Mary Mary

This article is about the musical duo. For other uses, see Mary Mary (disambiguation).

Mary Mary
Mary Mary performing at the White House in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Trecina "Tina" Evette Atkins & Erica Monique Atkins
Also known as	The Campbell Sisters
Origin	Inglewood, California, United States
Genres	Contemporary Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz
Occupations	Singers, songwriters
Instruments	Voice
Years active	1998–present
Labels	C2, Columbia
Associated acts	Warryn Campbell, Kierra Sheard, Kirk Franklin
Website	Mary-Mary.com
Members
Erica Atkins Campbell Trecina "Tina" Atkins Campbell

Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972(1972-04-29))^[1] and Tina Atkins-Campbell (born May 1, 1974(1974-05-01)).^[1] The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz. Mary Mary broke onto the music scene with their popular song "Shackles (Praise You)"—which is considered one of the pioneering songs of urban contemporary gospel music.^[2]

Their debut album Thankful (2000) was certified Platinum. The duo has released three Gold albums: Incredible (2002), and Mary Mary (2005), which all charted No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums. They have also received three Grammys, among other awards.

Biography

Early years

The sisters were born Erica Atkins and Trecina Atkins. The Campbell (formerly Atkins) sisters grew up as part of a large family of nine children in Inglewood, California. Their parents are Thomasina, an evangelist and choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ, and Eddie, a youth minister.

Due to their proximity in age, the two sisters grew up closer to one another than to any of their seven siblings.^[1] The Atkins children are: Darrel (born 1965) (the only living boy; the second boy having died as a child); Maliea (born 1967); Erica and Tina; Delisa (born 1978); Thomasina (born 1979); Alana (born 1985) and Shanta (born 1986). Thomasina and Alana sometimes sing back up for their big sisters.^[1]

The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All eight Atkins children were on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET.

The sisters had their sights set on making music a career and enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they ran up against the divide between academic music studies and the popular musical world. "We had to study classical and sing arias, which was fine," Erica told the Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument".

The sisters toured with the 1995 Michael Matthews traveling gospel show Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts including Brandy.

Music career

A meeting with producer Warryn Campbell led to their song publishing deal with the giant EMI music conglomerate and a series of songs that landed on movie soundtracks. They wrote "Dance" and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle; they performed "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt. Several of their songs were recorded by 702. The sisters' profile in the gospel industry was raised when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams on Mountain High... Valley Low. At the same time, Mary Mary as a musical entity took shape. They have won multiple awards, including three Grammys. On December 23, 2010, Mary Mary along with Bebe & Cece Winans featuring the West Angeles Choir performed on The Tonight Show.^[3]

Thankful (2000)

Main article: Thankful

The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records/C2 Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. They were first gospel act to record for the industry giant Columbia Records since Tramaine Hawkins in the mid-1990s. Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)" became a crossover hit, being popular with gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It was a Top 5 R&B and Top 10 pop hit, and peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became the first gospel song in five years to crack the R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on the MTV video cable channel. The album was a huge success because it offered a younger, hipper version of gospel that audiences could relate to. Their debut album, Thankful was released in May 2000. It peaked at No. 1 on the Gospel album chart and at No. 59 of the overall Top 200 chart, and was certified Platinum for shipments of one million copies in the USA. It went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The second single "I Sings" features rapper BB Jay. Both singles were also hits in the UK and Europe, and to this day remain popular with Christian youths in the US, Latin America, and Europe. Their only Top 10 UK hit to date is "Shackles (Praise You)", which reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in June 2000. The follow-up "I Sings" peaked at UK No. 32.^[4]

Incredible (2002)

Main article: Incredible

With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. Soon after its July 2002 release it was No. 1 on the Gospel chart and was able to enter the Top 20 of the Top 200 album chart. Incredible was later on certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. The album's singles were In The Morning and I Try. While this album charted higher than their debut, sales were lower. The duo attributed the lower sales to less aggressive promotion due to label switchovers and the advent of music piracy.

Mary Mary (2005)

Main article: Mary Mary

After taking time off to have children, Mary Mary released their third album Mary Mary in July 2005. It became the duo's first album to enter the Top 10 on Billboard and was later on certified Gold for sales of 500,000 copies. The first single "Heaven" contained a sample from seventies soul trio the Honey Cone's "Want Ads". Heaven made history and broke chart records as it had an unprecedented 9 week run as the #1 record on Billboard's Gospel Radio chart. The second single, "The Real Party" debuted at No. 43 on the Gospel Radio Chart. The third single, "Yesterday", also became a hit, especially on the Adult R&B charts where it peaked at No. 10. On the R&B/Hip Hop chart, the song became their second biggest hit since "Shackles" in 2000, reaching the No. 50. The album's final single, "Believer" indicated testimonies of being a Christian. The song hit No. 33 on the Gospel Radio chart.

A Mary Mary Christmas (2006)

On October 10, 2006, the duo released a Christmas album called A Mary Mary Christmas.

