Mary Mary
Encyclopedia
Mary Mary is an American gospel music
duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972) and Tina Atkins-Campbell (born May 01, 1974). 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.
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 Grammy
s, among other awards.
. 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. 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.
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 aria
s, 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
.
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
.
/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.
, 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.
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.
.
. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. Second daughter Meela Jane was born on June 11, 2007. On October 20, 2009 their son Ted Jr was born.
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. On Tuesday July 19, 2011 Erica announced on Good Morning America that she is pregnant with their third child.
In April 2010, the sisters released the book, Be U via Simon & Schuster
.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972) and Tina Atkins-Campbell (born May 01, 1974). The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dwayne Franklin is an American Gospel music musician, choir director, and author, and is most notably known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew .- Early years :...
for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Mary Mary broke onto the music scene with their popular song "Shackles (Praise You)
Shackles (Praise You)
"Shackles " is the debut single by singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary. It was first released in 2000 and has since been dubbed the signature Mary Mary song as it ultimately raised the profile of the duo in the gospel music industry...
"—which is considered one of the pioneering songs of urban contemporary gospel music.
Their debut album Thankful
Thankful (Mary Mary album)
Thankful is Mary Mary's first album. This project contains the smash crossover hit "Shackles " , as well as the single "I Sings", which was also a significant hit - although it did not match the success of its predecessor...
(2000) was certified Platinum. The duo has released three Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
albums: Incredible
Incredible (Mary Mary album)
Incredible is the second album by Grammy, Stellar and Dove-winning duo Mary Mary. This album features the singles In the Morning and I Try. Mary Mary would ultimately shoot a music video for In The Morning...
(2002), and Mary Mary
Mary Mary (album)
Mary Mary is the third album by the recording group Mary Mary.- Track listing :# "Believer"# "Biggest, Greatest Thing"# "Heaven" # "The Real Party "# "Save Me"# "Yesterday"# "What Is This"...
(2005), which all charted No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums. They have also received three Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, among other awards.
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, CaliforniaInglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
. Their parents are Thomasina, an evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
, 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. 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.
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
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
.
The sisters had their sights set on making music a career and enrolled at El Camino College
El Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
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 aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
s, 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
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
.
Music career
A meeting with producer Warryn CampbellWarryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell is an American record producer. He specializes in gospel music and R&B.-Career:His work includes production and songwriting credits for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Dayna Caddell, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard,...
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.
Robin S.
Robin S. is an American singer-songwriter, who scored success in the 1990s with such hit singles as "Show Me Love" and "Luv 4 Luv". She has had three number ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.-Career:Robin S...
for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle
Dr. Dolittle (film)
Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a doctor who discovers that he has the ability to talk to animals...
; they performed "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt is a 1998 American animated musical drama film and the first traditionally animated film produced and released by DreamWorks Animation. The film is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the...
. Several of their songs were recorded by 702
702 (band)
702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams...
. The sisters' profile in the gospel industry was raised when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
on Mountain High... Valley Low
Mountain High... Valley Low
Mountain High... Valley Low is an album by gospel singer Yolanda Adams released by Elektra Records. Several singles were released from Mountain High. The set lead with the Warryn Campbell-produced "Yeah", which was co-written by gospel duo Mary Mary who springboarded from the song to gain their own...
. 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
BeBe & CeCe Winans
BeBe & CeCe Winans are an American Gospel music brother and sister duo. BeBe and CeCe Winans are the seventh and eighth of "Mom" and "Pop" Winans' ten children, most of whom have had successful Gospel music careers.-Musical career:...
featuring the West Angeles Choir performed on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.
Thankful (2000)
The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
/C2 Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
. They were first gospel act to record for the industry giant Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
since Tramaine Hawkins in the mid-1990s. Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)
Shackles (Praise You)
"Shackles " is the debut single by singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary. It was first released in 2000 and has since been dubbed the signature Mary Mary song as it ultimately raised the profile of the duo in the gospel music industry...
" 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
Thankful (Mary Mary album)
Thankful is Mary Mary's first album. This project contains the smash crossover hit "Shackles " , as well as the single "I Sings", which was also a significant hit - although it did not match the success of its predecessor...
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
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
for shipments of one million copies in the USA. It went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album has been awarded since 1991. An similar award, the Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary, was awarded from 1978 to 1983...
. The second single "I Sings
I Sings
"I Sings" is the second single by gospel duo Mary Mary. Gospel rapper BB Jay is the featured rapper in this song. This single was lifted directly from Mary Mary's debut album, Thankful.-Track listing:# Radio edit # Darkchild Remix...
" features rapper BB Jay
BB Jay
Jarvis Edward Cooper is an American hip hop rap artist professionally known as BB Jay from Brooklyn, NY famously noted for his vocal similarity to late hip-hop legend The Notorious B.I.G....
. Both singles were also hits in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in June 2000. The follow-up "I Sings
I Sings
"I Sings" is the second single by gospel duo Mary Mary. Gospel rapper BB Jay is the featured rapper in this song. This single was lifted directly from Mary Mary's debut album, Thankful.-Track listing:# Radio edit # Darkchild Remix...
" peaked at UK No. 32.
Incredible (2002)
With their second album IncredibleIncredible (Mary Mary album)
Incredible is the second album by Grammy, Stellar and Dove-winning duo Mary Mary. This album features the singles In the Morning and I Try. Mary Mary would ultimately shoot a music video for In The Morning...
, 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)
After taking time off to have children, Mary Mary released their third album Mary MaryMary Mary (album)
Mary Mary is the third album by the recording group Mary Mary.- Track listing :# "Believer"# "Biggest, Greatest Thing"# "Heaven" # "The Real Party "# "Save Me"# "Yesterday"# "What Is This"...
