October London

{{Short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1986)}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | honorific_prefix = | name = October London | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Jared Samuel Erskine | alias = Sam London | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|17}} | birth_place = [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], [[Indiana]], U.S. | origin = | genre = {{hlist|[[Soul music|Soul]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano}} | discography = | years_active = 2014–present | label = {{hlist|Mortier|Cadillacc|[[Doggy Style Records|Doggy Style]]|[[Death Row Records|Death Row]]}} | current_member_of = | past_member_of = | spouse =  | partner =  | website = {{URL|octoberlondon.com}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''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 (magazine)|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,<ref name="WNDU" /> in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], [[Indiana]], and grew up there.<ref name="IndyStar">{{cite web |last1=Lindquist |first1=David |title=With Snoop's backing, South Bend singer is on the rise |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/08/07/south-bend-singer-october-london-aims-high/543206001/ |website=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BET">{{cite web |last1=Grove |first1=Rashad |title=October London's Mission Is To Keep Soul Music Alive |url=https://www.bet.com/article/dw4n4b/october-london-mission-is-to-keep-soul-music-alive |website=[[BET]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=December 20, 2023}}</ref> He began playing piano while in kindergarten.<ref name="IndyStar" /> He also performed in a musical group, First Fam, in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |last1=H. |first1=Marta |title=Who Is Sam London |url=http://www.swurvradio.com/sam-london/ |website=Swurv Radio |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126231941/http://www.swurvradio.com/sam-london/ |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |date=January 14, 2014}}</ref>

==Career== Erskine began performing music professionally under the name Sam London in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Brent |title=Meet October London, an Indiana Soul Man With a Snoop Dogg Co-Sign |url=https://djbooth.net/features/2017-04-06-meet-october-london |website=DJBooth |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=February 12, 2018}}</ref> Prior to performing as October London, he was training to become a [[commercial truck driver]].<ref name="Audacy">{{cite web |last1=Kedem |first1=Maia |title=October London on connecting with Snoop Dogg and the success of 'The Rebirth of Marvin' |url=https://www.audacy.com/national/music/october-london-on-snoop-dogg-the-rebirth-of-marvin |publisher=[[Audacy]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=October 3, 2023}}</ref> He released his debut single, "Black Man in America", in 2016, which was written about [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality against Black men in the United States]].<ref name="BBSignee">{{cite magazine |last1=Lyle |first1=Ashley |title=Snoop Dogg & Jazze Pha Signee October London Releases 'Color Blind: Hate & Happiness' EP: Premiere |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/snoop-dogg-jazze-pha-signee-october-london-color-blind-hate-happiness-ep-premiere-7752262/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=April 7, 2017}}</ref> A music video for the song was released in September 2016.<ref name="HHDX">{{cite web |last1=Eustice |first1=Kyle |title=Snoop Dogg Signee October London Is A 'Black Man In America' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.24737/title.snoop-dogg-signee-october-london-is-a-black-man-in-america |website=[[HipHopDX]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=September 21, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BETSecret">{{cite web |last1=Meara |first1=Paul |title=Soul Train Awards 2023: Snoop Dogg's Not-So-Secret Weapon Is October London |url=https://www.bet.com/article/o8ot5e/soul-train-awards-2023-snoop-doggs-not-so-secret-weapon-is-october-london |website=BET |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=May 10, 2023}}</ref> He began touring with Snoop Dogg on his Mount Kushmore Tour later that year.<ref name="BET" /><ref name="Ebony" /> He also performed on the High Road Tour with Snoop Dogg and [[Wiz Khalifa]] in the summer of 2016.<ref name="HHDX" /> 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.<ref name="IndyStar" /><ref name="BBSignee" /> 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 Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television series ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]''.<ref name="BET STA">{{cite web |title=Soul Train Awards 2023: Discover October London: 5 Essential Things to Know About the Soulful Singer |url=https://www.bet.com/article/y1j4a7/soul-train-awards-2023-discover-october-london-5-essential-things-to-know-about-the-soulful-singer |website=BET |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=November 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Ebony">{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Josh |title=Soulful Crooner October London on Marvin Gaye Comparisons and Why He's Riding with Death Row Records for Life |url=https://www.ebony.com/death-row-records-artist-october-london/ |website=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=January 3, 2024}}</ref>

