Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American urban contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972) and Trecina Atkins-Campbell (born May 1, 1974).[1] Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single "Shackles (Praise You)". Their followup album Incredible (2002), reached number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Their self-titled third album, Mary Mary (2005), which contains themes the public interpreted as a channel to the group's experience,. That album also contains the worldwide hits "Heaven", "The Real Party", and "Yesterday".
This article is about the musical duo. For other uses, see Mary Mary (disambiguation).
Mary Mary
Their fourth album The Sound (2008) spawned the number-one singles "Get Up" and "God in Me". In 2011, they released their fifth studio album "Something Big" and followed up with a compilation album "Go Get It" in 2012 before going on hiatus. In March 2012, they premiered their own television series, Mary Mary, on WE tv.
Mary Mary has sold more than eight million records worldwide to date. The duo have been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning four times including once Best Gospel Performance and for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The duo are often credited for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz.[2] The group's name is inspired by two famous Marys from the Bible: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene.[3] They also performed at the White House in 2005.
Early years[edit]
The Atkins sisters, born Erica Monique and Trecina Evette, grew up in a large family with seven siblings in Inglewood, California.[4] Their mother, Thomasina Atkins, is an evangelist and choir director at the Church of God in Christ. Their father, Eddie A. Atkins, was also a member of the Church of God in Christ, and a youth counselor, before he died in 2013.
Due to their proximity in age, the two sisters grew up closer to one another than to any of their siblings:[1] 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.[1] 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 arias, which was fine," Erica told Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument."[5] 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.
Personal lives[edit]
Both sisters are married to musicians with the same last name: Warryn Campbell and Teddy Campbell. [18]Tina married Teddy in 2000. Together, they have four children: Laiah Simone (born September 9, 2003),[19] daughter Meela Jane (born June 11, 2007),[20][21] son Glendon Theodore II (born October 20, 2009),[22][23] and son Santana (born August 4, 2012).[24]
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),[25] and Zaya Monique (born January 24, 2012).[26][27] The following year, Warryn was ordained as a pastor. In 2015, the couple founded the California Worship Center in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[28][29]