Larry Merkel

If your idea of the perfect party is a night filled with fun and dancing, then I am the DJ for you. My name is Larry Merkel, and I will do everything in my power to ensure you and your guests will have an evening to remember. My vast knowledge of music encompasses all styles, so no matter what type of music you want, I will be able to meet your needs. I tailor each event to the specific requirements of each customer. So whether you want the high energy of the Cha-Cha Slide, or the mellow sounds of Frank & Dean-O, I will make the evening YOUR evening.

Jillian & Nick – September 29, 2012

“From start to finish Sounds Abound was an outstanding experience. I had to work around my brother’s deployments and my wedding venue closed in the middle of our engagement, and Sounds Abound was there to help every step of the way. Larry was fantastic and such a joy to have at the wedding. I would highly recommend him and Sounds Abound to anyone! Everything was fantastic!”

Jayne & Craig – September 1, 2012

“Larry, Thank you for the wonderful job you did as our DJ and Master of Ceremony! You did a fantastic job of planning and executing the schedule of events (e.g. introduction, cake cutting and first dance ), keeping the crowd dancing, setting the perfect mood with the right mix of songs, as well as playing our personal favorites and anticipating songs we would like as well as a few specially requested songs. Thank you so much for making our wedding so much fun with the wonderful music and entertainment.”

Nicole & Matt – August 18, 2012

“Sounds Abound was a great company to work with for my wedding. I had to plan my wedding long distance and they made it really easy on me to pick a DJ. They were always very professional on the phone, and I loved the fact that I could see my DJ options online. Larry was also great to work with. He was very thorough in his work and quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. He was always able to answer my questions and made me at ease even before the wedding day because it really seemed like he knew what he was doing. Larry provided service for our wedding ceremony and reception. He did an awesome job during the ceremony of fading out the music during the lighting of our unity candle so there was no awkward waiting time for the song to get through. And during our reception he really kept things on a roll. He would remind my husband and I when it was time to cut cake, time for the slide show, etc. I felt like I didn’t have to worry about our schedule or making things happen with his help. He also did a great job of feeling out the crowd to see what type of music they would get everyone dancing and also followed our guest’s song requests. Thanks Sound’s Abound for helping make our wedding day perfect!”

Cathy (MOB) – Becca & Eric – August 11, 2012

“My expectations were high, as I was familiar with your services from previous family members’ wedding receptions. You guys are the best! LOVE all the props: really fun for all ages! And the up-lighting was gorgeous – many positive comments from guests.”

Jaimie & Drew – Gail (MOB) – July 28, 2012

“Larry Merkel and his assistant were fabulous at my daughter’s wedding on Saturday, July 28th. Larry and his assistant were excellent, and kept the reception going! They were professional in all ways, and we would totally recommend Sounds Abound, and Larry!”

Kelly & Kyle – July 7, 2012

“I was so impressed with Larry! We chose him because of his work with another wedding we had been to and he exceeded our expectations!!! Everyone had a blast and he was professional and interactive. We couldn’t have been happier. Thanks!!”

Laura & Tim – June 30, 2012

“He was a very fun DJ to have. Even after we ran out of must play’s and songs we like, he kept playing a lot of good songs! Very good DJ with a good plan to keep people dancing!”

Melissa & Anton – October 8, 2011

“Larry was great, before the event he had no problem meeting with us to go over the last minute details, at the event he got everyone dancing and kept thing running smooth. We were very happy with Larry and the service that he provided us with our wedding.”

Megan & Dan – October 1, 2011

“Larry was awesome! We were very happy that we picked him. Pleasure to work with! Kept the dance floor bumping all night long. He went above and beyond what we expected.”

Katie & Anthony – September 10, 2011

“I would highly recommend Sounds Abound! I loved the online tools and music selections. Larry Merkel was a great DJ and we were very happy with him. He was friendly, accommodating & very detailed. He called twice before the wedding to make sure everything was in order & the evening went very smooth. He was fantastic!!!!”

Cara & Jason – August 27, 2011

“I can not say enough how awesome Larry was to work with! Not only does he have the best announcing voice, he had about 80% of our guest stay to the last song dancing. We had so many guest say how fun our wedding was which was due to adding the photo booth and simply telling Larry to play music everyone knows and can dance to. He did an amazing job at that. I would recommend him to every family and friend!”

Veronica & T.J. – July 9, 2011

“Larry and Jake were awesome. The music turned out even better than we could have ever hoped. the Djs looked like they were having just as much fun as the rest of us. There couldn’t have been a better fit, for our style of wedding.”

