success this weekend! Everyone raved about Affirmative Groove and had fun dancing the night away. Our Mayor, Vivian Jones attended the event and expressed how much she enjoyed their music! Marrell did a great job communicating with me a few times before the event and the band was very easy to work with once they arrived. I will definitely keep them in mind for future events and will be happy to recommend them to others. Thank you! Cathy Gouge
From: Ryan Allred Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 1:39 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hey Justin, My bride and I were extremely happy with our choice of band. We have been to many fun weddings and had high expectations for bands and Affirmative Groove did not disappoint. They were exactly what we wanted. Marrell was extremely professional and was a great band leader. He accommodated a couple of song requests including the Monster Mash (since it was Halloween). They did a great job with it. Our guests were dancing from the very first song and never left the dance floor. They did a great mix of songs. Especially earlier on they threw in some slow songs and fast songs that guests of all ages enjoyed. They did a great job of picking appropriate songs from all decades. Everybody loved when part of the band came on the dance floor to perform Billie Jean. Marrell's dancing was amazing. It was nice to have both female and male singers as well as different singers for different style of songs. They definitely exceeded our expectations with the quality of their performance. They played for 3 hours and only took a short set-break. They elevated their energy throughout the performance. It was perfect for our wedding. We had many of the guests tell us that they were the best band they had seen for a wedding. I would have to agree with some of the reviews on the website that said that their video of the band does not do them justice. It doesn't do a great job of showing how much energy they bring. We have some videos, even though it might not be the best quality, that we could pass along to you or Marrell. They were an amazing deal for the price and have already passed their information to a newly engaged couple that are planning to get married in Richmond next year. Let me know if you need any other feedback. Thanks, Ryan Allred
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Caroline Date: Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:59 PM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Marrell and Mike, I wanted to take a moment to thank you. From finding and booking the band to the actual event, everything went great. Affirmative Groove was AMAZING!! Aaron and I so much fun dancing all night and so did our guests! Marrell was super helpful. He sent us our first dance song ahead of time so we could practice to their version. Marrell helped coordinate the evening and everything went so well. You could tell the band was having fun too! They only took two breaks and during one of the breaks they stayed in the room and listened to the toasts. I could not have asked for anything better. Thank you for making our wedding day so special! Thank you, Caroline
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Emily McGlaughon Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 11:41 AM Subject: Fwd: Thank you To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Just wanted to send you a quick word/review of Affirmative Groove: I can't tell you how many compliments we heard throughout the night about Affirmative Groove! They were fabulous and certainly made our night that much more special. "Never my love" was perfect and I so appreciate them learning it for us. We have a dancing crowd, and they were able to keep the dance floor full all night long. All of the band members (especially Marrell) were awesome entertainers and the female vocalists were exceptional as well. The perfect event band! Thanks again! Emily and Martin
From: Bethany Bosley
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Megan Barrera Date: Wed, Oct 28, 2015 at 9:37 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Justin, Thank you for well wishes! We could not have been more pleased with our experience with Affirmative Groove! Everyone was such a pleasure to work with and their energy was completely infectious. We had guests who normally would never be found out on the dance floor who danced the night away. Brenden's grandmother danced so much that she visited her doctor a few days later still sore from all her time spent on the dance floor! I danced so hard, I ripped my wedding dress in multiple places! They were, without a doubt, the highlight of our wedding. We would recommend them to anyone and everyone looking for a truly unforgettable performance. They are PERFECTION! Thanks again,
From: Susan Ziff
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2015 at 7:51 AM
Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: mcglaughon Date: Mon, Oct 5, 2015 at 11:07 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hi Mike, Thanks for your email. Just wanted to let you know we could not have been more pleased with Affirmative Groove. Emily and Martin had requested "Never my Love" for their first dance. We were blown away when they started to play it. It sounded amazing and the girl that did vocals was unbelievable. From beginning to end the band was incredible. Thanks again for your help in securing such amazing talent for our daughters special day. From our first contact with you and your agency; until the band played their last song, we simply could not have been more pleased with the results! Look forward to hearing from you soon. Connie McGlaughon