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
Honey Cone
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul all girl vocal group, who are best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, "Want Ads". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.-Career:Honey Cone comprised...
's "Want Ads
Want Ads
"Want Ads" was a R&B/Soul/Funk song recorded by Honey Cone for their third album Sweet Replies and also appears on their fourth album Soulful Tapestry...
". 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
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. 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 ChristmasA Mary Mary Christmas
A Mary Mary Christmas is the fourth album by Mary Mary. This project is inspired by Christmas carols as well as some original songs.- Track listing :# "'Tis the Season"# "Only One"# "Merry Little Christmas"...
.
The Sound (2008)
On October 21, 2008, the recording group released their fourth studio album of new music entitled The SoundThe Sound (Mary Mary album)
The Sound is the fifth studio album by R&B/gospel duo Mary Mary. It was released on October 21, 2008 in the U.S.. In the UK, The Sounds release had been delayed to September, then it had since been delayed again till October...
. The lead single "Get Up
Get Up (Mary Mary song)
"Get Up" is the lead single for Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The song is known as "the movement anthem"...
" 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
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, 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. Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell is an American record producer. He specializes in gospel music and R&B.-Career:His work includes production and songwriting credits for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Dayna Caddell, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard,...
again returned to produce the album and saw collaborations with Kierra Sheard
Kierra Sheard
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard is an American gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.-Early life:Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in the suburb of West Bloomfield, Sheard spent her formative years...
, David Banner
David Banner
Lavell Crump , better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000...
, Marvin Winans
Marvin Winans
Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
, Daryl Coley
Daryl Coley
-Early life:Daryl Coley was born in Berkeley, California in 1955, spending his formative years in Oakland, California. His parents separated when he was five years old, with he and his two siblings being raised by his mother in a solid Christian home. Musically, Coley was first influenced by his...
, Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
, Rance Allen, Dorinda Clark Cole
Dorinda Clark Cole
Dorinda Clark-Cole is a two-time Grammy Award winning American evangelist and gospel singer. She is best known as a member of The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark.-Early life:...
, Joe Ligon, Walter Hawkins
Walter Hawkins
Walter Hawkins was an American gospel music singer, and a pastor. Hawkins was consecrated to the bishopic in 1992. He died at his home in Ripon, California, from pancreatic cancer....
, Tramaine Hawkins, and Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark-Sheard is an American gospel four-time Grammy Award winning singer, musician, and songwriter. The youngest daughter of pioneering gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark, Sheard began her career as a member of the Grammy-Award winning, gospel legendary female group, The Clark Sisters...
. 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
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, and No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
.
The duo was nominated twice at the 52nd Grammy Awards
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
in the Best Gospel Song category for "Every Prayer" with Israel Houghton
Israel Houghton
-Other recordings :* "Champions for Christ" - Hi5 * "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions * "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & A Prayer...
and for God in Me
God In Me
"God in Me" is the second single released for Grammy Award-winning contemporary gospel group Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound, and featured Kierra Sheard. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell...
. They won the award for the latter song. After the awards, they were invited to participate in the remake of We Are The World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
to benefit Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
after the earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. 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)Something Big (album)
Something Big is the sixth studio album by R&B/Gospel duo Mary Mary and was released on March 29, 2011. The album was primarily written by Mary Mary and produced by Warryn Campbell, Jazz Nixon, Gerald Haddon and LaMar "Mars" Edwards for Myblock Records....
after R&B singer Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
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. 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
- 2000: ThankfulThankful (Mary Mary album)Thankful is Mary Mary's first album. This project contains the smash crossover hit "Shackles " , as well as the single "I Sings", which was also a significant hit - although it did not match the success of its predecessor...
- 2002: IncredibleIncredible (Mary Mary album)Incredible is the second album by Grammy, Stellar and Dove-winning duo Mary Mary. This album features the singles In the Morning and I Try. Mary Mary would ultimately shoot a music video for In The Morning...
- 2005: Mary MaryMary Mary (album)Mary Mary is the third album by the recording group Mary Mary.- Track listing :# "Believer"# "Biggest, Greatest Thing"# "Heaven" # "The Real Party "# "Save Me"# "Yesterday"# "What Is This"...
- 2006: A Mary Mary ChristmasA Mary Mary ChristmasA Mary Mary Christmas is the fourth album by Mary Mary. This project is inspired by Christmas carols as well as some original songs.- Track listing :# "'Tis the Season"# "Only One"# "Merry Little Christmas"...
- 2008: The SoundThe Sound (Mary Mary album)The Sound is the fifth studio album by R&B/gospel duo Mary Mary. It was released on October 21, 2008 in the U.S.. In the UK, The Sounds release had been delayed to September, then it had since been delayed again till October...
- 2011: Something BigSomething Big (album)Something Big is the sixth studio album by R&B/Gospel duo Mary Mary and was released on March 29, 2011. The album was primarily written by Mary Mary and produced by Warryn Campbell, Jazz Nixon, Gerald Haddon and LaMar "Mars" Edwards for Myblock Records....
Personal life
Both sisters are married to unrelated men with the last name Campbell.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. Second daughter Meela Jane was born on June 11, 2007. On October 20, 2009 their son Ted Jr was born.
Erica married their record producer Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell is an American record producer. He specializes in gospel music and R&B.-Career:His work includes production and songwriting credits for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Dayna Caddell, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard,...
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. On Tuesday July 19, 2011 Erica announced on Good Morning America that she is pregnant with their third child.
Literature
In November 2003, the sisters released their biography Transparent.In April 2010, the sisters released the book, Be U via Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
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External links
- Mary-Mary.com - Official Website
- MaryMary Official Twitter
- Official Myspace