Michelle & Adam – August 28, 2010

“We chose to use Sounds Abound and, specifically Larry Merkel, based on a wedding we attended in 2009. We knew that night that Larry was “our guy”. He was always so professional, knew exactly what we wanted, and kept the dance floor hoppin’ all night. We could not have asked for a better dj, and MC for our wedding. We also used Sounds Abound for our photo booth at the reception, and we are so glad we did. The attendant was a blast, and kept the pictures flowing, and the smiles coming! We cannot imagine having a better night, and Sounds Abound really did their part to make it all perfect!”

Erica & Derek – August 7, 2010

“Larry did an amazing job as DJ/MC at the wedding. He played exactly the type and mixture of music I wanted. He was extremely professional and friendly. I would definitely recommend Larry for any DJ/MC event. You won’t be disappointed!”

Sarah & Justin – June 19, 2010

“Larry contacted me several times and was welcome to last-minute changes. We had a wonderful wedding, and all of our guests commented on the fun time that was had.”

Kim & Paul – May 22, 2010

“Honestly, Larry made the night! I read all the comments about him before, but he really went above and beyond the call of duty. Everything was so organized and everyone raved about the “Dancing With the Stars” Package. The music reached out to all different age groups. I believe a lot of people stayed around because of Larry. He was one person that I didn’t have to worry about. He did his thing and everyone was impressed. All in all, 5 stars! I can’t wait until someone I know gets married. I will DEFINITELY recommend Sounds Abound!”

Karen & Gary – October 17, 2009

“We would definitely recommend Sounds Abound, and particularly, Larry Merkel, for a wedding DJ. We had nothing but supreme customer service from them from beginning to end. Our families are wall flowers – we never expected them to get out on the dance floor. But the floor was packed all night, thanks to the excellent song mix and encouragement from the DJ. The experience was overall excellent.”

Cindy & Mike – October 11, 2009

“Sounds Abound was flawless. Not only was my DJ absolutely fantastic, Larry Merkel, but so was the customer service, the online event planner tool and the wedding shop is great as well. I would recommend Sounds Abound to everyone and anyone who needs a DJ for any type of special event. Larry was perfect! He was fantastic. I was so impressed with how wonderful everything was executed throughout the night. My family and friends kept telling me how great he was and the music choices were absolutely perfect. He listened to everything my now husband and I wanted from the beginning until the very end. Sounds Abound and Larry Merkel made my wedding reception everything I wanted and more! Thank you very much!”

Linda – Commodores Ball The Abbey Marina – Lake Geneva – September 26, 2009

“Great! I asked Larry to keep the music on the low side so people could sit and talk at the tables if they wanted for the ones that don’t dance. I had nothing but great comments from people for the entire event, but many for saying it was so nice to be able to sit and talk at the tables and actually hear what people were saying and not having to scream over the music. It was great. Everyone who attended loved it. Larry and his assistant did a fantastic job for me. It was excellent!!!”

Debbie & Scott – September 12, 2009

“Sounds Abound was really great. We loved our DJ’s( Larry Merkel And Rob) they kept everyone on the dance floors and got the crowd fired up when the bridal party intros were announced. We received so many comments after the weeding that people haven’t danced so much in long time. It made us feel so good. Thanks to Sounds Abound for making our Wedding so spectacular”

Amy & Mike – August 9, 2009

“We’re very pleased to have chosen Sounds Abound as our DJ service and will be sure to recommend them to others. The video montage was a favorite and so easy for us. Thanks for adding to our special day!”

Lauren & Keith – July 17, 2009

“We are so thrilled to have chosen Sounds Abound Entertainment for our wedding! We could not have been more pleased with the kindness of your staff and how helpful they were along the way!! Continue the communication! That really helped us out to hear from you every so often as the date got closer!!”

Gina & Jon – June 27, 2009

“I could not have asked for a better DJ! It was by far the best music selection I’ve heard at a wedding (or any event for that matter)… needless to say, I’m glad it was at my own wedding! Cocktail and dinner music was a perfect blend of the styles we requested, and the dance music was AWESOME. Almost everyone was up dancing the entire time, and Larry even got on the dance floor to teach the the Electric Slide. In terms of “behind the scenes,” I appreciated the online music selection form. It made my very busy weeks before the wedding that much easier. The booking process was easy and I appreciated the check-in phone calls prior to the event. A+ on all fronts… thank you from Jon and I for such a great experience!”

Kimberly & Jeremy – June 6, 2009

“It was exceptional. Our guests really enjoyed Larry’s performance and flow. I believe you are at a level that though perfection is not attainable that continuation of your current efforts will ensure your on-going success.”

Jamie & Mike – May 30, 2009

“We were extremely pleased with everything, start to finish, with Sounds Abound. The customer service is excellent, everyone was so professional and friendly, and we really enjoyed Larry. He was a great time and got the party started. He was so easy to work with and very flexible with a couple last minute requests. We’ve heard from many of our guests that the music was great and it kept people dancing all night long. Thank you Sounds Abound and Larry!!!”

