Erica Monique Campbell (née,Atkins; born April 29, 1972) is an AmericanGospel singer and songwriter. Specializing in theurban contemporary gospel,Christian R&B, andcontemporary R&B genres, she started her music career in the late 1990s with her younger sister,Tina Campbell, as part of the groupMary Mary.
Erica Campbell | |
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 Campbell in October 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Erica Monique Atkins |
| Also known as | Erica Atkins-Campbell |
| Born | (1972-04-29)April 29, 1972 (age 52) Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | MyBlock Inc, under exclusive license to SRG-ILS Group, distributed byUniversal Music Group |
| Member of | |
| Spouse | |
Her debut solo albumHelp (2014), reached the top ten on theBillboard 200 chart, and won theGrammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the57th Grammy Awards. The album's reissue,Help 2.0. (2015), included thegospel trap single "I Luh God", which reached number one on thegospel chart. She released her second albumI Love You in 2023.
In addition to her music career, Campbell appeared in the 1993 filmSister Act 2: Back in the Habit. She also made an appearance in the filmThe Fighting Temptations (2003). Since May 2016, she has been the host ofGet Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell with comedian Griff, currently distributed by Reach Media, the syndication arm ofUrban One.[1]
Early life
editCampbell was born Erica Monique Atkins, on April 29, 1972, inInglewood, California,[2][3] the daughter of Eddie Aaron Atkins Jr. (1948–2013), originally fromMerced, California, a pastor and minister, and Thomasina Andrea "Honey" Atkins (née Daniels), who is originally fromStamford, Connecticut.[4] Her paternal grandparents are Eddie Aaron Atkins, Sr. and Lavada Cruthird, and her maternal grandparents are Tommy and Ruth Daniels.[4] She had two older brothers, Andre Lavelle Atkins, who died at six years old from a combination of Down Syndrome, spinal meningitis, and a hole in his heart, while her other brother is living inArizona, Darrell Antoine Atkins.[4] She has one older sister, Maliea Dionne Atkins, and five younger sisters, Trecina Evette "Tina" Atkins, Delisa Marie "Lisa" or "Wittle Wees" Atkins, Thomasina Andrea "Goo Goo" Atkins, Alana Ellesse "Lainz" or "Luv Luv" Atkins, and Shanta Nena Lavea Atkins.[4]
Music career
editHer music career started in 1998, with her younger sister,Tina Campbell, who formed half of thegospel music duo,Mary Mary.[3] As part ofMary Mary, Campbell earned numerous Stellar Music andDove Awards, fourGrammy Awards, threeNAACP Image Awards, twoAmerican Music Awards, aSoul Train Award and aBET Award. In 2008, Campbell recorded a solo track called "Stand" for the soundtrack to the independent filmA Good Man Is Hard to Find. In 2011, Mary Mary received theASCAP Golden Note Award for their extraordinary songwriting. Erica commenced her solo music recording career in 2013, by recording her firststudio album,Help, that released on March 25, 2014, withEntertainment One Music. This album was her breakthrough release upon theBillboard magazine charts, while it charted onTheBillboard 200,Top Gospel Albums, andIndependent Albums charts, where it peaked at Nos. 6, 1, and 2, correspondingly.[5] Campbell won aGrammy Award forBest Gospel Album at the57th edition of the event. The subsequent studio album,Help 2.0, was released on March 31, 2015, from Entertainment One Music.[6] This album charted on the same charts, but at Nos. 120, 1, and 12, respectively.[5]
In early April 2018, Erica and her husbandWarryn Campbell are to star in their own reality show onTV One. The show will highlight Erica going back in the studio to record her new album. Also in 2018, Erica and her husband released a music video titled, "All of My Life".[7]
On September 23, 2022, Erica released “Positive” and she released “Feel Alright (Blessed)” on January 13, 2023 from her second albumI Love You, which was released later that year.[1]
Personal life
editShe is married toWarryn Campbell, with whom she resides inLos Angeles, together with their three children.[8][9]
Campbell is an honorary member ofAlpha Kappa Alpha, having been initiated on January 15, 2023.[10]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions[5] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gos | US Ind | ||
| Help |
| 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Help 2.0 |
| 120 | 1 | 12 |
| I Love You |
| — | 10 | — |
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [11] | |||
| 2013 | "A Little More Jesus" | 7 | Help |
| 2014 | "Help"(featuringLecrae) | 2[12] | |
| "You Are" | 17 | ||
| "P.O.G." | 24 | ||
| 2015 | "More Love" | 18 | Help 2.0 |
| "I Luh God"(featuring Big Shizz) | 1 | ||
| 2017 | "Well Done" | 10[12] | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "All of My Life"(withWarryn Campbell) | 3[12] | |
| 2022 | "Positive" | 13[12] | I Love You |
| 2023 | "Feel Alright (Blessed)" | 9[12] | |
| 2025 | "Trust And Obey" | — |
References
edit- ^"Reach Media".Urban One. RetrievedJanuary 22, 2021.
- ^Mary Mary."About". GeoCities. Archived fromthe original on April 15, 2009. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2016.
- ^abKellman, Andy."Erica Campbell : Biography".AllMusic. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2016.
- ^abcdMitchell, Sheeri (2003).Mary Mary: Transparent. Bonus Books. pp. 89–93.ISBN 9781566251921. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2016 – viaGoogle Books.
- ^abcBillboard."Erica Campbell : Awards".AllMusic. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2016.
- ^Monger, Timothy."Help 2.0 – Erica Campbell".AllMusic. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2016.
- ^"Erica and Warryn Campbell to star in new docs-series on TV One". April 4, 2018. RetrievedApril 4, 2018.
- ^"Mr. and Mrs".Jet: 27. June 18, 2001. RetrievedJanuary 3, 2015.
- ^WE tv."Erica Campbell".WE tv. RetrievedJanuary 3, 2016.
- ^Erica Campbell, Patti Labelle Among New Honorary Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha
- ^"Erica Campbell - Chart history | Billboard".www.billboard.com. Archived fromthe original on March 4, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2022.
- ^abcde"Erica Campbell Chart History".Billboard. RetrievedOctober 5, 2017.
External links
edit