Frederick William Hammond[1] (born December 27, 1960)[2] is an American gospel singer, bass guitar player, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most popular figures in contemporary gospel music.[3][4][5] He is known for using a variety of different styles in his music such as R&B, hip-hop, and disco.

Fred Hammond
Birth nameFrederick William Hammond
Born (1960-12-27) December 27, 1960 (age 63)
Detroit, Michigan, US
OriginDetroit, Michigan
GenresGospel, contemporary Christian, inspirational / worship
Occupation(s)Musician, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1985–present
LabelsLight, Verity, A&M, Benson
Websiterealfredhammond.com

Musical career edit

Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist (currently for Verity Records). He is a multiple Grammy, Dove, and Stellar award winner and nominee as a performer, producer, and writer.[citation needed]

Hammond first gained recognition while playing bass guitar for the gospel group The Winans.[2] By 1985, he was one of the six original members of the group Commissioned, participating in 10 of the group's 12 albums.[citation needed]

After his time with Commissioned ended, he regained fame in the gospel community after selling millions of albums with his musical group Radical For Christ.[citation needed]

In 2002, Hammond returned to the group Commissioned (now with members Keith Staten, Marvin Sapp, Mitchell Jones, Karl Reid, Michael Williams, and Marcus Cole) to produce the Commissioned Reunion Live album.[citation needed]

Hammond produced "Make Me Like the Moon", a gospel ballad co-written by Chanté Moore and Kenny Lattimore for their 2006 double-CD of gospel and R&B love songs entitled Uncovered/Covered (released October 10, 2006, by LaFace/Verity/Zomba Music Group). He also performs with Sean Combs on the unreleased album, Thank You.[citation needed]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Release date Album Label RIAA certification[6]
1985 I'm Going On (Commissioned) Light Records
1986 Go Tell Somebody (Commissioned) Light Records
1987 On The Winning Side (Commissioned) Light Records
1988 Will You Be Ready? (Commissioned) Light Records
1989 Ordinary Just Won't Do (Commissioned) Light Records
1990 State of Mind (Commissioned) Verity Records
1991 Number 7 (Commissioned) A&M Records
1991 I Am Persuaded Verity Records, Benson Records
1993 Deliverance A&M Records
1994 Matters of the Heart (Commissioned) A&M Records
1995 The Inner Court (Radical for Christ) Benson Records
December 1, 1995 Gospel Greats (Commissioned) Benson Records
August 20, 1996 The Spirit of David (Radical for Christ) Benson Records Gold - September 19, 2002 (2002-09-19)
April 28, 1998 Pages of Life - Chapters I & II (Radical for Christ) Verity Records Gold - September 9, 1998 (1998-09-09)
Platinum - April 7, 1999 (1999-04-07)
2× Platinum - October 13, 2006 (2006-10-13)
March 21, 2000 Purpose By Design (Radical for Christ) Verity Records Gold - January 19, 2001 (2001-01-19)
March 6, 2001 In Case You Missed It....And Then Some Verity Records
September 11, 2001 Christmas...Just Remember Verity Records
April 23, 2002 The Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned) Verity Records
September 10, 2002 Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 Verity Records
September 9, 2003 Hooked on the Hits Verity Records
June 8, 2004 Somethin' 'Bout Love Verity Records Gold - November 7, 2008
June 13, 2006 Praise & Worship (Commissioned) Verity/Legacy
October 3, 2006 Free to Worship Verity Records
September 29, 2009 Love Unstoppable Verity Gospel Music Group
January 31, 2012 God, Love & Romance Verity Gospel Music Group
March 26, 2013 United Tenors RCA Records
November 17, 2014 I Will Trust RCA Records
September 30, 2016 Worship Journal Live Provident Label Group, RCA Records
May 11, 2018 Uncle Fred - Texture of a Man - Collectors Edition Provident Label Group, Face To Face Productions

Notable singles edit

Release date Song Album Note
April 28, 1998 Let the Praise Begin Pages of Life: Chapters 1 and 2 1998 Dove Award winner for Best Contemporary Gospel Song with Radical for Christ
1998 Power The Prince of Egypt Inspirational Soundtrack a featured song on the soundtrack for the animated motion picture The Prince of Egypt with Radical for Christ
April 28, 1998 Power Pages of Life: Chapters 1 and 2 1999 Dove Award winner for Best Contemporary Gospel Song with Radical for Christ
2001 King of Glory 2001 Stellar Awards nominee for Song of the Year
All Things Are Working The Gospel Soundtrack a featured song on the soundtrack for the motion picture The Gospel
2004 Celebrate (He Lives) 2004 Grammy Awards nominee for Best Gospel Performance with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon
2005 Celebrate (He Lives) 2005 Stellar Awards nominee for Song of the Year with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon
2007 Better Than That, with The Singletons 2007 Stellar Awards nominee for Song of the Year
2003 We Have Not Forgotten Soulful a duet performed on Ruben Studdard's debut album Soulful
November 22, 2005 By Faith - with Sean Combs Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now

Billboard chart history edit

Albums edit

Year Album Chart Peak
1994 Matters of the Heart - (Commissioned) Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 65
2002 Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 29
2002 Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 Billboard 200 38
2004 Somethin' 'Bout Love Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
2004 Somethin' 'Bout Love Billboard 200 35
2006 Free to Worship Billboard 200 29
2009 Love Unstoppable Billboard 200 25
2009 Love Unstoppable Top Gospel Albums 1
2012 God, Love & Romance Billboard 200 8
2012 God, Love & Romance Top Gospel Albums 1
2013 United Tenors Billboard 200 39
2013 United Tenors Top Gospel Albums 1

