October London
October London | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jared Samuel Erskine |
| Also known as | Sam London |
| Born | October 17, 1986 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | octoberlondon |
Jared Samuel Erskine (born October 17, 1986), known professionally as October London, is an American singer and songwriter. He was signed to Death Row Records by Snoop Dogg in 2022 and released his studio album, The Rebirth of Marvin, in 2023. Its single, "Back to Your Place", topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and was nominated for three Soul Train Music Awards.
Early life[edit]
Jared Samuel Erskine was born on October 17, 1986[1] in South Bend, Indiana, where was also raised.[2] His mother was a singer and his father was a guitar player; he has stated that he first wanted to be a musician as a child because of his uncles, all singers, and seeing "how music brought everybody together" during the holidays.[3] He began playing piano while in kindergarten.[2] He also performed in a musical group, First Fam, in 2004.[4]
Career[edit]
Erskine began performing music professionally under the name Sam London in 2014.[5] Prior to performing as October London, he was training to become a truck driver.[6] London released his debut single, "Black Man in America", in 2016, which was written about police brutality against Black men in the United States.[7] A music video for the song was released in September 2016.[8] He met record producer Jazze Pha through mutual friends, and, after Pha played London's song "Color Blind" for rapper Snoop Dogg, Snoop Dogg called London days before Super Bowl 50 in February 2016. London became the first signee to Snoop Dogg and Jazze Pha's joint record label Cadillacc Music in March 2016 and was later signed to Death Row Records after the dissolution of Cadillacc.[9] He began touring with Snoop Dogg on his Mount Kushmore Tour later that year.[3][10] He also performed on the High Road Tour with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa in the summer of 2016.[8] His debut extended play (EP), Color Blind: Love, was released in December 2016 alongside a promotional 13-minute-long film, and its follow-up, Color Blind: Hate & Happiness, was released through Jazze Pha and Snoop Dogg's imprint Cadillacc Music on April 7, 2017.[2][7] London also created the theme song for the VH1 television series Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party and, in 2017, played a fictionalized version of himself on the Fox television series Empire.[11][10]
London released the EPs, The Love Cassette and Bell Bottom Nights, in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Also in 2022, he began collaborating with Snoop Dogg and Claude Brooks on the animated children's music web series Doggyland.[12] His studio album, The Rebirth of Marvin, was released in February 2023 and was a tribute to Marvin Gaye.[10][3] His single "Back to Your Place" from the album marked his debut on a Billboard chart when it appeared on the Adult R&B Songs chart at number 22 in June 2023, eventually reaching number one in August and topping the chart for nine consecutive weeks by October.[1][13] His EP, Jackpot, was released on June 22, 2023.[14] In November 2023, he released The Greatest Gift a Christmas album, and performed at the 2023 Soul Train Music Awards, where he was also nominated for the award for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist.[11] He released his single "Eternity" as part of the soundtrack for the 2023 film The Color Purple in December 2023.[15] His national Rebirth of Marvin Tour is scheduled to take place from January to March in 2024.[3][16]
Musical style[edit]
London primarily makes soul and contemporary R&B music.[3]
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Train Music Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year | "Back to Your Place" | Nominated | |
| Video of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award | Nominated | ||||
| Best R&B/Soul Male Artist | Himself | Nominated |
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Please Leave a Message |
|
| Crypto Winter (The Dubstep/House Album) |
|
| The Rebirth of Marvin |
|
| The Greatest Gift |
|
Extended plays[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Introduction |
|
| Color Blind: Love |
|
| Color Blind: Hate & Happiness |
|
| Technicolor |
|
Singles[edit]
As lead artist[edit]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B/HH Air. [17] | |||
| "Baila Conmigo" (featuring Tripp Caimbridge and Walter West) |
2014 | – | The Introduction |
| "Black Man in America" | 2016 | – | Color Blind: Love |
| "Kdb (Kisses Down Below)" (with Bcanic) |
2016 | – | Non-album singles |
| "Delorean" | 2020 | – | |
| "Quarantina" | – | ||
| "Our Last" | – | ||
| "LSD" | 2021 | – | |
| "Lime and Squeeze" (featuring Snoop Dogg) |
– | Gangsta Grillz: I Still Got It | |
| "Tennessee Whiskey" (featuring Dean Dillon) |
– | Non-album singles | |
| "I Want You" | – | ||
| "I Dont Give a Damn" | – | ||
