Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Monique Campbell (born April 29, 1972(1972-04-29)) [1] and Trecina "Tina" Evette Campbell (born May 1, 1975(1975-05-01)) [1], and are often credited for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music and hip hop. 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. 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; "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 Yolanda Adams and 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. debut album 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 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 (Mary Mary Album) in May 2000, which would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, and a second single, "I Sings". Peaking 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. incredible With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. The record, soon after its release, went to #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 In The Morning and I Try became relatively large hits within the contemporary gospel nation. mary After taking time off to have children, Mary Mary released their third album Mary Mary. 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" containing 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, "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. personal life Because of 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 men with the last name Campbell; One (Teddy) is from Chicago and the other (Warryn) from Los Angeles. [2][3] Tina married drummer Teddy Campbell in August 2000. Their daughter Laiah Simone Campbell was born sixteen days early on Tuesday, September 9, 2003, weighing 5 lbs. 4 oz.[4] Teddy & Tina welcomed their second child, Meela Jane on June 11, 2007. Meela joins sister, Laiah (3) [5][6] Erica married their record producer Warryn Campbell on May 26, 2001.[7] They have a daughter named Krista Nicole Campbell(born September 13, 2004). March 7, 2007, Vibe's Clay Cane [[8]] noted the duo's "large gay following" and asked their thoughts on the issue. Erica responded, "We are aware. Um... how do I feel about homosexuality? I feel how God feels about it, um… but I still love them. You know what I mean? I don't agree with the lifestyle, but I love them. They can come to the concert; I'm going to hug them just like I hug everybody else. They have issues and need somebody to encourage them like everybody else - just like the murderer, just like the one full of pride, just like the prostitute, everybody needs God. What your struggle is may not be what my struggle is, but we all need Him. So, that's what our music is about: giving and God. Not to condone the lifestyle or to say, Oh it's okay, but not to bash - but just to give them God. I mean, I'm appreciative of all of our supporters and fans. Hopefully what their hearing and saying in our music is my love for God." Sister Tina offered, "You know, I think the fact that our music is very, very upbeat and works well in clubs - you know, I think that's something that makes more people gravitate to it. Like Erica said, we don't necessarily agree with the lifestyle, but we don't pride ourselves on bashing. Everyone has things in their life that they need to correct, everybody has struggles. Even though that's the way we feel, we don't bash, and we embrace everybody who enjoys our music. Hopefully our music is impacting them in a way that, if they see there's some things in their life that's not quite right and doesn't align themselves with what the Bible says - hopefully our music impacts them in a way that makes them want to change it."
