US Gospel Artists

Mary Mary is a two-time Grammy award winning Platinum American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Campbell (born April 29, 1972)) and Trecina Campbell (born May 1, 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 #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums. Their current release, The Sound,again was #1 on the Top Gospel Albums; as well as #7 on the Billboard 200. It has spawned two highly successful singles: Get Up and God In Me. In Spring 2009 God In Me began achieving crossover success (as Shackles had nine years earlier), reaching #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play. They have currently been nominated as best R&B Group for the American Music Awards of 2009 . Biography 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, California. Their parents are Thomasina (an evangelist and choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ) and Eddie (a youth minister). 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 arias, 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.

Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)" became a crossover hit, being popular with gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It was a Top 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and peaked at #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 #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, and was certified Platinum for shipments of 1 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 UK chart hit to date is "Shackles (Praise You)", which reached No.5 in June 2000. The follow-up "I Sings" peaked at a dismal No.32. The band have never made the Top 40 since 2000, and are genrally thought of as one-hit wonders in the U.K. Incredible (2002) Main article: Incredible With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success.

Franklin’s latest musical offering—and 13th studio album—is the aptly titled LONG LIVE LOVE from his RCA-distributed label, Fo Yo Soul Recordings. But even before the album’s May 31st release date, its first single is already laying down some serious groundwork. 
 
“Love Theory” bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and has kept the position on lock for nine weeks. The vibrant track marked the singer’s record-extending seventh No. 1 and his second start atop the chart. With 1 million U.S. streams in its first week per Nielsen Music, “Love Theory” also opened at No. 1 on Gospel Streaming Songs as well as Gospel Digital Song Sales. Its colorful and energetic video has accumulated over 2.5 million YouTube views and counting.
 
“When people can see themselves as being loved, no matter who or how they are, it gives them more of the ability to love,” says Franklin; which is the inspiration for “Love Theory” and the theme of the video. “It’s my constant story about this message of love, the love of God, and me trying to play my role in that conversation.” 

Among the other striking conversation-starters on the 10-track LONG LIVE LOVE are the introspective “Just for Me,” the insightful “Father Knows Best” and the cautionary “Idols.” As the very first song that Franklin wrote for the album, “Idols” is the hinge the album hangs. It addresses the issue of people placing too much emphasis on things like their careers, body image, and money. Or on their service to God; that sometimes becomes more important than the man himself.

Louisiana-born sensation, Koryn Hawthorne burst onto the scene at 17, when she stole the nation's heart as a contender on Season 8 of NBC's "The Voice". As a top 4 finalist, Koryn made quite an impact on judges and audiences throughout the show with her powerful voice and endearing personality. Week after week, she captivated crowds and showcased poise and presence not usually seen in a teenager.

Her acclaimed rendition of "How Great Thou Art" on the show was an immediate hit, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart when the show released the single during the competition in 2015. Now 19, if the opinions of her former coach Pharrell Williams and the other show's coaches are any indication (who've hailed her incredible work ethic, stellar vocal skills, and inspirational attitude) , these facets of Koryn, (all which she beautifully showcases on her debut EP) will take her far as an artist.

Hawthorne cites a variety of artists as her main influences and inspirations, including Etta James, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, among others.

James Fortune understands that if you're going to preach redemption in the 21st century, you're going to have to make a production of it, and his albums are a bit like urban gospel hip-hop soul revues all done up in show biz style on Broadway, complete with Fortune's spoken, sung, and shouted encouragement.

Fortune, who was born November 29, 1978, in Richmond, Texas, was raised in the church where his dad was a pastor, and was playing drums by the age of five. He graduated from Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas and then attended Cal State Northridge, and consequently became the choir director at Dimension Church in Houston. As much or more a preacher, choir leader, master of ceremonies, and a worship service manager as he is a straight-up singer, Fortune's strength is in understanding how to put gospel and praise songs over to a young 21st century audience, and with his featured choir, FIYA (which stands for Free in Yahweh's Abundance), he freely incorporates hip-hop arrangements and urban beats into his recordings, which include You Survived (2004), The Transformation (2007), Encore (2010), and Identity and Grace Gift (both released in 2012).

For Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, it all began in her hometown, Jesup, Georgia. There she functioned as Worship Leader of Jesup New Life Ministries, founded by her late father, Bishop Fritz Cobbs. Tasha faithfully lent her talents at her local assembly before an unforeseen relocation to Atlanta, Georgia, where she joined the thriving dReam Center Church of Atlanta. Most of her tenure at dReam Center entailed leading worship weekly and managing the various entities of the Worship & Arts Department. She now serves as one of the team pastors at dReam Center.

