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Twelve years ago if you were to tell sisters
Tina and
Erica Campbell that they would be three time Grammy winners, have a platinum selling debut album and three Gold certified albums, they would have probably laughed in disbelief. Gospel music rarely crosses over into the mainstream charts and any artist – regardless of their genre – is extremely lucky to have a career that spans over ten years. “Sometimes I look around and I have to pinch myself to believe that this is really happening. Did I really achieve all this?” says a very humbled Erica, one half of acclaimed gospel duo
Mary Mary.
She begins to reminisce, “Tina and I use to share a tiny apartment, so when I look back it amazes me how far we’ve come. I have to thank God for all he has done for us, he has really blessed us and for that I’m truly grateful.” With the guidance of producer
Warryn Campbell, Tina and Erica were making a name for themselves in the late '90s within the Gospel music scene. But it was 2000’s hit “Shackles (Praise You)” that put the duo on the map and broke them into the mainstream market. “I had no idea the single would be that huge” she says. Performing under the name Mary Mary, the single was a huge success on both sides of the Atlantic and their debut album
Thankful - released later that year - went Platinum.
A decade later and five albums down the line the singers are still going strong and staying relevant in today’s music scene, with the last twelve months being one of their most successful years to date.
Due for release in March through Columbia Records, Something Big is the sixth studio album from three time Grammy Award-winning Gospel sister duo Mary Mary, entirely produced by longtime collaborator Warryn Campbell. Often considered as some of the pioneers of urban contemporary gospel, the Campbell (formerly Atkins) sisters Erica and Tina are back with the follow-up album to the critically acclaimed and hugely successful 2008 album The Sound, which debuted at number 7 on the US billboard album charts and birthed two Grammy Awards.
Whilst any kind of success and acclaim that Something Big receives in the same vein as its predecessor will suit Mary Mary and their record label just fine I am sure, the sisters are however clear to stress that the overriding “guiding light” for their music and this album is to connect with people and offer them real hope that “ultimately changes lives”.