SCERA Brings Back Acappella Group TAKE 6 this Month

While a cappella music is wildly popular in Utah Valley, and many Utah groups sing to acclaim and awards, the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre is taking it to another level when they bring the most awarded a cappella group in history for a display of harmonic genius on Monday, June 26.

The 8 p.m. concert will play under the skyscape of the beautiful Wasatch Mountain at SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, located at 699 S. State St., Orem, in the middle of SCERA Park. General admission tickets for adults are $20, and children age 3-11 and seniors 65 and older can secure tickets for $15. Reserved seating areas that include a free chair may be available for an additional price, ask for details. Tickets are available at www.scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS, at the main office at SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 South State, Orem, open 10am-6pm weekdays and Saturdays from 12noon-6:00pm.

For 27 years, the jazz, pop and gospel stylings of Take 6 has taken its six members and toured the world. Performances have included a concert at the White House for U.S. President George Bush, PBS and ABC-TV specials, New York's Blue Note and the Montreux Jazz Festival. They became the first American vocal group to perform in Cuba since its recent restoration of diplomatic relations. The group's universal appeal is evident in Asia, South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, and Canada.

To any doubters that the group is as great as its press, consider its arm load of credentials: 16 albums, 10 Grammy awards, 10 Gospel Music Association Doves and 3 gold albums. Additionally, its music has charted along multiple music charts, including contemporary jazz, rhythm and blues, Christian/Gospel and hip hop. Adding to its honors is its designation as Best Jazz Vocal Group seven consecutive years in Downbeat's prestigious Reader's and Critic's Poll, a Soul Train Music Award, Black Radio Exclusive Vocal Group of the Year, two NAACP Image Award nominations, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and countless other musical and humanitarian citations.

Take 6 have earned their dues, and it shows with nearly three decades of glowing reviews, countless ovations, and the respect of their peers. Quincy Jones once touted them as the "baddest vocal cats on the planet," and their takes on such classics as Louis Armstrong's hit, "What a Wonderful World" typically leave the audience cheering wildly and begging for more.

"The source of their harmonic brilliance has been attributed to faith, friendship, respect, and love of music," says Adam J. Robertson, SCERA President and CEO. "I am so happy to welcome back Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea, and Khristian Dentley to SCERA. Our patrons have been requesting an encore for years, and we're thrilled that all the stars aligned to bring Take 6 back to Orem again."