During its 37th annual American Eagle Awards on July 15, the National Music Council will honor a cappella group Take 6 and pay tribute to music educators across America for their extraordinary service during the pandemic. The ceremony will take place at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Tenn. The honors are presented each year in recognition of those who have made long-term contributions to American musical culture, to showcase the ideal of music education for all children, and to support the protection of creators’ rights both locally and internationally.
Heralded by Quincy Jones and boasting 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award and more, Take 6 (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley) continues to bring extraordinary vocal performances to its worldwide audiences. Take 6 has adeptly crossed almost every musical genre, from straight-ahead jazz to pop, R&B, doo-wop and blues.
The Council likewise takes great pride in collectively extending the coveted American Eagle Award to the nation’s music educators for their heroic efforts to “keep the music playing” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We wanted to do something special for the music teachers and administrators who have worked tirelessly in our schools and private studios across the nation for our children under the most challenging of circumstances over the past year,” said NMC director Dr. David Sanders. “We want to let music teachers know that their efforts really do make an enormous, positive difference in the lives of students, especially in times of a crisis.” A representative music educator from each state will participate virtually in the ceremonies.
In 2020-21, the National Music Council brought diverse artists from across the country to produce a series of video messages thanking music educators and administrators for their continuing perseverance during these challenging times. Many of America’s greatest artists and songwriters participated, including Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Paul Shaffer, Rosanne Cash, John Rich (Big & Rich), Jim Lauderdale, Steve Winwood, Nile Rodgers (Chic), Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Take 6 and the late Chick Corea, along with Country Music Television’s “Next Women of Country” Class of 2021 group Chapel Hart and up and coming singer-songwriter Paige King Johnson. They join the organization in congratulating music teachers at this year’s American Eagle Awards.
For more information about the upcoming awards ceremony, visit www.musiccouncil.org.
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