October London

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. Jared Samuel Erskine was born on October 17, 1986, in South Bend, Indiana, and grew up there. 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. He began playing piano while in kindergarten. He also performed in a musical group, First Fam, in 2004. Erskine began performing music professionally under the name Sam London in 2014. Prior to performing as October London, he was training to become a commercial truck driver. He released his debut single, "Black Man in America", in 2016, which was written about police brutality against Black men in the United States. A music video for the song was released in September 2016. 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. 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. 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. 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. His EP, Jackpot, was released on June 22, 2023. 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. His national Rebirth of Marvin Tour took place from January to March in 2024. London primarily makes soul and contemporary R&B music. "Meet October London: South Bend native rising in R&B ranks". WNDU. October 17, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024. Lindquist, David (August 7, 2017). "With Snoop's backing, South Bend singer is on the rise". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 19, 2024. 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. Lyle, Ashley (April 7, 2017). "Snoop Dogg & Jazze Pha Signee October London Releases 'Color Blind: Hate & Happiness' EP: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2024. 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. 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. "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. Richards, Will (2022-08-24). "Snoop Dogg launches new animated children's series 'Doggyland'". NME. Retrieved 2025-11-21. 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. Wong, Wilson (2022-08-25). "Snoop Dogg debuts children's animated series on YouTube". NBC News. Retrieved 2025-11-21. "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. August 26, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024. "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2025. "October London's 'She Keeps Calling' Debuts on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay Chart". Rated R&B. November 6, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2025. Official website October London at IMDb