Take 6
Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.[1] The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received several Grammy Awards as well as Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award and nominations for the NAACP Image Award.
Take 6 | |
|---|---|
Take 6 performs for U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush during a Black Music Month celebration at the White House on June 30, 2001 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Voice (vocal bass, vocal percussion, mouth trumpet) |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | www |
The band has worked with Ray Charles, Nnenna Freelon, Gordon Goodwin, Don Henley, Whitney Houston, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, k.d. lang, Queen Latifah, The Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Brian McKnight, Luis Miguel, Marcus Miller, Joe Sample, Ben Tankard, Randy Travis, CeCe Winans, Stevie Wonder and Jacob Collier. All original members grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[1]
Biography edit
Oakwood College years edit
In 1980, Claude McKnight, older brother of R&B musician Brian McKnight, formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estates Quartet, at Oakwood College (now Oakwood University), a Seventh-day Adventist university in Huntsville, Alabama, where he was a freshman. He auditioned students for the group. While rehearsing in a campus bathroom to prepare for a performance, Mark Kibble heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part with them onstage that night.[2] Kibble invited Mervyn Warren to join the group, which performed under the name Alliance.[3] Alliance performed in local churches and on campus with a changing roster of members. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left after graduating. Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.[3]
Career edit
The band signed a contract with Warner Alliance[4] in 1987 and changed its name to Take 6 after a search revealed the name "Alliance" was in use. Their self-titled debut album (1988) won Grammy Awards in the gospel and jazz categories[3] and three Dove Awards. They contributed to the film Do the Right Thing and sang on the album Back on the Block by Quincy Jones. They also appeared on Sesame Street and Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella. The band's second album, So Much 2 Say (1990)[3] appeared on the gospel, jazz, and R&B charts of Billboard magazine. The band then signed with Reprise.[4] In 1991, after the release of So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a record producer and was replaced by Joey Kibble, Mark Kibble's younger brother. The group added instrumentation to their a cappella sound on the album He Is Christmas.[3]
In 2006, the group started the label Take 6 Records; Feels Good, the first album on their new label, was released the same year. In 2007, they recorded with Eros Ramazzotti for his album E². A year later Take 6 released The Standard, which ventured into more traditional jazz territory.
Believe (Sono, 2016), produced by Claude Villani and Ross Vannelli, charted in six categories on Billboard in its first two weeks of release.[5] Iconic (Sono, 2018), produced and arranged by the band, was its first album to chart at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart.[citation needed] The first single was a cover version of "Change the World" by Eric Clapton and debuted on the Contemporary Jazz Song chart in the top 30. The second single, "Sailing", is a cover of the Christopher Cross classic.
Members edit
Current members edit
- Claude V. McKnight III – first tenor or first voice (1980–present)
- Mark Kibble – second tenor or second voice (1980–present)
- David Thomas – third tenor or fourth voice (former), third voice (today) (1985–present)
- Joey Kibble – fourth tenor or third voice (former), fourth voice (today) (1991–present)
- Khristian Dentley – baritone or fifth voice (2011–present)
- Alvin Chea – vocal bass or sixth voice (1985–present)
Former members edit
- Mervyn Warren – third tenor or third voice/first tenor or first voice (song/section dependent) (1980–1991)
- Cedric Dent – baritone or fifth voice (1985–2011)
Discography edit
Albums edit
| Year | Album | US | US R&B | US Gospel | US Jazz | Label | Certification(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Take 6 | 71 | 41 | 3 | 8 | Warner Alliance | US: Platinum |
| 1990 | So Much 2 Say | 72 | 22 | 8 | 2 | Warner Alliance | |
| 1991 | He Is Christmas | 100 | 84 | — | — | Reprise | |
| 1994 | Join the Band | 86 | 17 | 17 | — | Reprise | US: Gold |
| 1996 | Brothers | — | 71 | — | — | Reprise | |
| 1998 | So Cool | — | 92 | 8 | — | Reprise | |
| 1999 | We Wish You a Merry Christmas | — | — | — | — | Reprise | |
| 2002 | Beautiful World | — | — | 14 | — | Warner Bros. | |
| 2006 | Feels Good | — | — | 10 | — | Take 6 Records | |
| 2008 | The Standard | — | — | 6 | 2 | Heads Up | |
| 2010 | The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | — | 70 | — | 40 | ||
| 2012 | One | — | — | 15 | — | Shanachie | |
| 2016 | Believe | — | 25 | 9 | 2 | Sono | |
| 2018 | Iconic | — | 9 | — | 1 | ||
| "—" denotes that a release did not chart | |||||||
Live albums edit
| Year | Album | US | US R&B | US Gospel | US Jazz | Label | Certification(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tonight: Live | — | — | — | — | Reprise |
Singles edit
- 1988: "Spread Love" (Reprise)
