Tevin Campbell
Autographed Publicity Photo Series
I worked with every department at WBR. Especially A&R. I worked with Benny Medina and Eddie Singleton in Black Music A&R making sure their tape orders were processed. Benny Medina has a real rags to riches story, growing up poor, abandoned and in the foster care system he started dealing drugs. He had an angel in a friend who let him stay at his family’s garage and together they went to Beverly Hills High School. It was there his life would gravitate towards music when he befriended Kerry Gordy, the son of Berry Gordy founder of Motown Records. This is the story behind the early 90’s show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Benny and Kerry were in a band called Apollo on the Gordy/Motown label. The album was produced by Ray Singleton who had been married to Barry Gordy at the time. Coincidentally Ray’s son Eddie Singleton was an A&R Rep at Warner Bros Records and was a very lovely human. I miss him, it has been a long time since I last saw him.
Benny became the head of A&R at Motown and later moved to Warner Bros. Records and built what was once called the Black Music Department, now Urban Music. He cultivated artists careers from unknowns to the biggies like Ray Charles, Chakha Khan, Prince, Babyface and more including Tevin Campbell.
Tevin Campbell was signed to Warner in 1989 after a audition for jazz musician Bobbi Humphrey in 1988. It was then that Tevin would collaborate with the great Quincy Jones whom I have to say…. I saw him in the lobby once and it was so exciting. Side note, his daughter Jolee worked down the hall from my department she had an environmental music related non profit and was a down to earth human and oh so beautiful.
Tevin released his first album titled T.E.V.I.N. in 1991. The album was produced by Quincy and Al B Sure. Featuring the #1 R&B Hit song below:
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I met the teen star at work! What a cutie huh?!
His second album was released in 1993 titled “I’m Ready” produced by Babyface. Campbell explained to J. R. Reynolds in Billboard magazine. "I'm Ready says a lot about who I am as a person because of the things I've been through during the last four years or so. I hope people will see that I'm not the same young kid that I was on my first album."
The song “Can We Talk” reached number 1 on the R&B Chart.
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Of course I got to work with Tevin in some capacity at the In House Studios and got another photo signed. He was growing up handsome!
In 1995 Tevin was part of the super group Black Men United
In 1996 his third album “Back to the World” was released on Quincy’s label Qwest. The album featured production by Sean Combs otherwise known as P Diddy. Now I am suddenly getting flashbacks from Joaquin Phoenix’s film “I’m Still Here.” Joaquin shows up at P Diddy’s house and at the gated entrance he asks on the intercom “Is Puff here?” So hilarious, if you have not seen the mockumentary you must. Joaquin is brilliant and one of my fav actors plus he is oh so good looking. Anyhow this third album was luke warm with only Gold sales, no Platinum.
In 1999 Tevin released a self titled 4th album on Qwest/WBR.
His single “Another Way” charted on the Billboard 100
Tevin Campbell Youtube
Tevin came out publicly in 2022 regarding his sexuality, I am happy for him. I know there is other stuff on the internet about him but his life struggles to fame and his talent is so much bigger than any negativity which I will not post here. He also has made several television and film appearances and has been nominated as well as won several awards.
Incredible story! I love these R&B vibes 🔥