Meet the Talented Team Behind Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment

Ben Mallare

CEO

Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, Ben Mallare established Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment in 2014 as a small acoustic ensemble. In the years since, he has transformed the company into a luxury live entertainment offering that blends top level musical talent with state-of-the-art audio/visual technology to captivate private and corporate audiences worldwide.

As the driving force behind Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment, Ben has cultivated a reputation for excellence in live musical entertainment. Based in Los Angeles, his company caters to a diverse range of events, including weddings, corporate functions, and private parties. With a staggering portfolio of over 150 events annually, the company’s reach extends far beyond Southern California, covering prime destinations across the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe. Key markets beyond the West Coast include the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Sun Valley, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment has consistently earned accolades, securing top honors from esteemed platforms like WeddingWire and The Knot every year since 2015.

When he’s not in his work element, Ben enjoys running, weight lifting, and cooking. He has three adorable pups, Jetty, Dax, and Huxley, and they currently reside in the Long Beach area.

Toft Willingham

Technical Director

Toft Willingham has been the key force behind Ben Mallare’s high level audio-visual capabilities since 2018. In that time, he has helped facilitate events for clients including Microsoft, Google, 3M, and Kaiser Permanente. In the broader music industry, he has performed more than one thousand concerts across the nation and produced over thirty five albums. Toft resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Eleni, daughter Eleni, and son C.J.

Andy Robbins

Director of Operations

Andy leads day-to-day management for Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment, and he coordinates with venues, planners, and musicians to execute seamless events. He has performed professionally as a drummer since 1996 and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from University of New Hampshire. Andy and his partner currently reside in Portland, Maine, where they love cooking, crosswords, fancy coffee, hiking, kitchen dancing, and ALL kinds of travel!

Luke Begley

Assistant Technical Director

Luke Begley joined Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment in 2020, and has helped streamline the company’s technical operations in the years since. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Recording Arts at the University of Colorado in 2015, and has worked as an audio engineers at dozens of venues primarily in the western United States. Luke currently lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys skiing, backpacking, and reading in his free time.

About Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment

Exceptional Live Wedding Music

Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment is a live wedding music entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California. We offer a highly celebrated service to couples throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. From large corporate events to intimate wedding occasions, we have the style and versatility to present a stunning performance every time. Genre specialties include top 40, Motown, Soul, Country, Hebrew, and Latin Music.

Live Entertainment Services Offered

With musical talent and event planning expertise, Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment offers a range of wedding services. Ceremony music, rocking dance parties, and two affordable live bands are all available to serenade you on your special day. Their ensembles are fully customizable and include male and female vocals, guitar, bass, keys, drums, and horns. We also offer Corporate Event Bands, Party Bands, Dance Bands, and Live Bands for Hire.

What's included in the price?

Continuous Recorded Music During Breaks
Four Special Song Requests
Lighting for the Stage and Dance Floor
MC
Reception Music
Sound/PA System
Travel Expenses

What performers can I choose from?

Alto Saxophone
Bass
Dancers
Drums
Female Vocals
Guitar
Keys
Latin Percussion
Male Vocals
Tenor Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet

Top Rated, Award-Winning Live Entertainment

WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 badge awarded to Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment for exceptional live wedding bands and entertainment services. Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment is featured on Carats + Cake, showcasing their exceptional live wedding bands. The image highlights the logo of Carats + Cake, emphasizing the quality and reputation of the live music services provided for unforgettable wedding celebrations. With a focus on creating memorable moments, Ben Mallare's 20-piece wedding band brings a vibrant atmosphere that enhances any special day. Award-winning recognition for Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment, featured in The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, highlighting excellence in live wedding bands and entertainment.

Contact Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment Today!

Let us help make your event an unforgettable experience for every one of your guests. Call us at (410) 980-8370, or email ben@benmallare.com. We would love to hear from you! You can also fill out our contact form.

