Product Code Database
Mary Mary is an American urban contemporary gospel duo formed in 1998, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell. Their name is inspired by two biblical figures: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. They are credited with expanding the reach of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by blending elements of soul music, hip-hop, funk, and jazz. The duo has been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning four, including Best Gospel Performance and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
Mary Mary received mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Thankful (2000), which featured their breakthrough hit "Shackles (Praise You)". Their follow-up album, Incredible (2002), topped the Billboard charts chart. In 2005, they released their self-titled third album, Mary Mary, which produced multiple number-one gospel hits and led to a performance at the White House that same year.
Their fourth album, The Sound (2008), continued their success with hits like "Get Up" and "God in Me". In 2011, they released their fifth studio album, Something Big, followed by the compilation album Go Get It (2012) before going on hiatus. In 2012, they premiered their reality television series, Mary Mary, on WE tv.
Due to their proximity in age, the two sisters grew up closer to one another than to any of their siblings: Darrell Atkins (born 1965, the only living boy – the second boy died as a child), Maliea Atkins (born 1967), Erica (born 1972), Tina (born 1974), Delisa Atkins-Brown (born 1977), Thomasina Atkins (born 1978), Alana Atkins-Jamison (born 1985), and Shanta Atkins (born 1986). Later, they would work creatively with over half of their siblings; Thomasina, Alana, Delisa and Shanta Atkins all sing background on Mary Mary's albums and during stage performances and Delisa was originally a member of the group but left before they started recording professionally due to pursuing college. Eventually, all eight Atkins children united on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET.
During this time, Erica and Trecina entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and television productions. The sisters enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they encountered the division between rigorous academic study of music versus the popular musical world. "We had to study classical and sing , which was fine," Erica told Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument." In 1995 the two toured with Michael Matthews' traveling gospel shows, Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts, including Brandy Norwood.
The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. They were the first Gospel music 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; enticing gospel, R&B, and Pop music audiences. It ranked Top 5 in R&B, Top 10 for Pop music hit, and peaked at number 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 MTV. Their debut album Thankful was released in May 2000; it peaked at number one on the Gospel Album Chart and climbed to 59 on the overall Top 200 chart. Overall, the album was certified 2× Platinum for shipments of two million copies in the United States, it went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. While the second single "I Sings" features rapper BB Jay, both were hits in the UK and Europe. Their only Top 10 UK hit to date is "Shackles (Praise You)" which reached number five on the UK Singles Chart in June 2000. The follow-up "I Sings" peaked at UK number 32.
In efforts of promoting "Go Get It," Mary Mary announced a Go Get It Tour. The tour was in ten different cities across the United States, beginning in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 25, and ending in Hampton, Virginia, on November 17. Supported acts included: Isaac Carree, VaShawn Mitchell, Anthony and Group Therapy, and Sunday's Best finalist Jessica Reedy and Anita Wilson.
In July 2016, Mary Mary released a new single called "Back to You" from the upcoming Ben-Hur movie soundtrack. In August 2017, Tina released a deluxe edition of her first album, titled It's Still Personal. In 2018 Mary Mary made their reunion as a duo on the 2018 Stellar Awards on TV One, performing a medley of their hits.
In 2018, Erica Campbell and her husband Warryn Campbell announced their upcoming series premiering on TVOne. This announcement came on the heels of Mary Mary ending their WeTv reality show.
In 2022, Mary Mary, accompanied by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LVI and had a tribute to honor Black History Month gospel music by Faith City Music, Tim Bowman Jr. and Kim Burrell. Mary Mary also performed at a special Easter Verzuz, competing against gospel duo BeBe & CeCe Winans.
Erica married their record producer Warryn on May 26, 2001. They have three children: Krista Nicole (born September 13, 2004), Warryn III (born April 24, 2010), and Zaya Monique (born January 24, 2012). The following year, Warryn was ordained as a pastor. In 2015, the couple founded the California Worship Center in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.
|
|
