View source for Take 6

{{Short description|American a cappella gospel sextet}}
{{for|the card game previously published as 'Take 6!'|6 nimmt!}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = Take 6
| image             = Take 6 performs at the White House.jpg
| caption           = 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 in 2001
| image_size        = 
| landscape         = yes
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Huntsville, Alabama]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Gospel music|Gospel]]
* [[Urban contemporary gospel|urban gospel]]
* [[vocal jazz]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[contemporary Christian music]]
}}
| instrument        = [[a cappella|Voice]] ([[scat singing|vocal bass]], [[vocal percussion]], [[mouth trumpet]])
| years_active      = 1980–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Warner Alliance]]|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]|[[Heads Up International|Heads Up]]|Sono}}
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = {{URL|www.take6.com/}}
| current_members   =
* Alvin Chea
* Khristian Dentley
* Joey Kibble
* Mark Kibble
* Claude V. McKnight III
* David Thomas
| past_members    = 
* Cedric Dent
* [[Mervyn Warren]]
}}

'''Take 6''' is an American [[a cappella]] [[gospel music|gospel]] [[sextet]] formed in 1980 on the campus of [[Oakwood University|Oakwood College]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref name="time">{{cite news |last=Ostling |first=Richard N. |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957270-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105163342/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957270-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |title=Religion: Evangelism And All That Jazz |publisher=TIME |date=March 20, 1989 |access-date =May 23, 2014}}</ref> The group integrates [[jazz]] with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received several [[Grammy Awards]] as well as [[Dove Award]]s, a [[Soul Train Award]] and nominations for the [[NAACP Image Award]]. 

The band has worked with [[Ray Charles]], [[Joe Sample]], [[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]].<ref name="time" />

==Biography==
===Oakwood College years===
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 Church|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.singers.com/take6.html |title=Take 6 Contemporary Christian A Cappella Group |publisher=Singers.com |access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> Kibble invited [[Mervyn Warren]] to join the group, which performed under the name Alliance.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> 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.<ref name="LarkinSM"/>

===Career===
The band signed a contract with [[Warner Alliance]]<ref name="Ginell">{{cite web |last1=Ginell |first1=Richard S. |title=Take 6 |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/take-6-mn0000155563/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref> 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<ref name="LarkinSM"/> 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)<ref name="LarkinSM"/> appeared on the gospel, jazz, and R&B charts of ''Billboard'' magazine. The band then signed with [[Reprise Records|Reprise]].<ref name="Ginell" /> 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''.<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=259}}</ref>

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 (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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sonorecordinggroup.com/take-6-believe-scores-big-on-the-billboard-charts-during-debut-week/|title=Take 6 Believe scores big on the Billboard charts during debut week|website=sonorecordinggroup.com|date=April 5, 2016|access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref> ''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|date=May 2018}} 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 (Christopher Cross song)|Sailing]]", is a cover of the [[Christopher Cross]] classic.

== Members ==
{{For|more information|Voice classification in non-classical music}}
[[File:Vladimir_Aleksandrovich_Savenok_with_Take_6_members_at_NAMM_2013_Show_in_California_copy_2.jpg|thumb|right| Members of Take 6 after performance with guest Vladimir Aleksandrovich Savenok at the 2013 [[NAMM Show]] in [[California]]]]
=== Current members ===
* Claude V. McKnight III&nbsp;– first [[tenor]] or first voice <small>(1980–present)</small>
* Mark Kibble&nbsp;– second tenor or second voice <small>(1980–present)</small>
* David Thomas&nbsp;– third tenor or fourth voice (former), third voice (today) <small>(1985–present)</small>
* Joey Kibble &nbsp;– fourth tenor or third voice (former), fourth voice (today) <small>(1991–present)</small>
* Khristian Dentley &nbsp;– [[baritone]] or fifth voice <small>(2004–present)</small>
* Alvin Chea &nbsp;– [[scat singing#Vocal bass|vocal bass]] or sixth voice <small>(1985–present)</small>

=== Former members ===
* [[Mervyn Warren]] &nbsp;– third tenor or third voice/first tenor or first voice (song/section dependent) <small>(1980–1991)</small>
* Cedric Dent &nbsp;– baritone or fifth voice <small>(1985–2004)</small>