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Margaret Jennette
Date: Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Megan-Brette Hamilton
Date: Wed, Sep 30, 2015 at 11:12 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Kim Moody Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 8:55 AM Subject: Re: Schwabenton-Mosley Wedding with "Affirmative Groove" To: Andy Jaspen Hey Andy - As usual - Affirmative Groove was EXCELLENT! Marrell was fantastic about making announcements and helping with all of the emceeing aspects as well! The family is in love with them and hopes to have them for a fundraising event at the local private school. The headmaster was in attendance at the Schwabenton's wedding and has ask me to help with the event planning for that, so once we have a contract in place I will be in touch with more details. Kindly, Kim Kim Moody Design www.kimmoodydesign.com
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: LuAnn McIver Date: Sat, Sep 26, 2015 at 10:47 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Mike, Hope you are well! We are so pleased that Affirmative Groove was Brooke's choice for her wedding! TONS of people kept asking about the band and wanted to know where we got them! The nice thing about it was that people of ALL ages enjoyed the music. Marrell is absolutely precious...you just wanna hug him! He was responsive to every question, call or email that we had. Their music and style was loved by all, and wish that I could hear them again sometime! Bottom line, Affirmative Groove was the perfect choice in every aspect for Brooke's wedding! We loved them! Blessings, LuAnn McIver
From: Cathi Biederman
Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cameron Elizabeth Goodman Date: Sun, Aug 23, 2015 at 11:18 PM Subject: Affirmative Groove To: Mike Miglino Hey Mike, I just wanted to give you a shining letter of recommendation for Affirmative Groove! I haven't stopped receiving compliments about the band. They were charming, charismatic, fun and talented. They were laid back and professional. They were just wonderful from beginning to end and everyone really loved them- especially me. I wish I could come up with more and more reasons as to why they were so special - and my lack of words right now is disappointing because they deserve ten pages of praises here. They really are a fabulous band and I will recommend them to every big event that we have. They are just so fun, and so exciting. Everyone loved them. : ) Thank you so much! Cameron
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Charles Mooring Date: Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 11:33 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Mike Affirmative Groove was fantastic. Their music and performance was amazing. What was just as important was their attitude. So polite and accommodating. People were so impressed with all the above and for sure we will pass their information along whenever we can. Thanks. Charles Mooring
From: Liz Forman Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 10:21 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Dear Andy: Marrell and Affirmative Groove were the BEST!!!! I simply don't have words to say how much everyone loved them. So professional and so talented. Again, the BEST!!!!!!! When I get back to blogging next week (The Classic Preppy), I am going to feature them. Thank you!!!!!! Liz
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Laurie Bendall Date: Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 8:36 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hey Mike – They were awesome! They even learned our first dance (which was a Martina McBride song)! Everything went really smooth, people were dancing until the very end (a LOT of people). They were very professional. I would highly recommend them for any wedding or similar event! Laurie Bendall Crimson Consulting
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sara Hutter Date: Tue, Jun 9, 2015 at 1:49 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi, Mike - I'm finding it hard to get into words just how awesome Affirmative Groove is, but here goes! Over the years, my husband I have caught a ton of Sam Hill bands live in action at both friends' weddings and local events. Affirmative Groove is - hands down - our favorite of the bands you represent! We were actually planning to book a different band for our June wedding, but after Affirmative Groove brought the house down at my sister's wedding last September, we quickly lined them up for a repeat performance and now can't imagine our reception without them. Marrell couldn't be nicer, is so quick to respond to messages, and kept complete control over our reception schedule (seriously - we'd have missed the cake cutting had he not tracked me down to touch base!). The band is just so full of personality and energy and has an amazingly wide range of talent. From playing soft jazz during the cocktail hour, to learning and playing our first dance song (The Zombies), to mixing older classics with newer contemporary songs so flawlessly, Affirmative Groove gets literally everyone on the dance floor. They even got my 62 year old father out there gatoring to Shout - twice! Just incredible! We couldn't be more appreciative of Marrell and his crew. They helped us throw one incredible and memorable party for our friends and family and made our big day even that much more special. My one and only suggestion is to maybe see if you can work with another wedding / event to record some live demos. They just kill it live and I don't think the online demos do them proper justice. Thanks so much! Sara
