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October London

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
October London
Birth nameJared Samuel Erskine
Also known asSam London
Born (1986-10-17) October 17, 1986 (age 38)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2014–present
Labels
Websiteoctoberlondon.com

Jared Samuel Erskine (born October 17, 1986), known professionally as October London, is an American singer and songwriter. He 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 and grew up there.[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 commercial truck driver.[6] He 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

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London primarily makes soul and contemporary R&B music.[3]

Awards and nominations

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List of awards and nominations, with award, year, category, nominated work, result, and reference shown
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

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Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with release date and label shown
Title Details
Please Leave a Message
Crypto Winter (The Dubstep/House Album)
  • Released: October 7, 2022
  • Label: Death Row Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Rebirth of Marvin
  • Released: February 10, 2023
  • Label: Death Row
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Greatest Gift
  • Released: November 17, 2023
  • Label: Death Row
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
October Nights
  • Released: October 11, 2024
  • Label: Death Row
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with release date and label shown
Title Details
The Introduction
  • Released: December 10, 2013
  • Label: Mortier Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Color Blind: Love
  • Released: October 28, 2016
  • Label: Cadillacc Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Color Blind: Hate & Happiness
  • Released: April 7, 2017
  • Label: Cadillacc
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Technicolor
  • Released: March 3, 2023
  • Label: Death Row
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

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As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles as lead artist, with title, year released, album, and chart positions shown
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
"Mullholland Drive"
The Rebirth of Marvin
"Eternity" The Color Purple (Music from and Inspired By)
[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, with title, year released, and album
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]
List of guest appearances, with year released, other artist(s), and album name shown
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

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  1. ^ a b "Meet October London: South Bend native rising in R&B ranks". WNDU. October 17, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ H., Marta (January 14, 2014). "Who Is Sam London". Swurv Radio. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Bradley, Brent (February 12, 2018). "Meet October London, an Indiana Soul Man With a Snoop Dogg Co-Sign". DJBooth. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (September 21, 2016). "Snoop Dogg Signee October London Is A 'Black Man In America'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Meara, Paul (May 10, 2023). "Soul Train Awards 2023: Snoop Dogg's Not-So-Secret Weapon Is October London". BET. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Respers France, Lisa (August 23, 2022). "Snoop Dogg presents children's series 'Doggyland - Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes'". CNN. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Anderson, Trevor (August 24, 2023). "October London's 'Place' Is at No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Centeno, Tony M. (December 15, 2023). "Alicia Keys, Usher, Keyshia Cole & More Appear On 'The Color Purple' Soundtrack". WJBT. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Patterson, Niani (December 27, 2023). "October London Readies for 'The Rebirth Of Marvin Tour' Kicking Off in January". WBLS. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. August 26, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.