In 2012, Cobbs would go on to record her freshman project titled GRACE, produced by multi-award-winner and Motown Gospel label mate, VaShawn Mitchell. This project laced with organic and moving tracks featured the lead single, Break Every Chain, which landed as Billboard’s #1 song for a total of 12 weeks. This anthem unleashed liberation to countless audiences nationwide each time it was heard or ministered. The album Grace landed on Billboard’s Top 10 Gospel Albums chart for a year. It was definite that the world had received not just another singer, but a rare gift.

More than an artist, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard is an innovative tool of influence with a passion for mentorship. Resulting from this passion came the launch of the iLead Escape (www.theiLeadEscape.com), a global ministry mentorship program that aids 2,000 mentees in sharpening the knowledge and execution of their gifts. In addition to this program, Tasha extended the reach of her mentorship with her debut book, WORSHIP 101, a manual that revisits the basics of worship.

In such a short time, Tasha has seen extraordinary success with accomplishments that include: a Grammy Award, 3 Stellar Awards, and 3 Dove Awards. She notes God’s grace as the reason for it all.

On Monday, October 13th, 2014, thousands from near and far gathered for the live recording of her sophomore project with Motown Gospel/Universal CMG as she documented a body of work, that although done in the same vein of GRACE, will certainly stand alone because of its progressive and crossover approach. Many have already offered their reviews claiming that this project will introduce listeners to a fresh and unprecedented sound..

Pastor Tasha Cobbs-Leonard continues to brand herself as a multifaceted game-changer as she blazes her own trail with her music career and ministry efforts. In light of all the recognition she has been afforded, her goal remains to use her platform as an opportunity to fulfill the purpose of her assignment.

Believer. Father. Gospel Artist. Producer

For more than 35 years, music lovers around the world have known Grammy Award Winning artist Fred Hammond as a gifted vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer and arranger. But as his peers and supporters alike have so reverently declared, he is without debate the architect behind the creation of a phenomenon in Gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship—a genre of gospel music that did not exist prior.

As a result, Fred Hammond has become one of the most respected names in the music industry! In fact, Essence Magazine (2017 Collector’s Edition) names Fred Hammond in the esteemed list of the 50 Greatest Male Singers of All Time! Fred Hammond has been hailed as an Inspirational Music Icon whose music STILL reaches people from all walks of life.

Chance the Rapper recently performed his remake of Hammond’s hit song “Let the Praise Begin” (entitled “Blessing/Are You Ready?”) on The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon. Jamie Foxx performed Hammond’s signature anthem “No Weapon” during his acceptance speech at the NAACP Awards and elaborated during an interview (on Jimmy Kimmel Live) about how the song had such an incredible impact on Quentin Tarantino, Kerry Washington and the cast of D’Jango as they were shooting some of their most intense, heart-wrenching scenes.

And in a recent Instagram post, Pop/Hip-Hop Music Icon Justin Bieber declared Hammond’s “No Weapon” his favorite song.

In 2019, Hammond collaborated on 2 major music projects with Hip Hop music Icons—Snoop Dogg and Kanye West who currently holds the #1 Gospel Album spot on the billboard charts!

Throughout his professional career, Hammond has maintained a reputation for excellence and few gospel artists can boast of the consistency of sales, radio airplay and concert appearances that Hammond has achieved over the course of his career independent of the cross-over boost. As a solo artist, founder of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned, and his work with Radical for Christ combined, Fred has sold over 8 million albums and these endeavors have made him a mainstay on Billboard’s Gospel Chart top 10. His previous release {Pages of Life} Chapters I & II exceeded Double Platinum status and held the #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Charts for over 15 weeks. His 2006 project entitled Free To Worship bombarded Billboard’s #1 position on the Gospel Charts and was hailed as one of the year’s best-selling gospel albums.

Beyond Hammond’s individual success, his achievements as CEO of Face To Face Productions and the FHammond Music Label have placed him in a class by himself. Since their inception, Hammond has served as producer on more than 100 album projects, racking up numerous awards and nominations including the Grammy, BET, N.A.A.C.P. Image, Stellar, Dove, and GMWA Excellence Awards. His debut independent release entitled “In Case You Missed it and Then Some” sold well over 200,000 copies. Over the years, he went on to produce several other incredible specialty projects including his Jazz album Grandad Turner, the project dedicated to love, relationships, and marriage–God, Love, and Romance, and the formation of the United Tenors—an incredible, relevant yet nostalgic presentation of the ultimate, modern-day quartet with hit after hit, earning several stellar awards and nominations in 2013.