| "Back to Your Place" | 2023 | 14 | The Rebirth of Marvin |
| "Eternity" | – | The Color Purple (Music from and Inspired By) |
As featured artist[edit]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Go On" (Snoop Dogg featuring October London) |
2017 | Neva Left |
| "What is This?" (Snoop Dogg featuring October London) |
Non-album single | |
| "Funky Christmas" (Snoop Dogg featuring October London and Cocoa Sarai) |
2020 | |
| "Touch Away" (Snoop Dogg featuring October London) |
2022 | Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022 |
| "The Crown" (Ideal featuring October London and Benny the Butcher) |
2023 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances[edit]
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "We the Shit" | 2013 | Komain, Ballhead | The Life & Times of Brian James | |
| "Bananas" | Komain, Tripp Caimbridge | |||
| "Shut Up or Move On" | ||||
| "My Life, Pt. 2" | ||||
| "Put It Down" | Komain | |||
| "City to City" | 2014 | J-Live, Tanya Morgan | Around the Sun | |
| "Revolution" | 2016 | Snoop Dogg | Coolaid | |
| "My Last Name" | 2017 | Make America Crip Again | ||
| "Waves" | 2018 | 220 | ||
| "When Life Calls" | Daz Dillinger | Dazamataz | ||
| "In the Name of Jesus" | Snoop Dogg | Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love | ||
| "Dissolution of Marriage" | 2021 | Tha Dogg Pound | Dpg 4 Life | |
| "It Ain't Nuthin'" | Snoop Dogg | The Addams Family 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||
| "Baila Conmigo" | 2022 | Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022 | ||
| "Coming Back" | Snoop Dogg, Nefertitti Avani | BODR | ||
| "Get This Dick" | Snoop Dogg, Lil Duval | |||
| "Snoopy Don't Go" | Snoop Dogg | |||
| "Hotline" | Metaverse: The NFT Drop, Vol. 2 | |||
| "That's On Me" | 2023 | Jane Handcock | World of Women | |
| "Wine Mackin" | Tim October | October 4 Eva | ||
| "Fake" | Westcoast Stone | Thats That Drip |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Meet October London: South Bend native rising in R&B ranks". WNDU. October 17, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lindquist, David (August 7, 2017). "With Snoop's backing, South Bend singer is on the rise". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Grove, Rashad (December 20, 2023). "October London's Mission Is To Keep Soul Music Alive". BET. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ H., Marta (January 14, 2014). "Who Is Sam London". Swurv Radio. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Bradley, Brent (February 12, 2018). "Meet October London, an Indiana Soul Man With a Snoop Dogg Co-Sign". DJBooth. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Kedem, Maia (October 3, 2023). "October London on connecting with Snoop Dogg and the success of 'The Rebirth of Marvin'". Audacy. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Lyle, Ashley (April 7, 2017). "Snoop Dogg & Jazze Pha Signee October London Releases 'Color Blind: Hate & Happiness' EP: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (September 21, 2016). "Snoop Dogg Signee October London Is A 'Black Man In America'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Meara, Paul (May 10, 2023). "Soul Train Awards 2023: Snoop Dogg's Not-So-Secret Weapon Is October London". BET. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Baker, Josh (January 3, 2024). "Soulful Crooner October London on Marvin Gaye Comparisons and Why He's Riding with Death Row Records for Life". Ebony. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Soul Train Awards 2023: Discover October London: 5 Essential Things to Know About the Soulful Singer". BET. November 30, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Respers France, Lisa (August 23, 2022). "Snoop Dogg presents children's series 'Doggyland - Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes'". CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (August 24, 2023). "October London's 'Place' Is at No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Zellner, Xander (June 28, 2023). "10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: The Last Dinner Party, Ludmilla, October London & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Centeno, Tony M. (December 15, 2023). "Alicia Keys, Usher, Keyshia Cole & More Appear On 'The Color Purple' Soundtrack". WJBT. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Patterson, Niani (December 27, 2023). "October London Readies for 'The Rebirth Of Marvin Tour' Kicking Off in January". WBLS. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. August 26, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- 1986 births
- Living people
- Death Row Records artists
- American soul singers
- American contemporary R&B singers
- Musicians from South Bend, Indiana
- African-American male singer-songwriters
- Singer-songwriters from Indiana
- Record producers from Indiana
- 21st-century African-American male singers
- 21st-century American male singers
- 21st-century American singer-songwriters