Melissa & Joe – May 9, 2009

“Larry was excellent. You were the best Vendor I dealt with for my whole wedding planning experience! Thank You so very much for being so great. You should push the photo booth option. Everyone loved that and asked where I got the idea.”

Claire Benet Academy – March 7, 2009

“We had a Benet Academy Mother-Son dance on 3/7/09. We required many things of Larry that evening. He played fun music during a time that the boys were playing at blackjack tables, and also played music appropriate for dancing during a separate time of the evening. He found great songs that would get both the high-school boys and their mothers out onto the dance floor, and keep them there, enjoying each others’ company. Larry was also outstanding as emcee of the event, which included him serving as a host for the Deal or No Deal Game Show. He interviewed the 10 boys on stage before they competed for their prizes, and he was witty and entertaining. He was able to command the attention of the room. Larry was really wonderful to deal with both in planning and the night of the event. The night on-site he was flexible and adapted his music and timing to the needs of the evening. We’d all highly recommend Larry for any event!!!”

Carrie & Ryan – February 28, 2009

“I thought Larry was fantastic! The next day a bunch of my guests commented on how excellent the DJ was and asked what company he works for! Thank you!”

Melanie & Blair – October 11, 2008

“Larry was awesome!!! We had a special surprise for everyone, fireworks, and Larry knew about it. He helped us decide how we would get everyone outside for the fireworks display. When he made the announcement that we wanted everyone outside for a toast, he said that it was “something so big that four walls can’t contain it.” My husband absolutely loved it!!! Larry was very enthusiastic about it, and made everyone excited about what was to come. He was very upbeat throughout the entire evening. I could not have asked for a better day!”

Beata & Konrad – September 6, 2008

“Our DJ Larry did an incredible job at our wedding. All of our guests had an amazing time and they kept the dance floor full the entire night!! Also, they were extremely organized and professional and they were the only part of the wedding that went without a hitch. They even added music that I hadn’t thought of but my guests loved. We were extremely impressed and will definitely recommend them to everyone we know. Thanks again!!!!”

Jacqueline & Kyle – August 23, 2008

“We could not be happier with your DJ services. Your office staff was always so helpful and friendly. Larry was an excellent DJ, and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding DJ. Great job! We could not have asked for better!”

Fran & Joe – July 5, 2008

“Larry was great! He was very professional and attentive. He made sure to include all of our special requests. He has a great personality and did a great job interacting with the guests. He made the event smooth, effortless and fun!”

Gina & Chris – June 20, 2008

“Sounds Abound has a great online planner that really helped our wedding reception go smoothly. Every song we requested was played and Larry stayed on schedule.”

Reshmeen & Cyrus – May 25, 2008

“The planning process was easy and our DJ, Larry Merkel, really made us feel comfortable. He answered all our questions and provided an excellent and entertaining evening! We couldn’t have asked for more!”

Charmaine & Vince – May 8, 2008

“I wanted to let you know that Larry Merkel was the best DJ ever! He is a wonderful person and just did an awesome job! All my guests really liked him. The services your company provided was outstanding! I will continue to recommend your DJ service to anyone I know in the future that is getting married. Thank you for providing good service and a fabulous DJ. It is well worth the money!”

Devin & Matt – May 3, 2008

“Larry – I just wanted to drop a quick note to say thank you for taking part in our wedding reception this past Saturday. We definitely could have danced all night long and from the sound of it our guests felt the same way. Matt and I cannot thank you enough for helping us have a reception that our entire family will talk about in the years to come. You are the best! P.S. The YMCA with the props was the highlight of the night!!!!! Although I think Matt would say the “Go Cubs Go” was his highlight.”

Laila & Kyle – March 1, 2008

“I can’t even begin to express how much we enjoyed having Larry Merkel as our DJ!!! He was amazing, and was the PERFECT MC for our special day. I especially appreciated all the great communication leading up to the wedding day. Even his wife was courteous and responsive when I called his house. Larry took the time to perfect all of the name pronunciations–and believe me, there were some tricky ones!!! Larry’s voice and presence radiated enthusiasm and excitement without being cheesy or corny. He has a genuine way about him. During the evening, he never interrupted me…he would wait sort of at my side and behind me to get my attention. He asked my permission before giving the microphone to guests who wanted to make a toast, but that I had not included on my “list”. He said he would not give the microphone to anyone unless I indicated it was “ok” –class act! And then when the spontaneous toast turned south and the guest started babbling incoherently and swearing, well, Larry was right there to cut the volume and return to dinner music!!! Larry followed my instructions to the “T” — I don’t know what else to say except we are just so very pleased with our choice of Larry Merkel.”

Shannon & Ken – October 13, 2007

“It was a wonderful night. Larry kept the party going and it was great to have everyone dancing all night long!! Keep up the good work. Make sure that your customer service stays at the top.”