Read What Our Clients Have to Say About Us

  • Lisa C.
    Lisa C.
    28-09-2025
    Yelp

    BME were SO incredible for our wedding!! From the ceremony to the dance party, they absolutely crushed it. Guests were raving about them all night. If you are on the fence, pull the trigger. I promise you they are a very worthy investment!

  • Caroline H.
    Caroline H.
    04-09-2025
    WeddingWire

    Cannot say enough amazing things about Ben Mallare and the team. They were easy to work with throughout the planning process, and made me feel the setlist and flow was personal and customized. The performances blew me away, and my guests are still talking about it months later. We had a dreamy string trio for the ceremony and cocktail hour that made us feel like we were in a movie. Then the reception felt like a private concert. The musicians and vocalists were top notch, and played the perfect setlist to have guests on the dance floor all night. They truly were the piece that made our wedding special, and have been the most talked about part of our event.

  • Carly Mann
    Carly Mann
    03-09-2025
    Google

    We had the best experience working with the Ben Mallare Band. When I say they made the night, they really made the night spectacular. Ben's MCing was spot on, the songs they played were perfect, and they hit every single note! I had so many people tell me how fabulous the band was and ask for their contact information afterwards. If I could give them 100/10 stars I would :) If they're available your wedding weekend, hire them immediately!

  • Ben and his team put on the best set I could have ever asked for at my wedding! Not only were they so easy to work with leading up to the wedding, but they exceeded all of our expectations when it came to music. They were very accommodating with our special requests during ceremony and reception, and they even helped us pull off a special performance with my dad and I. They are a GREAT value, and it was some of the best money we spent during our wedding weekend. I could not recommend them enough!

  • Katie P
    Katie P
    09-08-2025
    The Knot

    Ben and his team put on the best set I could have ever asked for at my wedding! Not only were they so easy to work with leading up to the wedding, but they exceeded all of our expectations when it came to music. They were very accommodating with our special requests during ceremony and reception, and they even helped us pull off a special performance with my dad and I. They are a GREAT value, and it was some of the best money we spent during our wedding weekend. I could not recommend them enough!

  • "Oh my GOD that BAND!!" "Wait but for real that band???" "THE BAND????" - actual pull quotes from our guests in the days following our wedding Truly -- on the best weekend of our lives, Ben and his band were an absolute highlight. Their collective style, charisma, and musicianship were stunning. Maybe one of the best live performances I've ever been to, wedding or otherwise?? Logistically they were a dream to work with -- consummate professionals with clear guidelines, flexible set design, and prompt/clear communication. Can't recommend them highly enough!

  • Nick W.
    Nick W.
    17-06-2025
    Yelp

    We hired Ben Mallare for our wedding, and they truly exceeded every expectation. From our first conversation about music preferences to the very last song, they brought incredible energy, talent, and joy to the entire celebration. Guests were raving before we even made it into the reception--several asked how we found them and wanted their website on the spot. Their vocals were outstanding, the musicians were top-tier, and they read the crowd perfectly. The dance floor was packed all night--from our college friends to our grandparents. It honestly felt like the perfect mix of private concert, dance party, and unforgettable celebration. If anything, we just wish we had a bigger dance floor! If you're looking for a band to take your wedding to the next level and create lasting memories, book them. We feel so lucky they were part of our day. 10/10 experience.

  • Caroline Byrnes
    Caroline Byrnes
    16-06-2025
    Google

    Ben Mallare band was fantastic at our wedding in Cabo - we are so glad we went with them! Our friends and family were having the time of their lives on the dancefloor for four hours straight. They played all the special songs we picked out and MC'd all night to make sure speeches and everything else went flawlessly.

  • Michael D
    Michael D
    13-06-2025
    The Knot

    Absolutely the best band. Elevated our wedding to another level. They gave both an amazing performance and were incredibly professional. Performed guitar for our ceremony and cocktail hour and then the band smashed it during the reception. There are no break between songs so the dancing doesn’t stop and no one was leaving the dance floor. Our wedding night wouldn’t have been the same without them and I could not recommend this band more.