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Elizabeth Hutter Date: Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 8:40 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hey Mike, I just have to say...Affirmative Groove is, hands down, the BEST wedding band I have ever experienced! This is the second time in nine months we have used them and I have nothing but the highest level of praise for them!!! Not only is Marrell an absolute delight to work with, the entire band are so accommodating and easy to work with, it makes my job as Mother of the Bride easier knowing they have my back (and my schedule)!! I actually had some friends ask to be invited to the second wedding purely because they knew just how much fun they were going to have dancing to Affirmative Groove! This band's range of songs from straight up jazz to Motown, to beach music, to the 60's, to current songs is amazing! BUT...what makes them the absolute best is their ability to get every single person at a wedding from the youngest to the oldest out on that dance floor having the time of their lives! My husband has not danced in 34 years!! But he not only was dancing at this wedding...he was on the floor acting like a teenager! I thank my lucky stars that my youngest daughter found this wonderful band for her wedding and I am ever so grateful that they were available for this second one!! My only suggestion for you would be to possibly do another tape of their songs for the demo. They are SO MUCH better in person than their demo tape would lead you to believe. They are willing to learn new songs (which they did for both girls!) and every singer in the band has an amazing voice! In the future, whenever I am asked by anyone for a really good band for any event at all...the only band I will ever suggest is Affirmative Groove!! They ROCK!!! Thanks! Elizabeth Hutter P.S. Now that we are through with weddings for awhile...I will also say that I personally believe that they should be charging a whole lot more than they are!! They really are better than other bands I have heard for twice the price they are charging!!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Claire Waldrop
Date: Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
From: Rebecca Brewbaker Date: May 26, 2015 at 4:57:16 PM EDT To: Marrell Elam Subject: Re: May 24 Wedding 1st Dance Marrell, Wow! We were so delighted with your musicality, personality, and song selection. We had had an amazing band just 5 months ago at our oldest daughters wedding, so were concerned that this might not measure up- you did!! Thanks- One thought- you were soooo much better than your video led us to believe- might think about tweaking that bad boy- God bless & thanks for making our great wedding and reception even better- Becky Brewbaker
From: Annie Plummer Date: Fri, May 8, 2015 at 7:00 PM Subject: Plummer/Gill Wedding - Affirmative Groove - May 2,2015 Marrell, Once again you and the band were wonderful at our son and daughter-in-law's wedding last weekend! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed you, I think you had almost everyone one on the dance floor - including my 88 year old father with his walker!! You have played at two of our children's weddings and when the third one gets engaged you will be one of the first calls! Thank you, Thank you, Annie Plummer
From: Lee Tanenbaum Date: Mon, Apr 27, 2015 at 8:56 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Justin, Affirmative groove was amazing!!! The kept the dance floor going all night! They learned our first dance song perfectly! I would definitely recommend them to ANYONE AND EVERYONE looking for an awesome party band. My planners also said they were wonderful to work with. Every time I contacted Marrell, he responded very quickly, which was so nice! They really made our reception awesome! We got so many compliments! Thank you!!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nancy White
From: Missy Gupton Date: Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 2:16 PM Subject: AGCVA Party - Thank you!!! To: Marrell Elam; Andy jaspen Marrell, I can't say thank you and the band enough! Affirmative Groove was a huge hit at our AGCVA Christmas Party Thursday evening! You and the rest of the members of the band were amazing and fun, and we are all the biggest fans of Affirmative Groove. Thank you just seems so blah with everything y'all did to make sure everyone had fun and enjoyed the party but please know it was a blast and I am forever grateful! I stepped out on a limb moving the event to a new venue, not having a sit down dinner, and bringing in a band instead of just a piano player. But, I can honestly say it was the best decision ever! Please relay my most sincere thank you to everyone in the band and I hope to work with all of you again (soon)! Thank you again, and Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Missy Gupton Associated General Contractors of Virginia