The Sound (2008)

On October 21, 2008, the recording group released their fourth studio album of new music entitled The Sound.^[5][6] The lead single "Get Up" was released digitally via iTunes on July 15, 2008. The Sound saw Mary Mary achieve even greater success in the mainstream market; the album sold over 37,000 copies in its first week, and was their best charting album to date, debuting No. 7 on the Billboard 200, No. 2 on the US R&B chart, and topping the gospel and CCM charts. The album held the No. 1 position on the Billboard Gospel Album chart for over six months since its release.^[7] Warryn Campbell again returned to produce the album and saw collaborations with Kierra Sheard, David Banner, Marvin Winans, Daryl Coley, Andrae Crouch, Rance Allen, Dorinda Clark Cole, Joe Ligon, Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, and Karen Clark Sheard. In Spring 2009 "God In Me" began achieving crossover success (as Shackles had nine years earlier), reaching No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play.

The duo was nominated twice at the 52nd Grammy Awards in the Best Gospel Song category for "Every Prayer" with Israel Houghton and for God in Me. They won the award for the latter song. After the awards, they were invited to participate in the remake of We Are The World to benefit Haiti after the earthquake. The album also won Mary Mary four Stellar Awards on January 16, 2010.

Something Big (2011)

In 2009, Mary Mary commenced recording their sixth studio album. Originally titled OMG, the project was renamed Something Big (album) after R&B singer Usher had a hit single, "OMG" in 2010. The album was released on March 29, 2011. The duo released the lead single, "Walking," in the fall of 2010. A video was shot in January 2011 in Santa Ana, CA.^[8] Mary Mary debuted the title track "Something Big" on the BET Celebration of Gospel 2011, while "Something Bigger" served as a B-side to "Walking". The next single from the album is "Survive." The video debuted on July 27, 2011.

Discography

Main article: Mary Mary discography

• 2000: Thankful
• 2002: Incredible
• 2005: Mary Mary
• 2006: A Mary Mary Christmas
• 2008: The Sound
• 2011: Something Big

Music videos

See Mary Mary videography

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Mary Mary

Personal life

Both sisters are married to unrelated men with the last name Campbell.^[9]

Tina is married to Teddy (who has a daughter Cierra (b 1994) from a previous relationship—that lives in Chicago with birth mom and visits her father every summer). Their daughter Laiah Simone Campbell was born on Tuesday, September 9, 2003.^[10] Second daughter Meela Jane was born on June 11, 2007.^[11][12] On October 20, 2009 their son Ted Jr was born.^[13][14]

Erica married their record producer Warryn Campbell on May 26, 2001. On September, 13 2004, Erica gave birth to their first child, Krista Nicole Campbell. On April 24, 2010, she gave birth to the couple's second child, Warryn Campbell III.^[15] On Tuesday July 19, 2011 Erica announced on Good Morning America that she is pregnant with their third child.^[16]

Literature

In November 2003, the sisters released their biography Transparent.^[17]

In April 2010, the sisters released the book, Be U via Simon & Schuster.^[18]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} biography AMry Mary fansite bio^{[dead link]}
2. ^ http://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/marymary.html
3. ^ Cece Winans and Bebe Winans on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 353. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
5. ^ Yarbrough, Kenya M. (May 9, 2008). "MARY MARY MOTHER'S DAY GIFT SONG: Gospel duo helps Colgate-Palmolive send smiles.". http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur43365.cfm. 
6. ^ Official Mary Mary Website
7. ^ America's #1 Gospel Group Mary Mary Invited to Open Final Three Shows on Maxwell's North... (August 2, 2009). Columbia Records/Forbes. Accessed 2009-08-08.
8. ^ http://www.facebook.com/MaryMary/posts/174353945934286
9. ^ Tavis Smiley. Archives. Monday, August 1, 2005 |PBS
10. ^ http://www.christianmusicplanet.com/magazine/viewarticle.asp?id=156 Laiah Simone Campbell was born sixteen days early on Tuesday, September 9, 2003, weighing 5 lbs 4oz
11. ^ EURweb.com
12. ^ EURweb.com
13. ^ http://www.bvbuzz.com/2009/10/20/mary-mary-one-birth-one-pregnant Tina gives brth to son TJ
14. ^ http://www.gospelpundit.com/2009/10/21/word-has-it-now-the-other-mary-is-pregnant Tina Gives Birth, Erica Is Pregnant
15. ^ http://www.bvbuzz.com/2010/04/29/marymary-singer-has-a-boy/ Erica of Mary Mary Has Son
16. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/erica-tina-campbell-grammy-winning-sisters-14104861
17. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Tina-Campell/dp/1566251923/ref=pd_sim_b_3 "Transparent: Between the fire and the rain is the truth" by Mary Mary
18. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Be-Honest-Beautiful-Intentional-Strong/dp/B004AYCXAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302030782&sr=1-1 Be U: Be Honest, Be Beautiful, Be Intentional, Be Strong, Be You!

External links

• Mary-Mary.com - Official Website
• MaryMary Official Twitter
• Official Myspace