- 1988: "David & Goliath" (Reprise)
- 1988: "Milky-White Way" (Reprise)
- 1988: "Gold Mine" (Take 6)
- 1988: "A Quiet Place"
- 1990: "I L-O-V-E U" (Reprise) (No. 19 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[6])
- 1990: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Reprise)
- 1990: "Ridin' the Rails" k.d. lang & Take 6) (Sire)
- 1991: "Where Do the Children Play"
- 1991: "I Believe"
- 1994: "Biggest Part of Me" (No. 36 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[6])
- 1994: "All I Need (Is a Chance)"
- 1995: "You Can Never Ask Too Much"
- 1997: "You Don't Have to Be Afraid"
- 1999: "One and the Same (featuring CeCe Winans)" (Reprise)
- 2002: "Takin' It to the Streets"
- 2006: "Come On" (Take 6)
- 2006: "More Than Ever" (Take 6)
- 2006: "Comes Love" with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (XXL)
- 2006: "It's Alright With Me" with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (XXL)
- 2006: "It Was a Very Good Year" with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (The Phat Pack)
- 2011: "Never Enough" with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (That's How We Roll)
- 2012: "(It Only Takes) One"
- 2015: "When Angels Cry"
- 2018: "Sailing"
Video releases edit
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | All Access | Warner Reprise | VHS |
| 2009 | Michael McDonald – A Tribute to Motown [Live] | E1 Entertainment | Guest |
Awards and nominations edit
Grammy Awards edit
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Best Soul Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus | Take 6 | Won |
| 1988 | Best Jazz Vocal Performance – Duo or Group | "Spread Love" | Won |
| 1988 | Best Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus | "The Savior Is Waiting" | Won |
| 1988 | Best New Artist | — | Nominated |
| 1989 | Best Jazz Vocal Performance – Duo or Group | "Like the Whole World's Watching" | Nominated |
| 1990 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | So Much 2 Say | Won |
| 1991 | Best Jazz Vocal Performance | He Is Christmas | Won |
| 1992 | Best Jazz Vocal Performance | "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" | Nominated |
| 1994 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Join the Band | Won |
| 1994 | Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group | "Biggest Part of Me" | Nominated |
| 1995 | Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group | "All I Need (Is a Chance)" | Nominated |
| 1996 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) | "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Nominated |
| 1996 | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals | "When You Wish upon a Star" | Nominated |
| 1996 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) | "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Nominated |
| 1997 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Brothers | Won |
| 1997 | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals | "You Don't Have to Be Afraid" | Nominated |
| 1999 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | So Cool | Nominated |
| 2002 | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | "Love's in Need of Love Today" (with Stevie Wonder) | Won |
| 2003 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) | Comes Love (with Gordon Goodwin and Brian McKnight) | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | "Moon River" (with Stevie Wonder) | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Gospel Performance | "Shall We Gather at the River" | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) | "Grace" | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Jazz Instrumental Solo | "Seven Steps to Heaven" | Nominated |
GMA Dove Award wins edit
| Year | Category | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Contemporary Gospel Album | Take 6 |
| 1988 | Group of the Year | — |
| 1988 | Contemporary Gospel Song | "If We Ever" |
| 1988 | New Artist of the Year | — |
| 1990 | Contemporary Gospel Song | "I L-O-V-E You" |
| 1990 | Contemporary Gospel Album | So Much 2 Say |
| 1990 | Contemporary Gospel Album | He Is Christmas |
| 1992 | Contemporary Gospel Album | Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration |
| 1994 | Contemporary Gospel Album | Join the Band |
| 1996 | Special Event Album | Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch (various artists) |
References edit
- ^ a b Ostling, Richard N. (March 20, 1989). . TIME. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Take 6 Contemporary Christian A Cappella Group". Singers.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ a b Ginell, Richard S. "Take 6". AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "Take 6 Believe scores big on the Billboard charts during debut week". sonorecordinggroup.com. April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ a b Richard S. Ginell. "Take 6 | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
External links edit
- Official website
- Take 6 at Encyclopedia.com
- Alvin Chea Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- Claude McNight Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- David Thomas Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- Joey Kibble Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- Mark Kibble Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
- Khristian Dentley Interview at NAMM Oral History Library] (2013)