Tevin Campbell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tevin Campbell
Campbell in 1996
Background information
Birth name	Tevin Jermod Campbell
Born	(1976-11-12) November 12, 1976 (age 48) Waxahachie, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul pop new jack swing
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Spectra Qwest Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Quincy Jones Prince Al B. Sure! Kyle West Siedah Garrett Stevie J

Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He started singing gospel music in his local church when he was young. In 1988, he auditioned for jazz musician Bobbi Humphrey and was soon signed to Warner Bros. Records.

In 1989, Campbell worked with the famous producer Quincy Jones. He sang the lead vocals on the song "Tomorrow" for Jones's album Back on the Block. Soon after, he released his first album, T.E.V.I.N., which sold over a million copies. This album had his biggest hit single, "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do", which reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His second album, I'm Ready (1993), was even more successful, selling over two million copies. It featured hit songs like "Can We Talk" and "I'm Ready". Campbell also became known for his acting. He appeared in the movie Graffiti Bridge and on TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Many fans know him as the voice of the pop star Powerline in Disney's 1995 movie A Goofy Movie. He sang the popular songs "Stand Out" and "I2I" for the film. In 2005, he joined the Broadway musical Hairspray as the character Seaweed. Campbell has received five Grammy Award nominations and has sold over 5 million records in the United States.

Early Life and Discovery

Tevin Campbell was born in Waxahachie, Texas. His mother, Rhonda Byrd, was a postal worker who later became his manager. He has an older sister and a younger brother. His mother was a singer in their church choir, and Tevin began singing gospel music there as a young boy.

When he was 12, a friend arranged for him to sing for jazz musician Bobbi Humphrey. She was so impressed that she helped him make a video to showcase his talent. The video reached manager Benny Medina, who signed Campbell to a contract. Soon after, his family moved to Los Angeles so he could pursue his music career.

Career Beginnings

In Los Angeles, Campbell began working with legendary music producer Quincy Jones. In 1989, he was featured on Jones's song "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)". The song became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It was part of Jones's album Back on the Block, which won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Campbell's first solo hit was "Round and Round", which was produced by the music icon Prince. The song was featured in Prince's 1990 movie Graffiti Bridge, which Campbell also appeared in. "Round and Round" was a big success and earned Campbell his first Grammy Award nomination.

In 1991, he made a guest appearance on the popular TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He played a teen idol named "Little T" who was the celebrity crush of the character Ashley Banks.

First Album: T.E.V.I.N.

In November 1991, Campbell released his first album, T.E.V.I.N.. It was a huge success and was certified Platinum for selling over one million copies. The album included the hit singles "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do", "Alone With You", and "Goodbye".

The album's success earned Campbell another Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. During this time, he also recorded songs for special projects. These included the Grammy-winning album Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration and the Barcelona Gold album for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Second Album: I'm Ready

Campbell's second album, I'm Ready, was released in October 1993. He wanted this album to sound more mature and show how much he had grown as an artist. The album was a massive hit, selling over two million copies in the United States.

It featured some of his most famous songs, including "Can We Talk" and "I'm Ready". Both songs were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The album earned him three more Grammy nominations, including one for Best R&B Album. Many people consider I'm Ready to be the high point of his career.

During this time, Campbell also performed as the opening act for Janet Jackson's world tour. In 1995, he became the voice of Powerline in Disney's A Goofy Movie, singing "I 2 I" and "Stand Out" for the movie's soundtrack.

Later Albums and Acting

Campbell's third album, Back to the World, was released in 1996. While it was certified Gold, it was not as successful as his first two albums. The title track, "Back to the World," was a moderate hit.

In 1999, Campbell released his fourth album, Tevin Campbell. This album explored a new style of music called neo-soul. It featured collaborations with artists like Wyclef Jean and Faith Evans. That same year, he made another guest appearance on the TV show Moesha.

After a break from the music industry, Campbell returned to the stage in 2005. He joined the cast of the hit Broadway musical Hairspray as Seaweed J. Stubbs. He performed in the show on Broadway and in productions in Australia until 2011.

Return to Music and Television

Starting in 2014, Campbell began performing more frequently. He held a successful concert at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York and performed at the Essence Music Festival. Fans were excited to see him back on stage.

In 2015, he made a special appearance at Disney's D23 Expo. He performed his song "I 2 I" at a reunion for the cast of A Goofy Movie, which was a treat for fans of the film.

In 2016, Campbell released a new single called "Safer on the Ground." He said the song was about being humble and authentic. He wanted to make music that was true to his style.

In 2019, Campbell appeared in the TV drama series Queen Sugar, created by Ava DuVernay. He played a character named Cousin Junior in one episode.

Artistry

Tevin Campbell is known for his impressive singing voice. He is a countertenor, which means he can sing in a very high range. His vocal range spans almost four octaves. Early in his career, his smooth voice was often compared to that of Michael Jackson.

Discography

Studio albums

• T.E.V.I.N. (1991)
• I'm Ready (1993)
• Back to the World (1996)
• Tevin Campbell (1999)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Tevin Campbell para niños