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What is Men of Distinction?
Men of Distinction is a South Carolina–based live entertainment group that performs primarily at weddings and corporate parties. The band presents itself as a full-service event act rather than just a stage show: it describes starting an evening with sophisticated swing, big band and jazz arrangements, then shifting into a rocking dance party as the night goes on.
What the act includes
- Male and female vocalists, so the set can move between different styles and front-person dynamics.
- A two-piece horn section and a rhythm section, giving the band a fuller, more arranged sound than a typical small combo.
- A repertoire that spans older standards through current party favorites, which suits mixed-age guest lists.
- Planning support from named band members David Kitchings and Buddy Parker, who guide clients from music selection through the event itself.
The group also notes a Cammy Award and highlights performers such as Richard Carey Figueroa (stage name Riché Rich) and Jennifer Davis among its vocalists. A "Song Selections" page and a video are part of the site, which matters if you want to judge the band's range before booking.
Who it suits
Couples planning a wedding reception that needs both a classy dinner-hour atmosphere and a high-energy dance floor are the clearest fit. Corporate event planners looking for one act that can cover a formal program and a later party segment are the second main audience. Because the band is based in and markets itself to South Carolina, it is most practical for events in that region.
Practical next step
If you are comparing bands, ask each one for a full song list and a recent live video rather than a studio recording, then check whether the same vocalists and horn players you see will actually appear at your date. For a wedding, also confirm how the band handles emcee duties, ceremony or cocktail-hour music, and the transition between the jazz set and the dance set, since those details usually decide whether the evening flows well.
How can I book Men of Distinction for my wedding or corporate event?
Booking Men of Distinction starts with a phone call: the site lists 800.323.3599 as its contact number, and the band describes itself as South Carolina's wedding and corporate party band. Beyond that, the site does not lay out an online booking form or a stated booking process, so treat the phone line as the primary route and be ready to discuss your date, venue, guest count and music preferences directly.
What to prepare before you call
- Date, time and location of the wedding or corporate event, including whether it is indoors or outdoors.
- Event type and tone: a formal reception, a corporate awards dinner, or a party where the dance floor matters most.
- Your music priorities: the band notes it moves from swing, big band and jazz arrangements early in the night into a full rocking dance party later, so say which parts of that arc you want.
- Logistics questions: set length, breaks, stage or power needs, and whether you want the band to handle announcements or MC duties.
- Budget range, so the conversation can move quickly to what fits.
Why the call matters here
The site names David Kitchings and Buddy Parker as the people who guide clients from planning music selections through the event itself. That suggests you are not just hiring a group of players but working with named organizers who want input on the setlist and the run of show. If your event has a tight timeline — a corporate program with speeches, or a wedding with a strict first-dance and toasts schedule — ask to speak with one of them specifically.
The band also mentions a Song Selections page, which is the natural next stop after you make contact. Reviewing it before the call lets you arrive with a shortlist rather than a vague request, and it helps the band tell you quickly whether a particular song is already in rotation or would need to be learned.
A practical scenario
Say you are planning a Charleston-area corporate holiday party for 250 guests, with a cocktail hour, a seated dinner and two hours of dancing. You call the number, explain the schedule, and ask whether the band can keep the early portion low-key jazz and swing, then shift into party material after the awards presentation. You also ask how much space the full lineup — male and female vocalists, a two-piece horn section and a rhythm section — needs, since that affects your stage and floor plan. Those are exactly the details the site implies the band can address, but they are not published, so the call is where you get answers.
If you want to compare options
For a South Carolina wedding or corporate event, it is reasonable to check a few other entertainment routes before committing. General wedding-planning resources such as The Knot can help you shortlist bands and see how others structure booking conversations, and WeddingWire offers similar vendor listings. For corporate entertainment specifically, GigMasters lists bands by event type and location. None of these replace a direct conversation with the band you actually want.
Decision criteria
Choose Men of Distinction if you want a band that can cover both a formal, sophisticated opening and a late-night dance party with one group, and if you value working with named leaders who will plan the music with you. Look elsewhere if you need an entirely online booking and contracting flow, or if your event calls for a style far outside swing, jazz, big band and mainstream party hits. Either way, call early — popular bands in the wedding and corporate market book well in advance, and the site gives no indication of last-minute availability.
What types of music does Men of Distinction perform?
Men of Distinction performs across two ends of the party spectrum: polished swing, big band and jazz arrangements to open an evening, then a full rocking dance party as the night goes on. The band describes its repertoire as timeless hits spanning decades through current party favorites, delivered by male and female vocalists, a two-piece horn section and a rhythm section.
What that means in practice
For a wedding or corporate event, this is a single act that can cover a cocktail hour or dinner set and then the dance floor, rather than booking a jazz trio plus a separate party band. The transition is deliberate: sophisticated background-friendly material early, higher-energy material later.
The vocal setup matters too. With both male and female lead singers, the song list can move between styles that suit different voices, which helps avoid a monotone set over a long reception.
Who it fits, and the trade-off
- Best fit: South Carolina weddings and corporate parties where guests span generations and the client wants one band to handle the whole night.
- Less ideal if: you want a narrow genre all evening — an all-jazz dinner or an all-current-hits club set — or a DJ-only setup.
- Trade-off: a larger ensemble with horns and multiple vocalists takes more stage and floor space than a small combo, so venue layout and setup time are worth confirming early.
Next step
Ask for the current song list and check that it covers your must-play first dance, your parents' era and your friends' era. The site lists a phone number and a song selections page, so request the repertoire before you decide, and ask how the band typically splits the evening between the smooth opening set and the dance party.
