US vocal duo formed by sisters Erica and Tina Atkins, whose slick fusion of gospel and R&B has attracted fans from both the CCM and secular markets. The sisters were raised in Inglewood, California and followed their parents into the local church choir at an early age. Their first professional engagements were as vocalists with a number of travelling gospel shows, but by the mid-90s the sisters were also working individually on the R&B session circuit. By this point they had begun writing their own gospel material, and a chance meeting with writer/producer Warryn Campbell led to a publishing contract with his publisher, EMI Music. The Atkins placed songs with artists including Yolanda Adams and 702, and on the soundtrack albums Dr. Doolittle and The Prince Of Egypt - Inspirational. After signing a recording contract with Columbia Records at the end of the decade, the sisters teamed up with Campbell to write and produce their debut album. ‘Shackles (Praise You)’, the first single to be lifted from Thankful, reached the R&B Top 10 and the mainstream Top 30 in summer 2000. Thankful went on to achieve platinum sales and was followed in 2002 by another strong collection, Incredible. The album topped the Contemporary Christian charts like its predecessor and also broke into the mainstream Top 20. After a period away from the spotlight to concentrate on family commitments, the Atkins returned in 2005 with a third album. The self-titled collection debuted in the mainstream US Top 10.
