Tevin Campbell speaks about his career
by Kevin Jackson / eurfeedback@eurweb.com

Tevin Campbell and Fan after performance During "Jamaica Mi Crazy" weekend the Starfish Resort.

(Nov. 27, 2003) Tevin Campbell’s career took off in the early 1990’s. The rhythm and blues singer who first came to the public’s attention via the Quincy Jones project ‘Back on the Block’ (he was featured on the number one Billboard R&B chart hit ‘Tomorrow (A Better You, a Better Me), ruled the charts with a string of hits including ‘Round and Round’, ‘I’m Ready’, ‘Just Ask Me To’, “Tell Me What You Want Me to Do’, ‘Alone With You’, “Don’t Say Goodbye Girl’, ‘Always in My Heart’ and ‘Can We Talk.'

With four albums to his credit, the platinum selling teen star’s name suddenly fell off the radar, and he parted way with Quest/Warner Bros Records. These days, the Texas native is residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Campbell performed at Starfish Resort in Trelawny, at an event which was promoted by Los Angeles-based radio station KJLH FM. Also performing at the event was Dru Hill member Jazz. This writer caught up with him during his recent visit to Jamaica, and here are excerpts from the interview.

Kevin Jackson: What has your visit to Jamaica been like, and is it your first time to the island?



Tevin Campbell: It was my very first time to Jamaica. The experience was great. The hotel itself was good, and I had a very good time. My brother came with me, and it was a lot of fun for me.



KJ: Was it your first time to any Caribbean country?

TC: I went to Barbados when I was 12 years old.



KJ: Some persons have said that Quincy Jones discovered you, while others credit Bobbie Humphrey. Can you clear the air on that?

TC: Bobbie Humphrey took me to New York and I sang in front of an audience when I was 10. She sent the tape to some record labels and Quincy Jones saw it and wanted me to be a part of his ‘Back on the Block’ project. That’s really how it happened. If it wasn’t for Bobbie I wouldn’t have met Quincy Jones.



KJ: We haven’t heard much from you since you released your last album ‘Tevin Campbell’ in 1999. What have you been up to lately?

TC: I have been traveling a lot lately. I have been to Africa and Japan, just to sort of keep my name out there. Hopefully, I should have some new music for radio next year. But, I have really been writing a lot, and what I am working on musically, is stuff that no one has heard before’.



KJ: You started out at a very young age. Did your musical aspirations affect your childhood in any way?

TC: I had a great childhood. I started when I was 11. I never thought of myself as a star. I was just singing. I never did the normal stuff that other kids got to do. Of course, yes, it did affect my childhood, but not in a negative way.



KJ: What has been the most rewarding moment for you caree-wise?

TC: I was watching something on the cable and my name came up, it was some music programme. It was the kind of programme that you would’ve had to have made some major strides in your career, to be featured. But just seeing my name there it made me feel really good. I am a very modest guy. That for me is the most rewarding moment for me.



KJ: In terms of new artistes on the scene, who do you listen to?

TC: I haven’t really bought a lot of new music of late. The CDs that I have bought, are basically old school stuff. I do listen to Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Ludacris’.



KJ: With reggae and dancehall music making an impact globally, do you have any interests in that type of music?

TC: Yes, I do have some interests in reggae. I also like Sean Paul and Beenie Man. I like the dancehall music that I heard since I have been here in Jamaica. The stuff that we hear in the US, is a bit different.



KJ: Which of the albums that you have released, is your personal favourite and why?

TC: ‘I’m Ready’. I was more at ease with myself and I had more fun doing that record. I just loved to sing, and songs on that album are some of my favourite songs. The producers who worked on the album, are producers that I always admired.



KJ: Who are your musical heroes

TC: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye.



KJ: What is your family like?

TC: I am from a large family. I got lots of uncles and aunts and cousins. However my immediate family comprises of one brother and one sister.



KJ: Speaking of family, have they always been as supportive of your career?

TC: It all happened so fast for me, and they have always been very supportive of my career. That to me is a blessing.

God bless him.

Funny,I don't remember a CD by Tevin that came out in 1999.I must have missed that one,was it any good?

The last album I recall is 'Back To The World' in 1996.

Miss Tevin. Truly a gifted guy. I would love for him and Shanice to do a song together.

Harlepolis said:

Isn't he missing somebody?

'Tevin Campbell speaks about his career'


what career?

bushes...bu bu bushes.

i think he left someone off of that list of influences