The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.
In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".
The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.
The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.
In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.
Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.
In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.
The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[
My Friend
Take 6 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It doesn't matter what ya done
'Cause the color that runs through my veins
Is the same color as everyone
I know that you may have had a hard time
And you may thought of giving in
Yeha my nighbor, yeah my brother
My friend
My friend
My friend, yes you are
Well I know that you might get lonely sometimes
You know I been down that road before
And when my so-called friends
I couldn't even let you in the door
So come onin, take a load of your mind
No matter where you stand
You're my neighbor, you're my brother
You're my friend
My friend
My friend
My friend, yes you are
Just trying to spread some sunshine
'Cause I got a lot of lovefor mankind
So why don't you call me sometime
And I'll be by your side
I'll be there when you call me
No matter where you stand
It's not too much to lend a hand
You're my neighbor, you're my brother
You're my friend
"My Friend" by Take 6 is a song about the power of friendship and acceptance. The lyrics suggest that no matter who you are, where you come from or what you've been through, you can be loved, accepted and welcomed into the arms of a true friend. The song recognizes that at times we all feel lonely or misunderstood, and that having a friend by your side can make all the difference. The words "You're my neighbor, you're my brother, you're my friend" emphasize the bond of humanity that connects us all, regardless of our differences or hardships. The chorus, "My friend, my friend, my friend, yes you are" reinforces the idea that everyone has the capacity to be a friend, and that being a friend is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Now it doesn't matter where you say you been
It doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done because it has no effect on your worth or value to me as a friend.
It doesn't matter what ya done
Whatever you may have done, good or bad, is not relevant to our friendship because it does not define who you are as a person.
'Cause the color that runs through my veins
The color of blood that flows within me is a defining attribute of all humans, and it unites us despite our differences in skin color, race, or ethnicity.
Is the same color as everyone
We may look different on the outside, but we all share the same core biology and should be treated with equal respect and dignity.
I know that you may have had a hard time
I understand that life may not have been fair to you, and you've gone through tough times, but I'm here to support and stand by you.
And you may thought of giving in
I realize that you may have struggled with thoughts of hopelessness or giving up, and I'm here to remind you that there's always a reason to keep going.
Yeah my neighbor, yeah my brother
I consider you my neighbor, my fellow human being, my brother with whom I share a common bond and purpose.
My friend
Most importantly, you are my friend, someone I care about and respect, and who I'm willing to stand up for and defend at all times.
Just trying to spread some sunshine
I want to bring some positivity and joy into your life, to be a source of light and hope whenever you feel surrounded by darkness or negativity.
'Cause I got a lot of love for mankind
I believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, and I'm motivated by a deep love and compassion for all people, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.
So why don't you call me sometime
I'm always here for you whenever you need me, whether it's to vent, talk, or just hang out and have some fun.
And I'll be by your side
I promise to stand by your side through thick and thin, to offer my unwavering support and encouragement, and to never judge or abandon you.
No matter where you stand
Regardless of where you are in life, whether you're up or down, successful or struggling, I'll be there for you as a loyal friend and ally.
It's not too much to lend a hand
I believe that we all have a responsibility to help each other out, to be there for one another in times of need, and to show kindness and compassion whenever possible.
You're my neighbor, you're my brother
Above all, I want you to know that you're not alone in this world, that you're part of a larger community of people who care about you and who are rooting for your success and happiness.
You're my friend
And most of all, you're my friend, someone I cherish and value, and who I feel blessed to have in my life. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you, my friend.
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.