Tevin Jermod Campbell (born November 12, 1976) is a five-time Grammy-nominated American R&B singer-songwriter. Campbell scored a string of R&B chart hits as a teenager in the early to mid-1990s. Like Usher and Marques Houston, Campbell transitioned from child singer to adult R&B crooner, and is a recognizable figure in the New Jack Swing genre of music.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Campbell was introduced to the R&B by Quincy Jones in August 1989. 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 June 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 charted at #3 on R&B charts in November 1991 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1991 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 November 1991 which featured the R&B hit singles and Campbell's only #1 Adult Contemporary hit: "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do" followed by:, "Alone With You", and "Goodbye". His second album, I'm Ready released October 1993, yielded the #1 R&B hit and #9 pop single "Can We Talk" in December 1993, "I'm Ready", "Always in My Heart" which charted at #3 on the R&B chart. He also scored a Top 30 hit with "Don't Say Goodbye Girl" on the R&B charts. In September 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 early 1999 self-titled album was found Campbell venturing into the neo-soul venue. The project was rushed, and as a result charted below the R&B Top 30, with only one single charting, a Top 30 song called "Another Way".
On May 25, 2008, Tevin released an album that included 7 previously unreleased songs on itunes and Amazon.com/mp3. While it is unsure when the songs were recorded, the album list Rambo House Media as his record label. One of the stand out tracks is a ballad called "Perfectless". The song begins by addressing new R&B artist who fail to see that they won't always be at the top, it then addresses friends who abandon you after the success is gone. Then later in the song he attacks the music industry and how it lets down and corrupts you dreamers who have success. The tracks can be heard/bought at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B38FE8/ref=sr_1_album_48?ie=UTF8&child=B001B38F2K&qid=1221700842&sr=1-48 or on itunes.
After his appearance in the 1990 film Graffiti Bridge, Campbell made a guest appearance the following year on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, playing fictional teen idol, "Little T", a celebrity crush and date of Ashley's first season in the episode "Just Infatuation". In 1995, Campbell voiced the character Powerline in Disney's A Goofy Movie, singing the songs "Stand Out" and "I 2 I".
In 1999, Campbell made another guest appearance on the hit show Moesha along side Brandy Norwood. In the episode, "Rite Stuff", he just played a student involved in the ball.
Campbell is currently playing the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the Broadway musical Hairspray. He has been with the cast since December 2005.
In 1999, Campbell was arrested after soliciting oral sex from an undercover police officer posing as a male prostitute 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 where there had been numerous complaints from the public about cruising and solicitation.
Campbell pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor of solicitation, and as a result was ordered to pay $1080.50 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. To date, Campbell has not commented publicly on the matter.
