The Doctor is In! - Inspirations, Part 1

Inspirations, Pt. 1

While I’ve been inspired by the work of countless artists, there are some with whom I’ve had direct contact and who have affected me profoundly. Following is the first part of a list of artists I find inspiring, some with whom I have a personal relationship.


Quincy Jones

Q is possibly the most successful music producer of the 20th century! Best known for producing Michael Jackson’s biggest selling albums, Q has done it all, from being a jazz musician to scoring dozens of films and TV show themes to producing great studio recordings. TAKE 6 has worked with him on numerous occasions. He has a special way of making artists feel comfortable in the recording studio. I am particularly inspired by the way he can spend two hours just shooting the breeze and then record for 30 minutes and get the best performance out of his artists. He also has a gift for recognizing a great song and, consequently, treats good songwriters like gold.


Marcus Miller

… is one of the greatest electric bass players alive and an awe-inspiring jazz composer/arranger. He’s also a wonderful producer who produced TAKE 6’s “A Beautiful World” CD (released in 2002). And like Q, he is great at putting the artist at ease and getting the very best recorded performance. Marcus is also a great storyteller and very affirming. Often, when there is a lull in the studio, or after we haven’t seen each other for a while, he’ll ask me to go to the piano and play one of my arrangements of a hymn or spiritual. Musicians become better musicians as a result of working with Marcus. And that, of course, is the mark of true greatness.


Alvin Chea

He has to be the hardest working bass vocalist in the biz. He’s certainly the best that I know! I admire how Vinnie dreams big and works tirelessly. And he’s great at multitasking. I recently heard him say he does a minimum of two recording sessions for film soundtracks every month. He’s also a published author, an accomplishment to which I aspire. Honestly, I don’t know how he keeps so many balls in the air. It is an honor to sing regularly with such a rare talent, and he inspires me!


JimEd Norman
JimEd is the former head of the country music division of Warner Brothers Records, and the visionary who signed TAKE 6 to our first professional recording contract in 1987. Like Q, JimEd is a “song man.” But what I really admire about him is his sage advice on career matters and life in general. He introduced TAKE 6 to the term “regression to the mean.” It’s another way of describing the art of compromise—a necessary characteristic of bands that get along and stay together.

Cedric Dent is a baritone vocalist in Take 6 and an accomplished producer and music arranger. Dr. Dent is a professor of Music at Middle Tennessee State University. He studied at the University of Michigan (B.M., Vocal Music Education), University of Alabama (M.M., Music Theory/Arranging), and the University of Maryland (Ph.D., Music Theory).

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