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* [http://www.soultracks.com/mary_mary.htm Soultracks.com biographical entry]
* [http://www.soultracks.com/mary_mary.htm Soultracks.com biographical entry]
* [http://www.praise-him.co.uk/ap_marymary.asp Mary Mary Info and Discography]
* [http://www.praise-him.co.uk/ap_marymary.asp Mary Mary Info and Discography]
* [http://www.blackgospel.com/mary-mary-interview-2008/ Interview with Mary Mary (October 2008) on BlackGospel.com]
{{Mary Mary}}
{{Mary Mary}}


Revision as of 11:15, 22 October 2008

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

Mary Mary

Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Monique Atkins (born (1972-04-29)April 29, 1972) [1] and Trecina "Tina" Evette Atkins (born (1975-05-01)May 1, 1975) [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 and funk. With the duo's studio album, The Sound (2008), pop rock elements have also been added to their style.

Biography

Early years

Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell were born in Inglewood, California. 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).

The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All nine 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.

Personal life

Due to their proximity in age, the two singers grew up closer to one another than to any of their seven siblings [1]. The Atkins children are Darrel (1965)(the only boy; the 2nd boy died in childhood); Maliea (1967); Erica and Tina; Delisa (1978); Thomasina (1979); Alana (1985) and Shanta(1987)[1]. Thomasina and Alana sometimes sing back up for their big sisters [1].

By 2005, both sisters had married to unrelated men with the last name Campbell. Teddy is from Chicago Warryn is from Los Angeles [2]. Tina married drummer Teddy Campbell from Chicago in August 2000. Their daughter Laiah Simone Campbell was born sixteen days early on Tuesday, September 9, 2003, weighing 5lbs 4oz[3]. Tina/Teddy welcomed their second child, Meela Jane on June 11, 2007[4][5]. Erica married their record producer Warryn Campbell on May 26, 2001[6]. They have a daughter named Krista Nicole Campbell (13 Sept 04).

Musical 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 the soundtracks. They wrote "Dance" and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle; theyperformed "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt Inspirational (one of three soundtrack albums for the film); and songs of theirs 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 the Mountain High... Valley Low CD. At the same time, Mary Mary as a musical entity took shape.

Album releases

Main Article: Thankful
File:Marymaryisings.jpg
Mary Mary on their second single "I Sings" (2000) from the album Thankful. Mary Mary collaborated with rapper BB Jay for this song.

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 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and peaked at #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 first album,Thankful was released in May 2000. It went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The second single "I Sings" peaked at #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, Thankful was certified Platinum for sales of 1 million copies in the USA. 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.

Main Article: Incredible

With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. Soon after its July 2002 release it was #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.

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 #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 #10. On the R&B/Hip Hop chart, the song became their second biggest hit since "Shackles" in 2000, reaching the #53 spot so far. The album's final single, "Believer" indicated testimonies of being a Christian. The song hit #33 on the Gospel Radio chart.

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

New recordings

On October 21, 2008, the recording group will release their fourth studio album of new music entitled The Sound [7][8]. A lead single "Get Up" was released digitally via iTunes on July 15, 2008.

Discography

Albums

Statistics Notable Singles
Thankful
  • Released: May 2, 2000
  • Chart Positions: #59 (US), #22 (US R&B).
  • Platinum
Incredible
  • Released: July 16, 2002
  • Chart Positions: #20 (US), #10 (US R&B).
  • Gold
  • "In The Morning"
  • "I Try"
  • "Thank You"
Mary Mary
  • Released: July 19, 2005
  • Chart Positions: #8 (US), #4 (US R&B).
  • Gold
  • "Heaven"
  • "The Real Party"
  • "Yesterday"
  • "Believer"
A Mary Mary Christmas
  • Released: October 10, 2006
  • Chart Positions: #148 (US), #33 (US R&B).
  • "Carol Of The Bells"
  • "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
The Sound
  • Released: October 21, 2008
  • Chart Positions:TBD
  • "Get Up"
  • "The Sound"

