October London Explained

Background:person
October London
Birth Name:Jared Samuel Erskine
Alias:Sam London
Birth Date:17 October 1986
Birth Place:South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Years Active:2014–present

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

Jared Samuel Erskine was born on October 17, 1986 in South Bend, Indiana, where was also raised.[1] 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.[2] He began playing piano while in kindergarten. He also performed in a musical group, First Fam, in 2004.[3]

Career

Erskine began performing music professionally under the name Sam London in 2014.[4] Prior to performing as October London, he was training to become a truck driver.[5] London released his debut single, "Black Man in America", in 2016, which was written about police brutality against Black men in the United States.[6] A music video for the song was released in September 2016.[7] 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.[8] He began touring with Snoop Dogg on his Mount Kushmore Tour later that year. He also performed on the High Road Tour with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa in the summer of 2016. 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. 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.[9] [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.[11] His studio album, The Rebirth of Marvin, was released in February 2023 and was a tribute to Marvin Gaye. 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.[12] [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. 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.[16]

Musical style

London primarily makes soul and contemporary R&B music.

Awards and nominations

Award! scope="col"
YearCategoryNominee(s)Result
Soul Train Music Awards2023Song of the Year"Back to Your Place"
Video of the Year
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award
Best R&B/Soul Male ArtistHimself

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col"
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

Extended plays

Title! scope="col"
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

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
R&B/HH
Air.
[17]
"Baila Conmigo"
2014The Introduction
"Black Man in America"2016Color Blind: Love
"Kdb (Kisses Down Below)"
2016rowspan="5"
"Delorean"2020
"Quarantina"
"Our Last"
"LSD"2021
"Lime and Squeeze"
Gangsta Grillz: I Still Got It
"Tennessee Whiskey"
rowspan="3"
"I Want You"
"I Dont Give a Damn"
"Back to Your Place"202314The Rebirth of Marvin
"Eternity"The Color Purple (Music from and Inspired By)

As featured artist

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"Go On"
2017Neva Left
"What is This?"
rowspan="2"
"Funky Christmas"
2020
"Touch Away"
2022Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022
"The Crown"
2023

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)AlbumNotes
"We the Shit"2013Komain, BallheadThe 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"2014J-Live, Tanya MorganAround the Sun
"Revolution"2016Snoop DoggCoolaid
"My Last Name"2017Make America Crip Again
"Waves"2018220
"When Life Calls"Daz DillingerDazamataz
"In the Name of Jesus"Snoop DoggSnoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love
"Dissolution of Marriage"2021Tha Dogg PoundDpg 4 Life
"It Ain't Nuthin'"Snoop DoggThe Addams Family 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Baila Conmigo"2022Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022
"Coming Back"Snoop Dogg, Nefertitti AvaniBODR
"Get This Dick"Snoop Dogg, Lil Duval
"Snoopy Don't Go"Snoop Dogg
"Hotline"Metaverse: The NFT Drop, Vol. 2
"That's On Me"2023Jane HandcockWorld of Women
"Wine Mackin"Tim OctoberOctober 4 Eva
"Fake"Westcoast StoneThats That Drip

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lindquist . David . With Snoop's backing, South Bend singer is on the rise . . January 19, 2024 . August 7, 2017.
  2. Web site: Grove . Rashad . October London's Mission Is To Keep Soul Music Alive . . January 19, 2024 . December 20, 2023.
  3. Web site: H. . Marta . Who Is Sam London . Swurv Radio . January 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140126231941/http://www.swurvradio.com/sam-london/ . January 26, 2014 . January 14, 2014.
  4. Web site: Bradley . Brent . Meet October London, an Indiana Soul Man With a Snoop Dogg Co-Sign . DJBooth . January 19, 2024 . February 12, 2018.
  5. Web site: Kedem . Maia . October London on connecting with Snoop Dogg and the success of 'The Rebirth of Marvin' . . January 19, 2024 . October 3, 2023.
  6. Lyle . Ashley . Snoop Dogg & Jazze Pha Signee October London Releases 'Color Blind: Hate & Happiness' EP: Premiere . . January 19, 2024 . April 7, 2017.
  7. Web site: Eustice . Kyle . Snoop Dogg Signee October London Is A 'Black Man In America' . . January 19, 2024 . September 21, 2016.
  8. Web site: Meara . Paul . Soul Train Awards 2023: Snoop Dogg's Not-So-Secret Weapon Is October London . BET . January 19, 2024 . May 10, 2023.
  9. Web site: Soul Train Awards 2023: Discover October London: 5 Essential Things to Know About the Soulful Singer . BET . January 19, 2024 . November 30, 2023.
  10. Web site: Baker . Josh . Soulful Crooner October London on Marvin Gaye Comparisons and Why He's Riding with Death Row Records for Life . . January 19, 2024 . January 3, 2024.
  11. Web site: Respers France . Lisa . Snoop Dogg presents children's series 'Doggyland - Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes' . . January 19, 2024 . August 23, 2022.
  12. Web site: Meet October London: South Bend native rising in R&B ranks . . January 19, 2024 . October 17, 2023.
  13. Anderson . Trevor . October London's 'Place' Is at No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart . Billboard . January 19, 2024 . August 24, 2023.
  14. Zellner . Xander . 10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: The Last Dinner Party, Ludmilla, October London & More . Billboard . January 19, 2024 . June 28, 2023.
  15. Web site: Centeno . Tony M. . Alicia Keys, Usher, Keyshia Cole & More Appear On 'The Color Purple' Soundtrack . . January 19, 2024 . December 15, 2023.
  16. Web site: Patterson . Niani . October London Readies for 'The Rebirth Of Marvin Tour' Kicking Off in January . . January 19, 2024 . December 27, 2023.
  17. R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay . Billboard . January 19, 2024 . August 26, 2023.