The pages continue to turn for the platinum recording artist! Hammond has taken his creative savvy to a higher level moving into from the stage to the big screen with the movie, The Gospel. This feature film was both Executive Produced and Inspired by Hammond, and boasted a stellar cast including Boris Kojo, Nona Gaye, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and Martha Munizzi. His first independent film venture, “Christmas…Who Needs It” written by Hammond and PamKenyon M. Donald, took first place at the 2009 Hollywood Black Film Festival, is hailed as “…an intriguingly-hilarious dramedy which cleverly captures the true essence of Christmas,” and has found a home on multiple television networks around the world annually as a favored Christmas film during the holiday season!

In addition to Hammond’s studio career, he has continued to take his special brand of gospel to audiences around the world, performing an average of 30 weeks per year. Hammond has headlined thousands of concert dates with an average audience attendance of over 5,000, in addition to television appearances on the nationally syndicated Stellar Awards, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, BET’s Celebration of Gospel, BET’s Walk ofFame, N.A.A.C.P.’s A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, 106 & Park and TBN’s highly-rated shows The Pat Boone Show, Praise The Lord, and The 700 Club.

Hammond continues to find touring success year after year and shows no signs of slowing down, recently wrapping the highly successful, annual 50+ city FESTIVAL OF PRAISE TOUR, which he headlined along with Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton, and Kim Burrell. In 1997, he shared the stage with Kirk Franklin & Yolanda Adams performing before more than 500,000 people on The Tour of Life, the most successful tour in gospel music history! He also served as the Creative Director and was Featured Artist on Walt “Baby” _Love’s Power 98, ALW’s The Living Proof and ALW’s The Shout 2000 Tours just to name a few.

Hammond continues to take the entertainment industry by storm! He co-wrote and directing the smash hit musical drama “Been There, Done That” with America’s favorite TV Judge, Greg Mathis. As for Hammond’s acting career, this production merely rekindled the fire! In addition to his work on the hit plays “Only the Strong” and the 2013 Broadway smash “Cain and Abel” with JD Lawrence, Hammond has debuted in several Daimler- Chrysler commercials as well.

Among his multiple entrepreneurial successes, Hammond also launched the Urban Entertainment Company fHammond Family Entertainment, Inc. providing a complete portfolio of integrated entertainment services collectively addressing the exclusive needs of the urban family market with core offerings including: A film division releasing direct to- DVD titles; a music and book publishing division; an online multi-media website including radio programming and streaming video content; theatrical presentations; as well as continued perpetual music production from new and established artists.

In January 2014, the 53-year-old Detroit native’s faith was tested in a profoundly personal way: He underwent an excruciating double knee replacement surgery – the same procedure that claimed the life of his biological dad in the early ‘90s – and as a result was unable to walk. Forced for months to rely on family members, friends and sometimes total strangers to get around, the experience was almost too much for the staunchly self-reliant singer, who found it to be both excruciatingly painful and humiliating at times.

To cope during this dark, soul-searching period, the father of two leaned heavily on the Word and of course his beloved music, the result of which is I Will Trust, arguably the most intimate album of Hammond’s more than three decade-long career. A stunningly honest collection of songs balanced equally between stomp-worthy praise reports and deep, in-the-valley ballads, Hammond gathers his best and brightest — including go-to producers Phillip Feaster, Music Director and Calvin Rodgers – to deliver this powerfully transformative musical sermon.

Hammond’s single, Tell Me Where It Hurts, is the first of many forthcoming collaborations with the incomprehensible genius of Jovan Dawkins (Founder of Heritage Entertainment) Hammond & Dawkins present a new genre — Life Music — unveiling this passionate, heart-felt single sure to make any listener surrender to the unconditional love of a very real Savior.

Tell Me Where It Hurts — the voice of a loving Father who with open arms compels his children to bring their real-life issues, brokenness, disappointments, fears, and pain for healing that only truly come from Him. Not only is this awe-inspiring single currently slated to appear in the film, Turnt—a story based on the overwhelming epidemic of human trafficking—it has also been selected to appear on the Turnt sound track alongside several incredible artists including CardiB, Chris Brown, 2Chains, and several others!

Lastly, Fred’s newest single entitled, “Alright” is burning up the charts with an encouraging message that never gets old as he takes us back to the days just good ol’fashioned church!

As we anxiously await his next venture, we can rest assured it will be nothing short of sheer excellence. Hammond never ceases to amaze as he consistently exceeds the bounds of mediocrity!