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Martha Kimbel Date: Mon, Nov 24, 2014 at 8:16 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Mike, The band was FABULOUS !!! All my friends kept asking me who they were for their family weddings in the future. We ALL danced the night away. Thank you for a great evening! Blessings, Martha Kimbel
From: Beki Shaw To: Andy Jaspen Date: Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 9:32 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove band at the Fishing Bay Yacht Club event Hi Andy, Thanks for following up. Everything went great and the Affirmative Groove band was wonderful to work with! I know the guests really enjoyed the group. I look forward to working with you again in the future as well. Beki Shaw Event Coordinator The Commonwealth Club, Richmond VA
From: Deborah Weng To: Andy Jaspen Date: Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 9:36 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove Hi Andy, We loved Marrell and Affirmative Groove! They had the dance floor packed the entire night and Chris and I were impressed that there were that many good singers in one band. We will definitely recommend them to friends and family. Is there an address where we can send them a card - we'd like to say thank you. Thanks! - Debbie
From: Heather Scott To: "Andy @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Date: Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 10:37 AM Subject: RE: Affirmative Groove Andy, Thanks for following up! I thought Affirmative Groove was awesome! They had the crowd on the dance floor from the first song until the last and everyone looked like they were having such a fun time! Marrell was really great to work with – very professional, accessible and on top of the details. I will definitely be adding Affirmative Groove to my “recommended” list. Merrell told me they are playing for an event here at the CC on November 15th – so we will be glad to have them on our stage soon. Thanks again for all of your help in the band selection process!!! Heather Scott The Commonwealth Club, Richmond VA
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dave Inman
Date: Sun, Oct 19, 2014 at 11:08 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Molly Hutter Date: Mon, Sep 15, 2014 at 11:05 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Hi Mike, Affirmative Groove was AMAZING!!!!! Better than we could've imagined. They looked great, sounded fantastic, and were so fun. Logistics-wise, everything flowed smoothly with the first dance, father-daughter dance, cutting the cake, the bouquet toss, etc., thanks to their friendly direction. We loved their range of songs, plus it seemed as though they read our crowd well and tailored their song choices accordingly. And little details made it even better: they played a sassy song during the garter removal/toss, Marrell did an awesome Michael Jackson impersonation, and the whole band used props we'd made for the dance floor. By the end of the night, the dance floor was filled and guests were literally chanting "One more song!"—which they obliged :) The band was one of, if not the, highlight of the reception; we'll for sure recommend them, as well as Sam Hill, to any friends getting married in Virginia. THANK YOU for connecting us! We appreciate it very much! All the best, Molly
From: Karen Fletcher Date: Wed, Jul 2, 2014 at 9:44 AM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Good Morning Andy! Just coming off the high of this past weekend to have enough where with all to write this note! I am sure all of your parties must walk away feeling this way...but Affirmative Groove truly made us feel as though we were the “only show in town”!! Saturday night was magical...not only did Affirmative Groove offer 1st class music and entertainment, but also Marrell’s sweet spirit and kindness resonates throughout the entire band. Thanks so much! Karen Fletcher (Mother of the Groom)
From: Rachel Rohrer Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 3:17 PM Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove To: "Justin @ Sam Hill Entertainment" Thanks for the email, Justin. We have nothing but amazing things to say about Affirmative Groove. Morrell and the rest of the band were not only incredibly talented, a ton of fun, and easy to work with, but also as humble and gracious as possible. We could not have asked for a better group of people to share this night with us. A relative who is in the music scene in New York described them as "the best wedding band he has ever experienced." He was blown away by their musical ability. Their breadth of musical genres and decades provided the perfect dancing atmosphere. Their ability to get people on the dance floor and keep them there helped with the celebratory atmosphere that accompanies this happy day! Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing Affirmative Groove in the future. Phil and Rachel Rohrer
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peggy Fuller
Date: Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 11:43 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jane Fuller
Date: Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove
To: "Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment"
Hello MIke, Thank you for checking in, We LOVED Affirmative Groove, Marrell was always responsive to my emails, he was accommodating, seemed excited to be a part of our special day. He got the crowd onto the dance floor all night long, made the announcements we needed him to and he actually got on the dance floor and showed every the line dance. So fun. I would recommend them anytime and the young kids commented on the band as well as the adults. So glad we had them there. Amy Ziegler
