Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell were born in Inglewood,
California. 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). Because of their proximity in age, the two singers grew up closer to one another than to any of their seven siblings. The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All nine 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 tours 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.
A meeting with producer Warryn Campbell led to their song publishing deal with the giant EMI music conglomerate and a series of songs that landed on the soundtracks. They wrote "Dance" and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle; "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt Inspirational, one of three soundtrack albums for the film; and songs of theirs were recorded by Yolanda Adams and 702. At the same time, Mary Mary as a musical entity took shape.
The sisters' profile in the gospel industry was raised when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams on the Mountain High... Valley Low CD. The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records/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 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 first album, Thankful (Mary Mary Album) in May 2000, which would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, and a second single, "I Sings". Peaking at #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, Thankful was certified Platinum for sales of 1 million copies in the USA. 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.
With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. The record, soon after its release, went to #1 on the Gospel chart, and was able to enter the Top 20 of the Top 200 album chart. Incredible was later certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. The album's singles In The Morning and I Try became relatively large hits within the contemporary gospel nation.
After taking time off to have children, their third album Mary Mary appeared. 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" containing 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, "Yesterday", also became a hit, especially on the Adult R&B charts where it peaked at #10. On the R&B/Hip Hop chart, the song became their second biggest hit since "Shackles" in 2000, reaching the #53 spot so far.
On October 10, 2006`, the recording group released their most recent album inspired by Christmas songs and is called A Mary Mary Christmas.
SomeBody
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they feel like no one cares
Call your friends in the middle of the night
And they just can't be there
I know someone who's available
And He'll answer every time you call
He won't ever leave you alone
That's just the kind of friend you should know
Anybody know somebody
Someone who will love anybody
Even if they're just a nobody
I know somebody, somebody
Anybody know somebody
Someone who will love anybody
Even if they're just a nobody
I know somebody, somebody
Let me offer you a suggestion
And I'll leave without no doubt
A love that reaches far and wide
That's where my faith lies
Let me tell you why
Cause every time I'm sad and lonely
He comes and puts His arms around me
Cause God's love is the first
And it is the last so if you ask
Anybody know somebody
Someone who will love anybody
Even if they're just a nobody
I know somebody, somebody
Oh I got a friend who loves me so
You ask how much I'll never know
And since I've found this love
I want to share it with everyone, oh
Anybody know somebody
Someone who will love anybody
Even if they're just a nobody
I know somebody, somebody
Oh do you know?
Oh do you know? Oh!
The song "Somebody" by Mary Mary is a powerful message about the importance of true friendship and the unconditional love of God. The lyrics convey the idea that everyone goes through tough times where they feel alone and abandoned, but there is always someone who cares and will be there for them. The song emphasizes the importance of finding a friend who will love you no matter what and will always be there for you in times of need.
The chorus of the song encourages listeners to think about whether they know somebody who is willing to love anybody, even if they are just a nobody. The song suggests that there is someone out there who is always available and who will never leave you alone, and that person is God. The verses further elaborate on this message by highlighting the presence of God's love in our lives, which is always there to comfort and support us through difficult times.
In essence, "Somebody" is a reminder of the importance of unconditional love and support in our lives, and how this love can come from a relationship with God. The song emphasizes the need for strong and genuine friendships that are built on love, trust, and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody has bad days
Everyone goes through rough patches in life
When they feel like no one cares
When they feel alone and unsupported
Call your friends in the middle of the night
Reach out to your friends for help
And they just can't be there
And they may not be able to assist you
I know someone who's available
I personally know someone who will be there for you
And He'll answer every time you call
And He will always be there to help you
He won't ever leave you alone
He will never abandon or forsake you
That's just the kind of friend you should know
That's the type of friend you should have in your life
Anybody know somebody
Does anyone know of someone?
Someone who will love anybody
Who will love any person, no matter who they are or what they've done
Even if they're just a nobody
Even if they feel like they're insignificant
I know somebody, somebody
I know of such a person
Let me offer you a suggestion
I would like to provide some advice
And I'll leave without no doubt
And I will leave you without any reservations
A love that reaches far and wide
A love that is immense and all-encompassing
That's where my faith lies
That's what I believe in
Let me tell you why
Allow me to explain
Cause every time I'm sad and lonely
Because anytime I feel sad and alone
He comes and puts His arms around me
He comforts and consoles me
Cause God's love is the first
Because God's love is primary
And it is the last so if you ask
And it's also the end, so if you inquire
Oh I got a friend who loves me so
Oh, I have a friend who loves me immensely
You ask how much I'll never know
You may wonder how much, but I'll never truly understand
And since I've found this love
And since I've discovered this affection
I want to share it with everyone, oh
I want to spread it to everyone I can
Oh do you know?
Oh, do you know anyone like this?
Oh do you know? Oh!
Oh, do you know anyone? Oh!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Missing Link Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARLA MARIA WILLIAMS, CORDEL DEXTER BURRELL, CHAD WINSTON WILLIAMSON, JACOB LEE WILLIAMS, LEON JERMAIN CAMPBELL, DWAYNE DAINAN MCKENZIE, ANDREW MCLEAN, CHENELLE SABRINA EMANUEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amor Antasia
One of my faves
Porter Shabazz
You can listen to this WHOLE album without skipping not one song. 🔥🔥💯💪🏿🙏🏿💜
ANTWAN SMITH
@first name tr6u
first name
Agreed😁
Jacinta Kamel
Agree! 👏🏻
Jazzy Faye
I love this album still
Myriam Bernard
Grew up with this album and still go through all of it every few weeks!
Denisha Washington
Thank you Jesus!
Ebeneza Emma
Any one still listening in 2021....I love all mary mary...but This is my favorite of all Mary Mary songs..... I play and tears Fall off my eyes..... "Any body knows somebody, someone who loves anybody.... Even if they just nobody, I know somebody.... Wooooow... Can I hear all those that have rejected by their fathers, girlfriends, fiance's even on the alter and Jesus received freely... I heard song when I was twenty nine and I'm now forty five and it still makes my heart Holy Ghost filled.... Thanks Mary Mary.... Thank you Jesus
Katie M
Mine too