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 [[Hip Hop Harry|Claude Brooks]] on the animated [[children's music]] [[web series]] ''[[Doggyland]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Respers France |first1=Lisa |title=Snoop Dogg presents children's series 'Doggyland - Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/entertainment/snoop-dogg-doggyland/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=August 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=2022-08-24 |title=Snoop Dogg launches new animated children's series 'Doggyland' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/snoop-dogg-launches-new-animated-childrens-series-doggyland-3296581 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> His studio album, ''The Rebirth of Marvin'', was released in February 2023 and was a [[Album#Tribute or cover|tribute]] to [[Marvin Gaye]].<ref name="Ebony" /><ref name="BET" /> His single "Back to Your Place" from the album marked his debut on a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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.<ref name="WNDU">{{cite web |title=Meet October London: South Bend native rising in R&B ranks |url=https://www.wndu.com/2023/10/17/meet-october-london-south-bend-native-rising-rb-ranks/ |publisher=[[WNDU-TV|WNDU]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=October 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name="BBPlace">{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Trevor |title=October London's 'Place' Is at No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/october-london-back-your-place-number-1-adult-rb-airplay-chart/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=August 24, 2023}}</ref> His EP, ''Jackpot'', was released on June 22, 2023.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: The Last Dinner Party, Ludmilla, October London & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-charts-first-timers-the-last-dinner-party-ludmilla-1235363269/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> In November 2023, he released ''The Greatest Gift'' a [[Christmas music|Christmas album]], and performed at the [[2023 Soul Train Music Awards]], where he was also nominated for the award for [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist|Best R&B/Soul Male Artist]].<ref name="BET STA" /> He released his single "Eternity" as part of [[The Color Purple (2023 soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] for the 2023 film ''[[The Color Purple (2023 film)|The Color Purple]]'' in December 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Centeno |first1=Tony M. |title=Alicia Keys, Usher, Keyshia Cole & More Appear On 'The Color Purple' Soundtrack |url=https://wjbt.iheart.com/content/2023-12-15-alicia-keys-usher-more-appear-on-the-color-purple-soundtrack/ |publisher=[[WJBT]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> His national Rebirth of Marvin Tour took place from January to March in 2024.<ref name="BET" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Patterson |first1=Niani |title=October London Readies for 'The Rebirth Of Marvin Tour' Kicking Off in January |url=https://www.wbls.com/wbls-news/october-london-readies-for-the-rebirth-of-marvin-tour-kicking-off-in-january |publisher=[[WBLS]] |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=December 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Wilson |date=2022-08-25 |title=Snoop Dogg debuts children's animated series on YouTube |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/snoop-dogg-debuts-childrens-animated-series-youtube-rcna44837 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

==Musical style== London primarily makes [[Soul music|soul]] and [[contemporary R&B]] music.<ref name="BET" />

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" width=100% |+List of awards and nominations, with award, year, category, nominated work, result, and reference shown ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Nominee(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Soul Train Music Awards]] | rowspan="4"| [[2023 Soul Train Music Awards|2023]] | [[Soul Train Music Award for Best Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] | rowspan="3"| "Back to Your Place" | {{nom}} | rowspan="4"| |- | [[Soul Train Music Award for Best Video of the Year|Video of the Year]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Soul Train Music Award for The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award|The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist|Best R&B/Soul Male Artist]] | Himself | {{nom}} |}

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

| * Released: October 11, 2024 * Label: Death Row * Format: Digital download, streaming |}

===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of extended plays, with release date and label shown ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |- ! scope="row"| ''The Introduction'' | * Released: December 10, 2013 * Label: Mortier Music * Format: Digital download, streaming |- ! scope="row"| ''Color Blind: Love'' | * Released: October 28, 2016 * Label: Cadillacc Music * Format: Digital download, streaming |- ! scope="row"| ''Color Blind: Hate & Happiness'' | * Released: April 7, 2017 * Label: Cadillacc * Format: Digital download, streaming |- ! scope="row"| ''Technicolor'' | * Released: March 3, 2023 * Label: Death Row * Format: Digital download, streaming |}

===Singles=== ====As lead artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles as lead artist, with title, year released, album, and chart positions shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| [[R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay|US R&B/HH Air.]] <ref>{{cite magazine |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-airplay/2023-08-26/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 19, 2024 |date=August 26, 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"|[[Adult R&B Songs|US Adult R&B]]<ref>{{cite magazine |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-adult-r-and-b-airplay/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Baila Conmigo" {{small|(featuring Tripp Caimbridge and Walter West)}} | 2014 | – | – | ''The Introduction'' |- ! scope="row"| "Black Man in America" | 2016 | – | – | ''Color Blind: Love'' |- ! scope="row"| "Kdb (Kisses Down Below)" {{small|(with Bcanic)}} | 2016 | – | – | rowspan="5" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "Delorean" | rowspan="3"| 2020 | – |- ! scope="row"| "Quarantina" | – |- ! scope="row"| "Our Last" | – |- ! scope="row"| "LSD" | rowspan="5"| 2021 | – |- ! scope="row"| "Lime and Squeeze" {{small|(featuring [[Snoop Dogg]])}} | – | – | ''[[DJ Drama discography|Gangsta Grillz: I Still Got It]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "Tennessee Whiskey" {{small|(featuring Dean Dillon)}} | – | – | rowspan="3" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "I Want You" | – |- ! scope="row"| "I Dont Give a Damn" | – |- ! scope="row"| "Back to Your Place" | rowspan="3"| 2023 | – | 1 | rowspan="2" {{N/A|''The Rebirth of Marvin''}} |- ! scope="row"| "Mullholland Drive" | – | 1 |-