Jie & Mark – October 6, 2007

“Larry was very professional and very accommodating and easy to work with. The service was exactly as described and exceeded our expectations. Larry was excellent at making sure he fulfilled all of our requests and requirements.”

Sheri & Gary – September 8, 2007

“I love the online planner. It helped me keep myself organized. Larry was wonderful! He had such great ideas and was so pleasant to work with. Many of our guests remarked about the fun atmosphere he created at our reception. He was very patient with our constant requests for changes throughout the night. I don’t know if I could remain calm and pleasant like Larry in such a charged atmosphere. Thanks again Larry!”

Carrie & Steve – July 28, 2007

“Everything was wonderful! We referred several people who asked for Larry’s name for future events!”

Lisa & Matthew – June 16, 2007

“Everything was great. Larry did an outstanding job. My husband and I could not be happier with his job! Everything was perfect. Nothing could have made our experience better.”

Cathy & Jon – May 26, 2007

“Larry was a class act. He did a really great job and was accommodating for all of our requests.”

Jennifer & Brian – October 21, 2006

“Larry was Excellent. Our wedding was perfect, thank you!”

Kara & Neal – October 7, 2006

“The Sounds Abound staff was very helpful and willing to answer all our questions before our wedding. Larry, our DJ, was excellent! He played songs that had everyone on the dance floor the entire night. Many people commented on the great music and the interaction Larry had with our guests. Thank you! Everything was wonderful!”

Katie & John – September 16, 2006

“John and I wanted to say how wonderful our experience was with Sounds Abound. We came in to listen to music and Jeff got together all the songs that we wanted. Larry Merkel was our DJ and he was the best! He made our day truly special. Everyone danced the entire night and we had the best day of our lives! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience. We have recommended you to our friends that are engaged too. Thanks again!”

Lindsey & Pete – September 3, 2006

“Larry and his partner were amazing! He truly has a way of keeping people energized and having a good time. We received multiple compliments about his professionalism and will definitely recommend him to others. He made the entire booking process very easy to handle and made the whole experience an unforgettable event! We would recommend Sounds Abound to anyone who wants to have a great party!”

Julie & Jeff – July 29, 2006

“Larry Merkel did an excellent job as a DJ for our wedding. We really enjoyed all the variety of music he played and catered to our wishes. Thanks Larry!”

Jennifer & John – June 10, 2006

“Larry was perfect — he was everything we wanted in a DJ and managed to avoid everything we didn’t want. He did a phenomenal job helping our event turn out perfectly!”

Susan & Guy – November 5, 2005

“We cannot thank Sounds Abound and our DJ, Larry, enough! Everything was perfect and our instructions were followed perfectly. Larry interacted with our guests and made them laugh. I would highly recommend Sounds Abound and will also book with you again, should I have another occasion. Thanks again for making our reception so fun and memorable!”

Angie & Bill – September 3, 2005

“Larry was absolutely wonderful. He always checked with us as to what needed to be done to keep the evening moving. The guests loved him as did we. I have already recommended your service and Larry to a co-worker getting married next summer. Thanks so much.”

Amanda & Christopher – June 18, 2005

“Larry was very flexible and easy to work with. My initial contact with him left me at ease. He followed our wishes for the “no play” list and contacted us when a majority was requesting a song on that list. Everything was great!”

Sonia & Scott -May 21, 2005

“We had a great experience with Sounds Abound. Larry did a fantastic job and really made the reception smooth and enjoyable. I would not hesitate to suggest Sounds Abound to others in the future. Everything went really well for us. I really appreciated being able to modify our plans on the website. That is a very handy feature.”

Julia & Scott -October 23, 2004

“Larry was very professional and friendly! He was very mindful of Scott’s and my wishes. He would double check with either of us before starting an important dance and would quickly change the order of things if either of us wanted a couple extra minutes with our guests. I would highly recommend him. Thanks Larry for helping make our wedding day perfect!”

Diana & Keith -September 4, 2004

“Larry was amazing! We couldn’t have asked for a better performance. He did a great job and we receive a lot of complements about the reception music. Larry played great music to keep people moving through the whole reception. Everyone tells us they had a great time at the reception and Larry played a huge role in that!”

Lorene & Jim -August 14, 2004

“Larry did a great job of showing open communication with us. He was flexible for change and special requests on the spot. The Music/DJ part of a wedding, I feel, is one of the most important aspects as it is a lasting memory of the bride & groom and their guests.”

Amy & Kevin -July 31, 2004

“We had complete confidence in Sounds Abound from the start, one year prior to our wedding, and were impressed through the entire process. Larry and Frankie were personable and professional. Guests filled the dance floor the entire night and Larry was definitely in tune to our musical tastes. He played our “Must plays” and exactly the type of music we were hoping for. I finally learned the electric slide. Thanks!!! Also, the photo montage that Ken did was a big hit and extremely well done.”