Take 6 took roots in 1980 as an a cappella gospel group formed by Claude McKnight at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. Mark Kibble heard the group rehearsing and his voice was added to the four singers. They went through personnel changes as members graduated.
Warner/Reprise Nashville signed them in 1987 and they officially became Take 6. Following their landmark debut Take 6 in 1988 and So Much to Say in 1990, Mervyn Warren left to pursue a career as a producer and Joey Kibble, Mark’s younger brother was invited to join the sextet.
Every Take 6 album has been certified platinum or gold. The group’s album Brothers was a gospel, jazz, R&B-inflected statement of faith in the power of God. In fact, a constant for Take 6 is their spiritual foundations coupled with their richly layered and uniquely fashioned harmonies. After the release of Brothers, bass singer Alvin Chea reflected “Maybe audiences will first listen to the harmonies but then they’ll tune into the lyrics and message which is what we want to share?”
The year 1998 was marked with “Reinventing A Cappella Music…again” and the release of So Cool. A Christmas album followed in 2002, Beautiful World.
The sextet has won numerous awards, including several Grammys and Doves (Gospel Music Awards), and a Soul Train Music Award.
Take 6 has recorded and/or performed with Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Don Henley, James Taylor, Kenny Rogers, k.d. lang, Patti Austin, Johnny Mathis, Randy Travis, Modern Jazz Quartet, Queen Latifah, Yellowjackets, Branford Marsalis and BeBe & CeCe Winans among others. They have also appeared on film soundtracks to “Do the Right Thing, “Boyz ‘N the Hood, “Dick Tracy” and :Glengarry Glen Ross.”
Discography:
Take 6 (Warner Alliance, 1988)
So Much 2 Say (Warner Alliance, 1990)
He Is Christmas (Reprise, 1991)
Join the Band (Reprise, 1994)
Brothers (Reprise, 1996)
So Cool (Reprise, 1998)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Reprise, 1999)
Tonight: Live (Reprise,2000)
Beautiful World (Warner Bros., 2002)
Feels Good (Take 6, 2006)
The Standard (Heads Up, 2008)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Heads Up, 2010)
One (Shanachie Records, 2012)
Believe (SoNo, 2016)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
