Mary Mary Formation | Members
Mary Mary are an American gospel duo formed in 1998, composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell. The duo was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling debut album, Thankful (2000), which contained the hit single “Shackles (Praise You)”.
Incredible (2002), their followup album, reached number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Their third album, self titled Mary Mary (2005), which contains themes the public interpreted as a channel to the group’s experience, contains the worldwide hits “Heaven”, “The Real Party”, and “Yesterday”.
Their fourth album “The Sound” (2008) spawned the number-one singles “Get Up” and “God in Me”. They released their fifth studio album “Something Big” in 2011, and followed up with a compilation album “Go Get It” in 2012 before going on hiatus. They premiered their own television series, Mary Mary, on WE tv in March 2012.
To date, Mary Mary has sold more than eight million records worldwide. They have been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning four times including once Best Gospel Performance and for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The duo are often credited for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz. The group’s name is inspired by two famous Marys from the Bible: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. They also performed at the White House in 2005.
Mary Mary Family
Born Erica Monique and Trecina Evette, the Atkins sisters, grew up in a large family with seven siblings in Inglewood, California. Their mother, Thomasina Atkins, is an evangelist and choir director at the Church of God in Christ. Eddie A. Atkins, their father, was also a member of the Church of God In Christ, and a youth counselor, before he died in 2013.
The two sisters grew up closer to one another than to any of their siblings due to their proximity in age. The Atkins children are: Darrell Atkins (born 1965, the only living boy- the second boy died as a child), Maliea Atkins (born 1967), Erica Campbell (born 1972), Trecina Tina (born 1974), Delisa Atkins-Brown (born 1977), Thomasina Atkins (born 1978), Alana Atkins-Jamison (born 1985), and Shanta Atkins (born 1986).
Later, they would work creatively with over half of their siblings; Thomasina, Alana, Delisa and Shanta Atkins all sing background on the duo’s albums and during stage performances and Delisa was originally a member of the group but left before they started recording professionally due to pursuing college. Eventually, all eight Atkins children united on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET.
The Duo’s PhotoMary Mary Shackles
Mary Mary’s first single was “Shackles (Praise You)” which became a crossover hit; enticing gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It ranked Top 5 in R&B, Top 10 for pop hit, and peaked at number 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 MTV. Their debut album Thankful was released in May 2000; it peaked at number one on the Gospel Album Chart and climbed to 59 on the overall Top 200 chart.
Overall, the album was certified Platinum for shipments of one million copies in the United States, it went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. While the second single “I Sings” features rapper BB Jay, both were hits in the UK and Europe. Mary Mary’s only Top 10 UK hit to date is “Shackles (Praise You)” which reached number five on the UK Singles Chartin June 2000. The follow-up “I Sings” peaked at UK number 32.
Mary Mary Net Worth
Collectively, the group can be termed as having a net worth of $20 million based on the individual members’ net worth. Erica and Trecina Campbell’s early income came from being a part of the gospel group. The duo also has a reality show on WE television network. The sisters have an estimated net worth of $10 million each.
Mary Mary Songs
Albums
- Thankful (2000)
- Incredible (2002)
- Mary Mary (2005)
- A Mary Mary Christmas (2006)
- The Sound (2008)
- Something Big (2011)
- Go Get It (2012)
Mary Mary Shackles Lyrics
Whew, it sure is hot out here, you know
I don’t mind, though
I’m glad to be free, you know what I’m saying?
Uh
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
What you wanna do? – spoken
I just wanna praise You
Yeah, yeah
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
Fill me
And I’m gonna praise You
What you gonna do?
I’m gonna praise you
In the corners of my mind
I just can’t seem to find
A reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been bound for so long
Felt like all hope was gone
But as I lift my hands
I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise you
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gonna lose my mind
Lord I know You wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
Cause I can’t take it no more
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
So I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
Oh yeah
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise you
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now
Yeah
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
I wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise you
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
Lord, I just want to
Yeah, yeah
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise you
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Take em off, take em off
What you gonna do?
Yeah, yeah
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
Lift off the chains
What you gonna do?
Note: This biography is based on the available information as of 2023, and real-time updates or developments are being updated by our editorial team.