Mary Mary is the sisterly duo of Erica and Tina Atkins, who grew up in Inglewood, CA in a family that also comprised five other sisters and a brother. The girls' parents were gospel singers, and before long the children were singing in their local church choir, eventually turning up on the #Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET. Erica and Tina Atkins joined the Michael Matthews traveling gospel show #Mama I'm Sorry in 1995, followed by a second Matthews production, #Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts. Meanwhile, they wrote gospel material. A meeting with producer Warryn Campbell led to their signing a song publishing deal, and "Dance," a song that the sisters wrote and performed with Robin S., appeared on the soundtrack to #Dr. Doolittle in 1998.