What makes Men of Distinction different from other wedding bands in South Carolina?
Men of Distinction positions itself as a wedding and corporate party band based in South Carolina, and its main differentiator is the shape of the night it promises: a formal start that turns into a full dance party. The band describes opening with swing, big band and jazz arrangements before shifting into current party favorites, which suits couples who want the early reception hours to feel elegant and the later hours to feel like a club.
What actually sets it apart
- A male and female vocalist lineup. Two lead voices let the band move between duets, ballads and high-energy numbers without changing acts, which matters for ceremonies, first dances and the dance-floor stretch.
- A horn section plus a full rhythm section. A two-piece horn section is a bigger footprint than the typical four- or five-piece cover band, and it is what makes the big band and swing portion sound authentic rather than approximate.
- A named planning contact. The site names David Kitchings and Buddy Parker as the people who guide clients from song selection through the event itself. That is a specific claim worth testing: ask whether those individuals will be your actual point of contact on the day.
- A wide repertoire span. The band says its material runs from older standards to recent party hits, which reduces the need to hire a separate cocktail-hour act.
- Recognition and reach. The site refers to a Cammy Award and to performing at large public events such as a July 4th celebration at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds, which suggests experience with crowds beyond private receptions.
How to compare it with other options
| What to check | Why it matters for Men of Distinction specifically |
|---|---|
| Band size and instrumentation | More players means a fuller sound but also higher cost, more stage space and more meals or rooms to budget for |
| Whether the lineup is fixed | Ask if the vocalists and horn players you see are the ones who will appear |
| Transition between formal and party sets | Confirm how the shift from jazz and swing to dance music is cued, and whether you can influence the timing |
| Coverage for ceremony and cocktail hour | A large band may not be the right fit for a quiet ceremony; ask about smaller configurations |
| Travel and setup needs | A horn section and full rhythm section need more load-in time and space than a duo or trio |
A practical next step
Build a must-play and do-not-play list split into three phases: ceremony or cocktails, dinner and formal dancing, and late-night party. Send it to the band and ask how they would sequence it, then ask for a sample set list from a recent wedding of similar size. If your priority is a polished, jazz-inflected opening that becomes a genuine dance party, this band's stated approach lines up well. If you want a small, low-key ensemble or tight control over every song, a smaller act may serve you better. For broader regional comparisons, you can also look at The Carolina Agency or WeddingWire.
What is the process for planning music selections with Men of Distinction?
Planning starts with a direct conversation: you contact Men of Distinction, discuss your event date, venue and vision, and work through your music selections with the band's leadership before the event itself. According to the site, David Kitchings and Buddy Parker guide clients "from the planning of your music selections through the event itself," with the stated aim of ensuring expectations are met. The band also publishes a "Song Selections" page, which is presumably the reference point for choosing material.
What that likely looks like in practice
- Initial contact and date check. Call or reach out with your event type, date and location. The site lists a phone number (800.323.3599) rather than an online booking form, so a phone conversation is the natural first step.
- Repertoire review. You go through the song list and flag must-plays, songs to avoid, and any moments that need specific music (ceremony, first dance, dinner, dancing).
- Shaping the arc of the night. This band's selling point is a deliberate progression: sophisticated swing, big band and jazz early, then a full rocking dance party later. That structure is worth planning explicitly rather than leaving to chance.
- Day-of execution. The band handles the performance; the planning conversation is what connects your preferences to what actually gets played.
A practical way to prepare
Before you talk to them, build two short lists: "must play" (five to ten songs) and "do not play" (any song that would clear your dance floor). Then note the three or four moments that matter most — grand entrance, first dance, parent dances, last song — and let the band fill the rest. A group with male and female vocalists, a two-piece horn section and a full rhythm section has the range to cover a lot of ground, but only if it knows where your priorities lie.
Who this suits, and the trade-off
This is a strong fit for weddings and corporate parties in South Carolina where the hosts want live, high-energy entertainment rather than a DJ, and where guests span generations — the swing-to-rock format is designed to serve both older and younger crowds across one evening. The trade-off is that a full band takes more coordination than a playlist: you'll spend a real planning conversation on selections, and you'll want to confirm logistics like stage space, power and setup time with your venue. If you'd rather hand over the music entirely, that's fine too — but tell them that up front so the planning call focuses on timing and tone instead of a song-by-song list.
Where can I see Men of Distinction perform live?
The site's own event listing points to one specific public date: the July 4th 2024 Celebration at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds. Beyond that, menofdistinction.net does not publish a standing calendar of public shows, so the most reliable way to see them live is to book them for a private event or ask directly about upcoming dates.
What the site actually shows
- A featured heading for the July 4th 2024 Celebration at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds.
- A video labeled as being from November 2021, which is a past performance rather than an upcoming one.
- A phone number, 800.323.3599, listed alongside the site's navigation.
If you want to see them in person
Men of Distinction is positioned as a wedding and corporate party band based in South Carolina, which means most of their live work happens at private bookings rather than ticketed public concerts. If you are planning an event, call the number above to check availability and ask what they need from you in terms of song selections and scheduling. If you are simply a fan hoping to catch a show, ask whether any of their bookings are open to the public, and check local listings for the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds around Independence Day.
A realistic scenario
Say you are organizing a corporate gala in Columbia and want a band that can move from swing and big band arrangements into a full dance party later in the evening. The site describes exactly that arc, with male and female vocalists, a two-piece horn section and a rhythm section. Your first step is a call to confirm the date, then a conversation about the set list and the transition points in your schedule.
For broader context on the regional live-music scene, South Carolina State Government and Discover South Carolina list public festivals and events where a band of this type might appear.
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