==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
!Year
! style="width:250px;"|Album
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />R&B</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />Gospel</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />Jazz</small>
! Label
! Certification(s)
|-
|1988
|''[[Take 6 (album)|Take 6]]''
| style="text-align:center;"|71
| style="text-align:center;"|41
| style="text-align:center;"|3
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:left;|[[Warner Alliance]]
|[[RIAA|US]]: Platinum
|-
|1990
|''[[So Much 2 Say]]''
| style="text-align:center;"|72
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:left;|Warner Alliance
|
|-
|1991
|''[[He Is Christmas]]''
| style="text-align:center;"|100
| style="text-align:center;"|84
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Join the Band (Take 6 album)|Join the Band]]''
| style="text-align:center;"|86
| style="text-align:center;"|17
| style="text-align:center;"|17
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Reprise
|US: Gold
|-
|1996
|''[[Brothers (Take 6 album)|Brothers]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"|71
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Reprise
|
|-
|1998
|''[[So Cool (Take 6 album)|So Cool]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"|92
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Reprise
|
|-
|1999
|''We Wish You a Merry Christmas''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Reprise
|
|-
|2002
|''Beautiful World''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"|14
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Feels Good (album)|Feels Good]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Take 6 Records
|
|-
|2008
|''[[The Standard (Take 6 album)|The Standard]]''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| rowspan="2"|[[Heads Up International|Heads Up]]
|
|-
|2010
|''[[The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Take 6 album)|The Most Wonderful Time of the Year]]'' 
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"|70
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"|40
|
|-
|2012
|''One''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|[[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
|
|-
|2016
|''Believe''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| rowspan="2"| Sono
|
|-
|2018
|''Iconic''
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;" | "—" denotes that a release did not chart
|}

===Live albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
!Year
! style="width:250px;"|Album
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />R&B</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />Gospel</small>
! style="text-align:center;"|<small>US<br />Jazz</small>
! Label
! Certification(s)

|-
|2000
|''Tonight: Live'' &nbsp;
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:left;|Reprise
|
|}

===Singles===
* 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.&nbsp;19 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks<ref name="allmusic awards">{{cite web|author=Richard S. Ginell |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/take-6-mn0000155563/awards |title=Take 6 &#124; Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref>)
* 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.&nbsp;36 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks<ref name="allmusic awards" />)
* 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 (song)|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 (album)|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===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Label
!Notes
|-
| 1992
| ''All Access''
| Warner Reprise
| VHS
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]] – A Tribute to [[Motown]]'' [Live]
| E1 Entertainment
| Guest
|}

==Awards and nominations==
===Grammy Awards===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Category !! Title !! Result
|-
|1989 || Best New Artist || style="text-align:center;"| — || {{nom}}
|-
|1989 || Best Soul Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus || ''Take 6'' || {{won}}
|-
|1989 || Best Jazz Vocal Performance – Duo or Group || "Spread Love" || {{won}}
|-
|1990 || Best Gospel Performance – Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus || "The Savior Is Waiting" || {{won}}
|-
|1990 || Best Jazz Vocal Performance – Duo or Group || "Like the Whole World's Watching" || {{nom}}
|-
|1991 || Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album || ''So Much 2 Say'' || {{won}}
|-
|1992 || Best Jazz Vocal Performance || ''He Is Christmas'' || {{won}}
|-
|1993 || Best Jazz Vocal Performance|| "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" || {{nom}}
|-
|1995 || Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album || ''Join the Band'' || {{won}}
|-
|1995 || Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group || "Biggest Part of Me" || {{nom}}
|-
|1996 || Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group || "All I Need (Is a Chance)" || {{nom}}
|-
|1997 || Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals || "When You Wish upon a Star" || {{nom}}
|-
|1997 || Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal(s) || "When You Wish Upon a Star" || {{nom}}
|-
|1998 || Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album || ''Brothers'' || {{won}}
|-
|1998 || Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals || "You Don't Have to Be Afraid" || {{nom}}
|-
|2000 || Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album || ''So Cool'' || {{nom}}
|-
|2003 || Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals || "Love's in Need of Love Today" (with Stevie Wonder) || {{won}}
|-
|2005 || Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals || "Moon River" (with Stevie Wonder) || {{nom}}
|-
|2009 || Best Gospel Performance || "Shall We Gather at the River" || {{nom}}
|}

===GMA Dove Award wins===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Category !! Title
|-
|1988 || Contemporary Gospel Album || ''Take 6''
|-
|1988 || Group of the Year || style="text-align:center;"| — 
|-
|1988 || Contemporary Gospel Song || "If We Ever"
|-
|1988 || |New Artist of the Year || style="text-align:center;"| — 
|-
|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==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.take6.com}}
* [http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Take_6.aspx Take 6 at Encyclopedia.com]
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/alvin-chea Alvin Chea Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Library]] (2013)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/claude-mcknight Claude McNight Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/david-thomas David Thomas Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/joey-kibble Joey Kibble Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/mark-kibble Mark Kibble Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/khristian-dentley Khristian Dentley Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library] (2013)
{{Portal bar|Christianity|Biography|United States|Music}}
{{Take 6|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American gospel musical groups]]
[[Category:American jazz ensembles]]
[[Category:American musical sextets]]
[[Category:American Seventh-day Adventists]]
[[Category:African-American musical groups]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]]
[[Category:Professional a cappella groups]]
[[Category:Reprise Records artists]]
[[Category:Smooth jazz ensembles]]
[[Category:Vocal jazz ensembles]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Alabama]]
[[Category:Musicians from Huntsville, Alabama]]