Erica Campbell

Erica Campbell
Campbell in October 2019
Campbell in October 2019
Background information
Birth nameErica Monique Atkins
Also known asErica Atkins-Campbell
Born (1972-04-29) April 29, 1972 (age 52)
Inglewood, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1998–present
LabelsMyBlock Inc, under exclusive license to SRG-ILS Group, distributed by Universal Music Group
Member of
Spouse
​
(m. 2001)​

Erica Monique Campbell (née, Atkins; born April 29, 1972) is an American Gospel singer and songwriter. Specializing in the urban contemporary gospel, Christian R&B, and contemporary R&B genres, she started her music career in the late 1990s with her younger sister, Tina Campbell, as part of the group Mary Mary.

Her debut solo album Help (2014), reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart, and won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 57th Grammy Awards. In 2015, she released her follow up album Help 2.0. The album included the gospel trap single "I Luh God", which reached number one on the gospel chart. She released her third album I Love You in 2023.

In addition to her music career, Campbell appeared in the 1993 film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. She also made an appearance in the film The Fighting Temptations (2003). Since May 2016, she has been the host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell with comedian Griff, currently distributed by Reach Media, the syndication arm of Urban One.[1]

Early life

Campbell was born Erica Monique Atkins, on April 29, 1972, in Inglewood, California,[2][3] the daughter of Eddie Aaron Atkins Jr. (1948–2013), originally from Merced, California, a pastor and minister, and Thomasina Andrea "Honey" Atkins (née Daniels), who is originally from Stamford, 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 in Arizona, 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

Her music career started in 1998, with her younger sister, Tina Campbell, who formed half of the gospel music duo, Mary Mary.[3] As part of Mary Mary, Campbell earned numerous Stellar Music and Dove Awards, four Grammy Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, two American Music Awards, a Soul Train Award and a BET Award. In 2008, Campbell recorded a solo track called "Stand" for the soundtrack to the independent film A Good Man Is Hard to Find. In 2011, Mary Mary received the ASCAP Golden Note Award for their extraordinary songwriting. Erica commenced her solo music recording career in 2013, by recording her first studio album, Help, that released on March 25, 2014, with Entertainment One Music. This album was her breakthrough release upon the Billboard magazine charts, while it charted on The Billboard 200, Top Gospel Albums, and Independent Albums charts, where it peaked at Nos. 6, 1, and 2, correspondingly.[5] Campbell won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 57th 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 husband Warryn Campbell are to star in their own reality show on TV 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 for her upcoming album I Love You, which was released September 15, 2023.[1]

Personal life

She is married to Warryn Campbell, with whom she resides in Los Angeles, together with their three children.[8][9]

Campbell is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha; she was initiated on January 15, 2023.[10]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
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

Year Title Chart position Album
US
Gospel
[11]
2013 "A Little More Jesus" 7 Help
2014 "Help" (featuring Lecrae) 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" (with Warryn Campbell) 3[12]
2022 "Positive" 13[12] I Love You
2023 "Feel Alright (Blessed)" 9[12]

References

  1. ^ "Reach Media". Urban One. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Mary Mary. "About". GeoCities. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Erica Campbell : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Mitchell, Sheeri (2003). Mary Mary: Transparent. Bonus Books. pp. 89–93. ISBN 9781566251921. Retrieved January 24, 2016 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b c Billboard. "Erica Campbell : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  6. ^ Monger, Timothy. "Help 2.0 – Erica Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "Erica and Warryn Campbell to star in new docs-series on TV One". April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "Mr. and Mrs". Jet: 27. June 18, 2001. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  9. ^ WE tv. "Erica Campbell". WE tv. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Erica Campbell, Patti Labelle Among New Honorary Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha
  11. ^ "Erica Campbell - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Erica Campbell Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
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