Singles

Year Singles Chart Positions Album
U.S. Gospel U.S. R&B
2000 "Shackles (Praise You)" 1 9 Thankful
2001 "I Sings" - 68
"Can't Give Up Now" 2 -
"Wade In The Water" 16 -
2002 "In The Morning" 1 54 Incredible
"Thank You" 55 -
"I Try" - -
2003 "Dance, Dance, Dance 1 - Gotta Have Gospel Vol.3
"Won't Ever Change" 95 - The Fighting Temptations Soundtrack
2005 "Heaven" 1 74 Mary Mary
"The Real Party" 43 -
2006 "Yesterday" 1 50
"Believer" 33 -
"Carol of the Bells" - - A Mary Mary Christmas
2008 "Get Up" 6 35 The Sound

Other Releases

Statistics
Mary Mary (Special Edition)
  • Released:
  • Contains: Thankful, Incredible, and Mary Mary
  • Chart Positions:
  • Europe Release Only

Videography

Music Videos

T.V. and Film Appearances

Awards

  • American Music Awards
    • 2005, Best Inspirational/Christan Contemporary Artist (Winner)
    • 2001, Favorite R&B/Soul or Hip-Hop New Artist, (Nominated)
  • BET Awards
    • 2007, Best Group (Nominated)
    • 2007, Best Gospel Artist (Nominated)
    • 2006, Best Gospel Artist (Nominated)
    • 2006, Best Group (Nominated)
    • 2003, Best Group (Nominated)
    • 2001, Best Gospel Artist (Nominated)
    • 2001, Best Female Group (Nominated)
  • Lady of Soul Awards
    • 2003, Best Gospel Album: Incredible (Nominated)
    • 2001, Best Gospel Album: Thankful (Winner)
    • 2001, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Duo or Group: "Shackles (Praise You)" (Winner)
    • 2001, Best R&B/Soul Single Duo or Group: "Shackles (Praise You)" (Nominated)
  • Grammy for Best Contemporary Gospel Album, for Thankful (2000)
  • Dove Award:
    • 2001: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Shackles (Praise You))
    • 2001: Urban Album of the Year (Thankful)
    • 2002: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Thank You, from Kingdom Come, the Soundtrack with Kirk Franklin)
    • 2003: Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (In the Morning from Incredible)
    • 2004: Urban Recorded Song of the Year (Dance, Dance, Dance from Gotta Have Gospel)
  • Stellar Awards
    • 2001: New Artist of the Year (Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2001: Artist Of The Year (Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2001: Group/Duo Of The Year (Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2001: Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year (Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2001: Contemporary CD of the Year (Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2001: Music Video of the Year (Shackles (Praise You)),(Mary Mary; Thankful; Columbia)
    • 2004: Artist of the Year (Mary Mary; Incredible; Integrity Gospel / Columbia)
    • 2004: Group Duo of the Year (Mary Mary; Incredible; Integrity Gospel / Columbia)
    • 2004: Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year (Mary Mary; Incredible; Integrity Gospel / Columbia) (Winner)
    • 2004: Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year (Mary Mary; Incredible; Incredible; Integrity Gospel / Columbia)
    • 2006: Artist Of The Year (Mary Mary; Mary Mary; Sony Urban Music / Columbia )
    • 2006: Song of the Year (Songwriter; Song; Label)(Warryn Campbell; Erica Campbell; Trecina Campbell; Joi Campbell ; "Heaven"; Sony Urban Music/ Columbia)
    • 2006: CD Of The Year (Mary Mary; Mary Mary; Sony Urban Music / Columbia )
    • 2006: Group Duo of the Year (Mary Mary; Mary Mary; Sony Urban Music / Columbia )
    • 2006: Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year Mary Mary ; "Heaven"; Sony Urban Music/ Columbia (Winner)


References

  1. ^ a b c d e biography
  2. ^ Tavis Smiley . Archives . Monday, August 1, 2005 |PBS
  3. ^ http://www.christianmusicplanet.com/magazine/viewarticle.asp?id=156
  4. ^ EURweb.com
  5. ^ EURweb.com - Black Entertainment
  6. ^ Erica Atkins (Mary Mary) and Warryn Campbell Wedding
  7. ^ Yarbrough, Kenya M. (May 9, 2008). "MARY MARY MOTHER'S DAY GIFT SONG: Gospel duo helps Colgate-Palmolive send smiles".
  8. ^ Official Mary Mary Website

See also

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