  • Shah
    Shah
    27-05-2025
    WeddingWire

    Having a memorable band was the #1 priority for us when we set about planning our wedding. Ben Mallare, Chance, and their band provided an absolutely amazing experience. Communication was super quick and easy, and they were very clear about the options available for how small or large of a band we wanted on our wedding day. We opted for Chance and a 10+ piece for the reception, and a smaller group for the ceremony. They were absolutely the best band I've ever experienced at a wedding - from the emotional songs during the ceremony to the high-energy conclusion for the reception, every song hit the spot. They learned the song we wanted for our first dance, and it was magical. The energy was perfect all night. Some of the older guests came up to us the next morning and told us the music and dancing made them feel like they were in their 20s again! If incredible live music is important to you for your special day, I can't more highly recommend Ben Mallare Entertainment. Thanks for making our wedding night so magical!

  • John
    John
    05-01-2025
    WeddingWire

    The Ben Mallare Band completely exceeded our expectations and made our wedding the epic dance party we dreamed of. From the moment they started playing, the dance floor was absolutely packed and stayed that way all night long. Their energy was infectious and their talent level was incredible - they nailed every song they played, from current hits to classics, and had everyone from our college friends to our parents dancing non-stop. We loved that they listened to our genre suggestions and they crafted a perfect playlist that appealed to guests of all ages. Their ability to read the room and keep the party going was phenomenal. They even learned the Philadelphia Eagles fight song for us! If having an epic dance party is your priority for your wedding (like it was for ours), booking the Ben Mallare Band is an absolute must. They're not just great musicians - they're incredible entertainers who will make your wedding unforgettable!

  • Jillian B.
    Jillian B.
    14-10-2024
    Yelp

    The Ben Mallare Band was the absolute best wedding band we could have asked for. It was important to us to have a band that would get the crowd going and keep the energy up all night and they truly exceeded our expectations - no one left the dance floor all night. They are extremely talented, professional and easy to work with - they worked with us on all of our special requests and were super responsive throughout the planning process. We had an absolute blast with them and could not recommend them more!

  • Andie S
    Andie S
    06-08-2024
    The Knot

    This was the absolute best wedding band ever! They are extremely talented and the energy and vibe had all of our wedding guests dancing the entire night! They also worked with my dad so he was able to perform a surprise song and they backed him up. They were very responsive during the planning process and so kind and easy to work with! 10/10 recommend hiring them for your wedding!!

  • Kevin G
    Kevin G
    11-06-2024
    Google

    The reviews are legit — this is the band you want to take your wedding to the next level! Incredibly professional and a pleasure to work with.

  • shelby l
    shelby l
    08-06-2024
    The Knot

    posting my personal email to the owner because it gives you all the insight you need. almost a month since our wedding and people are still texting me about the band. other families are inquiring about using them for their own events in the future. absolutely INCREDIBLE band. not a single person was sitting at the wedding. old. young and everything in between. they were worth every penny. don’t skip on a live band and don’t skip on ben mallare!!!! “I am still decompressing from the wedding but I just needed to send you and email because Mike and I can not stop talking about the band and neither can the guests. Chance, singers (wish i remembered the other incredible singers names - my adrenaline was peaking haha), band members are INCREDIBLY talented professionals… Andy we were BLOWN away. The Hurricane song was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I have to attach the video for you my friend took. Mike and I have watched it 500 times today (real number). It is a memory we will never ever forget. I was originally told by my planner I had to choose between “Hurricane” and “Heavy Metal” song because it was too many special love song requests. I’m not sure if that was a mix up or if it was a surprise but they played it and i was SHOCKED. This was my only surprise during the ceremony / reception (every wedding detail I planned). That song is very special to my family and I. I am a triplet and my dad used to blast that in the house and teach us three how to head bang at just four years old 🤣 twenty seven years later and we still got it. I was the last one of the three to get married so having that moment with my siblings was top three highlights of the day. We have had every single person that attended RAVE about the band. Everyone said they felt like they were at a concert. Multiple times throughout the night I looked around and nearly every single person was on the dance floor, old and young. It was just perfect. “