-----Original Message----- From: Deborah Riddell Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 5:29 PM To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove Mike, the band was great! Our guest totally enjoyed the music, and the dance floor was crowded with every song. The lead singer, Morrel was a great entertainer with his dance moves. I guess you can tell we were very happy with the band. This is the second time we have worked with Sam Hill Entertainment, and both were great experiences! Thanks for all your help! Debbie Riddell
From: Shanley Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 8:58 AM To: Andrew @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove Hello Andrew! Oh my goodness!! Everyone was in love with the band!! Affirmative Groove was amazing! They kept everyone dancing and I heard nothing but guests singing their praises. They are really true entertainers!!! As far as working with them prior to the wedding. Marrell was wonderful. Michelle, my wedding planner, did not have one bad thing to say. Thank you for all your contact and assistance! Affirmative Groove was by far one of the best bands I have every heard play at a wedding and I'd recommend them to any bride and groom looking for a band that will keep their guests dancing the night away! Very Respectfully, Shanley Ensign, MC, United States Navy Reserve
-----Original Message----- From: Joe Mondelli Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 9:50 AM To: Mike @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove Hi Mike, First let me just say this brief note will be replaced with a full letter of praise for the outstanding performance of Affirmative Groove on every level. I will also be very happy to accept any and all calls from potential customers for this band. Having owned and managed a facility that handled 3 to 4 weddings per weekend for over 20 years, experiencing hundreds of bands including the weddings of Nina's older sisters, Affirmative Groove is hands down the best dance band I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Joe Mondelli
From: herman daniel Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 4:35 PM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove Andy, Marrell and the gang from Affirmative Groove rocked the socks off everyone! All the guests said the band made the party and wife and I both agree!! We have 2 more daughters and 1 son to marry off. We are looking forward to hiring Affirmative Groove again. - Dan and Barbara Daniel
From: Katie Rosenberg Sent: Friday, January 03, 2014 10:22 AM To: Andy Jaspen @ Sam Hill Entertainment Subject: Re: Affirmative Groove on NYE Andy, Affirmative Groove was amazing on new years eve! Thank You for all Your help! Katie Rosenberg, event manager CrossKeys Vineyards
From: Kyle Hetherington [ Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 3:50 PM To: Justin@samhillbands.com Subject: Re: 10/5 Hey Justin, Affirmative Groove was absolutely amazing! Thanks for hooking that up. Thanks and I look forward to working with you and the band again in the future. Kyle P. Hetherington Washington and Lee University '14
August 21, 2013 This is a letter of recommendation for the group Affirmative Groove: I booked the Affirmative Grooves for a Birthday Party and they were a hit. They left us tired and exhausted from dancing all night long. I have been following this group for about one year and its been such an experience.The atmosphere is so classy and filled with good people. I've drove two hours to come and enjoy the great sounds of Affirmative Groove. The group leader Marell is a great performer who knows how to move the crowd, While traveling in the Richmond metro area; I make it my business to seek the date,time and place of their events. If you never heard this group make sure you go see them live . You will have the time of your life! Ms. Katrice Allen
Affirmative Groove is a tremendous band of talented musicians who willingly share their gifts and talents with young children with an interest in the performing arts. The band performed during a performing arts camp and readily drew the students in with vocal instruction, introductions to the instruments, and performance tips. The band is high energy and provided a variety of musical styles and selections. I would highly recommend Affirmative Groove for any party or special event. They are extremely talented and entertaining and would bring fun, excitement and good times to any event. Stephanie Coleman Hanover Academy Performing Arts Camp Coordinator
August 20, 2013 We have used Affirmative Groove for numerous events in the past. We can attest that they are professional and are precise in providing the best musical entertainment for our clients. We are event planners specializing in weddings and corporate events. We provide the best of the best vendors, entertainers, caterers to make our client’s event a true success. Working with Marrell Elam has been a great partnership for us to have. He’s extremely entertaining, very charismatic and engaging. All our clients have nothing but praises for his musical talent and the professionalism of his band, which has been noted on multiple occasions. Cheers, Karla Walter President, Sensibly Chic Events