GMU welcomes the noted a cappella group for a Sunday afternoon concert
Take 6 is the most awarded a cappella group in history, known for its exceptional vocal talent and genre-defying performances. Originally formed in 1980 at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., the group started as The Gentleman’s Estates Quartet. The ensemble evolved over time, adopting the name Take 6 after a brief stint as Alliance, as it sought a unique identity that reflected its composition and musical style.
The dynamic interplay among members—Alvin Chea (bass), Khristian Dentley (baritone), and four tenors (Claude McKnight, Dave Thomas, Mark Kibble, and Joel Kibble)—has created a rich, harmonious experience reminiscent of a finely tuned orchestra. Together, Take 6’s innovative arrangements and instrumental quality have not only led to a string of successful recordings but also earned them a place in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
“We’re not a hits-dominated group; people either like what we do or they don’t,” McKnight said. “We can travel and do shows and tours without having a radio hit or a new album out, and that’s helped us on our musical journey when playing live shows.”
Take 6’s debut album, released in 1988, was met with critical acclaim and marked the beginning of their ascent in the jazz and pop music scenes. Continually evolving, Take 6 gracefully traverses a wide array of musical genres, including jazz, pop, R&B, doo-wop, and blues, showcasing their versatility and creative prowess.
Throughout their nearly four-decade career, Take 6 has garnered an impressive collection of accolades, including 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Award, among others. They have shared the stage with legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, and Whitney Houston, further solidifying their reputation in the music industry.
One of Take 6’s frequent collaborators and friends was music producer Quincy Jones, who passed away earlier this month.
“We’ve known Quincy throughout our entire career and spent a lot of time with him, not just recording but just hanging out and hearing his stories,” McKnight said. “We were in Norway when he passed; it was very solemn and surreal. People don’t realize that he was in this business for 70 years, and we have a huge hole now in our lives. He was family to us.”
Take 6 will perform at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Dec. 1 at a special concert that begins at 2 p.m.
“We’re going to do a retrospective of our 35 years; we’ll sing some of our early stuff, as well as a song or two from the album we’re working on right now, called ‘Rhapsody,’ a jazz album,” McKnight said. “We may include a Christmas song or two as well.”
Take 6 has been working on “Rhapsody” for the past four years, and though the pandemic and a packed touring schedule have slowed progress, the group is looking forward to releasing the new work sometime in 2025.
“The cool thing about Take 6 is we were able to ramp up very quickly after the pandemic, and we are as busy as we want to be,” McKnight said. “When you see us live, like any a cappella group, there’s so much energy that has to go into everyone on that stage. Live is always going to be a notch or two better than being in the studio where you have a controlled environment.”
One of the main reasons Take 6 has stayed together all these years is that they generally like each other.
“What happens with groups sometimes is they will have a great run, but it’s really short, and that’s because of both success and failure,” McKnight said. “Once either of those two things start tipping one way or another, you find out who you are within the group, and it can lead to animosity and it’s a hard thing to come back from. Take 6 has always been a group where we love each other. We’re family, and this is a ministry for us. We’re spiritually based and that’s most important about what we do.”
For tickets or more information, visit www.cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/take-6.
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