  • Daria B
    Daria B
    19-05-2024
    The Knot

    We can’t recommend Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment enough! Our wedding guests were blown away by their set during our reception and are still raving about them weeks later! We hired BME&E to perform during our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and they crushed all three events! The dance floor was raging all night and we wish we could relive night solely to experience their performance again. Ben and Andy were extremely responsive, accommodating and helpful throughout the planning process as well. Other pluses were that their fee included travel and accommodation costs for our wedding in Las Vegas and that they brought their own lighting. Thank you again, Ben and Andy!

  • Jonah B.
    Jonah B.
    24-04-2024
    Yelp

    an amazing band with every feature you could ask for. They took our party to the top and made it incredible. I would book them again in a heartbeat!!

  • Leigh A.
    Leigh A.
    18-05-2023
    WeddingWire

    My husband did a lot of research on wedding bands, and we are so glad to have found Ben Mallare Entertainment. They were courteous and professional leading up to the big day and always took time to answer our questions. We weren't entirely sure how many pieces we wanted, so they walked us through different scenarios and recommendations to find the right fit. They also worked with us to ensure that our ceremony music began at the right place in the song (we didn't necessarily want all of them to start right at the beginning). Our reception was a true DANCE PARTY! They brought so much energy and life to the dance floor - our guests were out there all night and then some! Everyone has since consistently commented on how amazing our band was. They truly made it the dance party we wanted! Definitely hire Ben Mallare if you are looking for a band!

  • Hillary A.
    Hillary A.
    05-01-2022
    Yelp

    Ben Mallare's All-Stars helped make our wedding one to never forget! We were dead set on having a band rather than a DJ, and they exceeded our expectations. After listening to every wedding band in the area, we landed on Ben Mallare's All-Stars. We chose a live duo for the ceremony, and an 8-piece band for the reception. We got SO many compliments and many people said it was the best wedding band they had ever heard - shout out to Becky and Gabriel for the killer vocals! Not to be overlooked, Andy and team were excellent in the planning and communication leading up to the day (over the course of two years no less). We felt very confident that the whole crew knew exactly where to be, which songs we really wanted to hear, and how to keep the party going! Have no doubt when booking Ben Mallare that you are setting yourself up for a fun and memorable event.

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They were perfect, literally perfect. Through all our questions, requests, demands, inquiries, concerns, rescheduling, on and on and on, they were nothing but gracious, professional, prompt and courteous. Then they showed up and rocked the hell out of absolutely everyone. My wife and I, and every single one of our guests, give them the highest praise possible. And the cherry on top, they let me get on stage and jam with them. We had Ben and his band, which we clearly highly recommend dishing out the extra money for and locking in. Perfect.
Groom testimonial Nick G. (Los Angeles, CA)
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The number one priority my bride and I wanted for our wedding was for a night full of dancing--not people begrudgingly on their feet, but truly having the best time on the dance floor. Ben Mallare absolutely delivered that for us. Since getting back from our honeymoon, the first thing people say to us is "that band you had was the best wedding band we've ever seen". If you are reading this review, don't waste another minute--book Ben Mallare--you'll be so glad you did. PS--they even learned a house/electronic song for us by request--they can truly do it all
Groom headshot Mark S. (San Francisco, CA)
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The entire wedding, we were (and still are) so proud to share the Ben Mallare name and are thrilled we could share our day with them. We could go on and on about how much fun the dance floor was, how engaging the band was with guests, how great the music was, etc., but you should take all of that as an absolute given. Ben Mallare’s band brings together truly talented, hard working and fun musicians. We knew music was going to be a very important part of our wedding weekend and we wanted the absolute best of the best, and we have only the highest recommendation for everything Ben Mallare.
Groom headshot Arnie F. (Banff, AB)
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