|- ! scope="row"| "She Keeps Calling" | rowspan="1"| 2024 | 28 <ref>{{cite magazine |title=October London's 'She Keeps Calling' Debuts on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay Chart |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2024/11/october-london-she-keeps-calling-debuts-billboard-adult-rnb-airplay-chart/|magazine=Rated R&B |access-date=January 23, 2025 |date=November 6, 2024}}</ref> | – | rowspan="1" {{N/A|''October Nights''}} |}

====As featured artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles as featured artist, with title, year released, and album ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |- ! scope="row"| "Go On" {{small|(Snoop Dogg featuring October London)}} | rowspan="2"| 2017 | ''[[Neva Left]]'' |- ! scope="row"| "What is This?" {{small|(Snoop Dogg featuring October London)}} | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Funky Christmas" {{small|(Snoop Dogg featuring October London and Cocoa Sarai)}} | 2020 |- ! scope="row"| "Touch Away" {{small|(Snoop Dogg featuring October London)}} | 2022 | ''Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022'' |- ! scope="row"| "The Crown" {{small|(Ideal featuring October London and [[Benny the Butcher]])}} | 2023 | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "All I Want Is You" {{small|([[Boney James]] featuring October London)}} | 2024 | ''Slow Burn'' |- |}

===Guest appearances=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of guest appearances, with year released, other artist(s), and album name shown ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album ! scope="col" | Notes |- ! scope="row"| "We the Shit" | rowspan="5"| 2013 | Komain, Ballhead | rowspan="5"| ''The Life & Times of Brian James'' | rowspan="5"| |- ! scope="row"| "Bananas" | rowspan="3"| Komain, Tripp Caimbridge |- ! scope="row"| "Shut Up or Move On" |- ! scope="row"| "My Life, Pt. 2" |- ! scope="row"| "Put It Down" | Komain |- ! scope="row"| "City to City" | 2014 | J-Live, Tanya Morgan | ''Around the Sun'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Revolution" | 2016 | rowspan="3"| Snoop Dogg | ''[[Coolaid]]'' | |- ! scope="row"| "My Last Name" | 2017 | ''[[Make America Crip Again]]'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Waves" | rowspan="3"| 2018 | ''[[220 (EP)|220]]'' | |- ! scope="row"| "When Life Calls" | [[Daz Dillinger]] | ''Dazamataz'' | |- ! scope="row"| "In the Name of Jesus" | Snoop Dogg | ''Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Dissolution of Marriage" | rowspan="2"| 2021 | [[Tha Dogg Pound]] | ''Dpg 4 Life'' | |- ! scope="row"| "It Ain't Nuthin'" | rowspan="2"| Snoop Dogg | ''[[The Addams Family 2|The Addams Family 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Baila Conmigo" | rowspan="5"| 2022 | ''Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Coming Back" | Snoop Dogg, Nefertitti Avani | rowspan="3"| ''[[BODR]]'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Get This Dick" | Snoop Dogg, [[Lil Duval]] | |- ! scope="row"| "Snoopy Don't Go" | rowspan="2"| Snoop Dogg | |- ! scope="row"| "Hotline" | ''Metaverse: The NFT Drop, Vol. 2'' | |- ! scope="row"| "That's On Me" | rowspan="3"| 2023 | Jane Handcock | ''World of Women'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Wine Mackin" | Tim October | ''October 4 Eva'' | |- ! scope="row"| "Fake" | Westcoast Stone | ''Thats That Drip'' | |}

==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2017 | ''[[Empire_(2015_TV_series)|Empire]]'' | Himself | 1 episode |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.octoberlondon.com}} * {{IMDb name|8843860}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:London, October}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Death Row Records artists]] [[Category:American soul singers]] [[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]] [[Category:Musicians from South Bend, Indiana]] [[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:American male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from Indiana]] [[Category:Record producers from Indiana]] [[Category:21st-century African-American male singers]] [[Category:21st-century American male singers]] [[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]