|
contents | blues | |||||||||||||
| "BassLines" "BassLines" is an intimate look at life on and off the road from Alvin Chea, the bass singer in Take 6 and a 20-year veteran of the music industry. "When Take 6 decided to build a website, we needed content. I decided to share my behind-the scenes view from the road with our fans." Chea explains the inception. He noticed the times he would slip in personal anecdotes, the fans responded almost immediately. "Writing turned out to be cathartic as well, when in the span of a year and a half, I lost my mother to cancer, my wife, kids, and home in divorce." "BassLines" also hits high notes. Chea takes readers on a fantastic voyage back to the Seventies and his boyhood experiences that shaped who he is now. Other themes include fatherhood, humorous international escapades, the thrills of meeting and performing with music icons and meeting past presidents including the then current President of the United States, Bill Clinton. One touching moment as a newly single dad is chronicled in the chapter entitled, "Daddy You're a Superhero:" "So now here is Braxton sitting up in the bed wide-eyed and waiting for my yea or nay. I slowly turned back around and said, "Go pick out a book and Daddy will read it to you." Her big eyes danced and she climbed down out of her bunk. She quickly grabbed a couple of books then plopped into my lap in a big rocking chair. I opened the book and read to her about Curious George. George had gotten himself into a magic adventure and immediately we were swept away. She sank her head back into my chest and enjoyed the journey. I ended the story and closed the book. Her beaming smile and wiggling toes told me she really enjoyed it. I whispered, "Braxton...do you know how to make magic? You have to take your hands and do this..." I showed her how to fix her hands like she was casting spells then whispered some magic words in her ear. Braxton smiled, then crawled out of my lap and went to her toy chest while I was still talking. I saw her digging through her toy box to look for clothes so I assumed she wanted to play dress-up. Finally, she pulled out this shiny burgundy cape, draped it around my shoulders and hopped back into my lap. . . . Thankfully, the road trip isn't over, with a staggering eighteen Grammy-Award nominations, Take 6 is the most nominated Gospel, Jazz, Pop or R&B artists in Grammy history. Yet along with their 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations already on their mantel, Take 6 is set to log a lot more miles. Take 6 is currently touring to support their latest album, 'Feels Good', released in 2006 by Take 6 records. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |