Tevin Campbell

Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976 in Dallas, Texas) is an American R&B singer-songwriter.

Campbell scored a string of R&B chart hits as a teenager in the early-mid '90s. Like Usher and Marques Houston, Campbell transitioned from child singer to adult R&B crooner, and is a recognizable figure from the new jack swing era of black music.

Music Career

Tevin Campbell was introduced to the R&B music scene as a protegé of legendary producer Quincy Jones in early 1990. Campbell's debut single was "Tomorrow (A Better You Better Me)" which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart in May, 1990. It was the lead single from Quincy Jones' critically acclaimed ensemble LP Back on the Block which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1991. After working with Jones and writers and producers including Siedah Garrett, Campbell worked with producers Narada Michael Walden, Al B. Sure, Babyface, and others to record additional music.

Campbell's first solo hit was "Round and Round", which was produced by Prince and was featured in Prince's film Graffiti Bridge.
Campbell followed the success of his first two singles by releasing his debut album, T.E.V.I.N., in 1991 which featured the R&B hit singles "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do", "Alone With You", and "Goodbye".
His sophomore effort, I'm Ready yielded the R&B hits "Can We Talk", "I'm Ready", "Always In My Heart" and the sensual, "SHHH". He also scored a Top 30 hit with "Don't Say Goodbye Girl" on the R&B charts.
In 1994, Campbell also scored an R&B hit with the single "U Will Know" as part of the R&B supergroup "Black Men United", a group that also included singer Usher.

The year 1996 saw the release of his third album, "Back To The World" (#11 R&B). The title track was a success (hitting the R&B Top 20), but additional singles failed to make an impact on the chart. His 1999 self-titled album was found Campbell venturing into the neo-soul venue. Unfortunately, the project charted below the R&B Top 30, with only one single charting, a Top 30 song called "Another Way".

Campbell was nominated for five Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards.

In December 2005, Campbell made his Broadway debut in the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the hit musical Hairspray.

Campbell returned to the studios in 2006, working with producers Scott Storch, The Underdogs, Krucial Keys, Bryan Michael Cox, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Teddy Riley, and Ryan Leslie and his longtime associate KeArt. The album is to be released sometime in 2007.

Acting career

Campbell made a guest appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, playing fictional teen idol, "Little T". He was Ashley's celebrity crush (and date) in the episode "Just Infatuation" from the first season.

Campbell also voiced the character Powerline in Disney's A Goofy Movie, singing the songs "Stand Out" and "I2I".

Starting in March 2007, he is playing the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs on the Broadway hit "Hairspray."

Arrest

In 1999, Campbell was arrested after soliciting oral sex from an undercover police officer during a sting operation in Van Nuys, California. According to police reports, marijuana residue was also found in Campbell's car during the arrest.

The sting operation was reportedly conducted in an area near Van Nuys High School, where there had been numerous complaints from the public about cruising and solicitation. Although the police report clearly states that the arresting/sting officer was a male, there has been considerable speculation as to Campbell's sexual orientation since the incident. To date, Campbell has not commented publicly on this matter.

Campbell plead no contest to the misdemeanor of solicitation, and as a result was ordered to pay $1080.00 in fines, attend meetings of Narcotics Anonymous and participate in a court-sanctioned AIDS awareness class. He returned to court in February 2000 to provide proof that he had completed the requirements of his sentence.

Discography

Albums

1991: T.E.V.I.N. US BBHot100 #38, R&B #5 (Platinum)
1993: I'm Ready US BBHot100 #18, R&B #3 (Double Platinum)
1996: Back To The World US BBHot100 #46, R&B #11 (Gold)
1999: Tevin Campbell US BBHot100 #88, R&B #31
2007: Back To Love

Singles

Year	Title	Album	US	US R&B
1990	"Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me) With Quincy Jones"	Back on the Block	75	1
1990	"Round And Round"	T.E.V.I.N.	12	3
1991	"Just Ask Me To"	T.E.V.I.N.	88	9
1991	"Tell Me What You Want Me to Do"	T.E.V.I.N.	6	1
1992	"Goodbye"	T.E.V.I.N.	85	2
1992	"Strawberry Letter 23"	T.E.V.I.N.	53	40
1992	"Alone With You"	T.E.V.I.N.	72	1
1993	"Confused"	T.E.V.I.N.	-	33
1993	"One Song"	T.E.V.I.N.	-	-
1993	"Can We Talk"	I'm Ready	9	1
1994	"I'm Ready"	I'm Ready	9	2
1994	"Always In My Heart"	I'm Ready	20	6
1995	"Don't Say Goodbye Girl"	I'm Ready	71	28
1995	"Shhh"	I'm Ready	-	-
1996	"Back To The World"	Back To The World	47	16
1996	"I Got It Bad"	Back To The World	-	41
1997	"Could You Learn To Love"	Back To The World	-	73
1998	"Another Way"	Tevin Campbell	100	25
1999	"Losing All Control"	Tevin Campbell	-	83
1999	"For Your Love"	Tevin Campbell	-	54

* intelligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Awards

1990: Won Young Artists Awards Favorite New Recording Artist ("Round and Round") [1]
1991: Nominated Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male ("Round and Round").
1992: Nominated Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male ("Tell Me What You Want Me To Do").
1992: Nominated American Music Award for Favorite Male Artist - Soul / Rhythm & Blues.
1994: Nominated Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male ("Can We Talk").
1994: Won Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single - Male ("Can We Talk").
1994: Nominated American Music Award for Favorite Male Artist - Soul / Rhythm & Blues
1995: Nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male ("I'm Ready") and Best Rhythm & Blues Album ("I'm Ready").

External links