Awards edit

Award wins edit

Year Award-giving body Award category Song /Album title
1992 Dove Awards Inspirational Album Generation to Generation (with Larnelle Harris, Matthew Ward, Glad, 4Him, Dallas Holm, Kelly Nelon Thompson, Billy & Sarah Gaines, and Dana Key)
1992 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Album Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (with Mervyn Warren, George Duke, David Pack, Patti Austin, Take 6, Gary Hines, Robert Sadin, Richard Smallwood, and The Yellowjackets)
1998 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Song Let the Praise Begin (with Radical for Christ)
1999 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Song Power (with Radical For Christ)
2000 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Album Purpose By Design (with Radical for Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Purpose by Design
2001 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year Purpose by Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Purpose By Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Dove Awards Urban Album Just Remember Christmas
2005 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year Somethin' 'Bout Love
2008 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album Free To Worship

Award nominations edit

Year Award-giving body Award category Song /Album title
1989 Grammy Awards Best Soul Gospel Performance - Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus Will You Be Ready? (Commissioned)
1991 Grammy Awards Best Pop Gospel Album Shakin' the House...Live - Carman & Commissioned (& the Christ Church Choir) (Commissioned)
1992 Dove Awards Inspirational Album (Winner) Generation to Generation (with Larnelle Harris, Matthew Ward, Glad, 4Him, Dallas Holm, Kelly Nelon Thompson, Billy & Sarah Gaines, and Dana Key)
1992 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Album (Winner) Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (with Mervyn Warren, George Duke, David Pack, Patti Austin, Take 6, Gary Hines, Robert Sadin, Richard Smallwood, and The Yellowjackets,)
1994 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Matters of the Heart (Commissioned)
1996 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Shakin' the House (with Hezekiah Walker and Yolanda Adams)
1998 Grammy Awards Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Pages of Life: Chapters 1 and 2 (with Radical for Christ)
1998 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Song (Winner) Let the Praise Begin (with Radical for Christ)
1999 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Song (Winner) Power (with Radical For Christ)
2000 Dove Awards Contemporary Gospel Album (Winner) Purpose By Design (with Radical for Christ)
2000 Soul Train Awards Best Gospel Album Pages of Life Chapter 1 and 2
2001 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album In Case You Missed It...And Then Some
2001 Stellar Awards Male Vocalist of the Year (Winner) Purpose by Design
2001 Stellar Awards Choir of the Year Purpose by Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year (Winner) Purpose by Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year Mountain High...Valley Low (with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jarren Campbell, Richard Smallwood and Kevin Bond)
2001 Stellar Awards Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year Purpose By Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards CD of the Year Purpose By Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year (Winner) Purpose By Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Stellar Awards Contemporary Choir of the Year Purpose By Design (with Radical For Christ)
2001 Dove Awards Urban Album (Winner) Just Remember...Christmas
2002 Stellar Awards Song of the Year King of Glory
2002 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3
2002 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year Commissioned Reunion Live
2002 Stellar Awards Group/Duo of the Year Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned)
2002 Stellar Awards Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned)
2002 Stellar Awards Contemporary CD of the Year Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned)
2002 Stellar Awards Special Event CD of the Year Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned)
2002 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Commissioned Reunion Live (Commissioned)
2002 Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Fred Hammond Christmas...Just Remember
2003 Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3
2004 Grammy Awards Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Somethin' Bout Love
2004 Grammy Awards Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year Celebrate (He Lives) (with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon)
2004 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Somethin' 'bout Love
2004 Grammy Awards Best Gospel Performance Celebrate (He Lives)
2005 Stellar Awards Artist of the Year Somethin' 'Bout Love
2005 Stellar Awards Song of the Year Celebrate (He Lives) (with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon)
2005 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year (Winner) Somethin' 'Bout Love
2005 Stellar Awards CD of the Year Somethin' 'Bout Love
2005 Stellar Awards Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Somethin' 'Bout Love
2005 Stellar Awards Contemporary CD of the Year Somethin' 'Bout Love
2007 Stellar Awards Producer of the Year Better Than That (The Singletons)
2008 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (Winner) Free To Worship

Personal life edit

Hammond has two children who have appeared on his 2009 album, Love Unstoppable. Hammond divorced his wife of 18 years, Kim, in 2004,[7] and he currently resides in Cedar Hill, Texas.[citation needed]

Hammond revealed on the Donnie McClurkin Show that his mother confessed to him three months before she died that she tried to get an abortion when she was pregnant with him, and the procedure, done in 1960, before abortions were legal, failed. Hammond's mother returned for a second attempt but decided against the procedure; Hammond was later born in December 1960.[8]

One of Hammond's nephews is guard Emmanuel Mudiay.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Broadcast Music, Inc. "Songwriter/Composer: HAMMOND FREDERICK WILLIAM". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Fred Hammond at AllMusic
  3. ^ "Fred Hammond | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "Fred Hammond | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "Fred Hammond | Yamaha Artists". www.yamaha.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  6. ^ RIAA official website
  7. ^ Evans Price, Deborah (July 3, 2004). "Hammond Feels the Love as Album Shoots to No. 1". Billboard. p. 13. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  8. ^ My Mom Nearly Aborted Me Archived February 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Fred Hammond on Instagram: "Hung with the nephew earlier today. His high school #retiredhisjersey @emmanuelmudiay . Now with @utahjazz ."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2020.

External links edit