Fred Hammond
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Frederick William Hammond (born December 27, 1960) 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. He is known for using a variety of different styles in his music such as R&B, hip-hop, and disco.
Musical career
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. 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.
Discography
Solo Albums
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US R&B/HH | ||
| I Am Persuaded | Released: 1991 Label: Verity Records, Benson Records | — | 11 | — |
| Deliverance | Released: 1993 Label: A&M Records | — | 26 | — |
| In Case You Missed It....And Then Some | Released: March 6, 2001 Label: Verity Records | — | — | — |
| Christmas...Just Remember | Released: September 11, 2001 Label: Verity Records | — | 2 | — |
| Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 | Released: September 10, 2002 Label: Verity Records | 38 | 1 | 13 |
| Hooked on the Hits | Released: September 9, 2003 Label: Verity Records | — | — | — |
| Somethin' 'Bout Love | Released: June 8, 2004 Label: Verity Records | 35 | 1 | 4 |
| Free to Worship | Released: October 3, 2006 Label: Verity Records | 29 | 1 | — |
| Love Unstoppable | Released: September 29, 2009 Label: Verity Gospel Music Group | 26 | 1 | — |
| God, Love & Romance | Released: January 31, 2012 Label: Verity Gospel Music Group | 8 | 1 | — |
| United Tenors | Released: March 26, 2013 Label: RCA Records | 39 | 1 | — |
| I Will Trust | Released: November 17, 2014 Label: RCA Records | 41 | 1 | — |
| Worship Journal Live | Released: September 30, 2016 Label: Provident Label Group, RCA Records | 113 | 1 | — |
| Uncle Fred - Texture of a Man | Released: May 11, 2018 Label: Provident Label Group, Face To Face Productions | — | 6 | — |
| Sunday Morning Fred | Released: November 14, 2021 Label: Face To Face Productions | — | — | — |
with Commissioned
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US R&B/HH | ||
| I'm Going On | Released: 1985 Label: Light Records | — | — | — |
| Go Tell Somebody | Released: 1986 Label: Light Records | — | — | — |
| On The Winning Side | Released: 1987 Label: Light Records | — | — | — |
| Will You Be Ready? | Released: 1988 Label: Light Records | — | — | — |
| Ordinary Just Won't Do | Released: 1989 Label: Light Records | — | — | — |
| State of Mind | Released: Label: Verity Records | — | — | — |
| Number 7 | Released: 1991 Label: A&M Records | — | — | — |
| Matters of the Heart | Released: 1994 Label: A&M Records | — | — | 65 |
| Gospel Greats | Released: December 1, 1995 Label: Benson Records | — | — | — |
| Praise & Worship | Released: June 13, 2006 Label: Verity Records, Legacy Records | — | — | — |
with Radical for Christ
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US R&B/HH | ||
| The Inner Court | Released: 1995 Label: Benson Records | — | 10 | — |
| The Spirit of David | Released: August 20, 1996 Label: Benson Records | — | 2 | — |
| Pages of Life - Chapters I & II | Released: April 28, 1998 Label: Verity Records | 51 | 1 | — |
| Purpose By Design | Released: March 21, 2000 Label: Verity Records | 46 | 1 | 18 |
| The Commissioned Reunion Live | Released: April 23, 2002 Label: Verity Records | — | 3 | — |
with FK&M
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US R&B/HH | ||
| Time Capsule - The Triolgy | Released: August 30, 2024 Label: 3Brothers/Dare Records | — | — | — |
Awards and nominations
BET Awards
The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Hammond has received 8 nominations.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Best Gospel Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2005 | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | "Tell Me Where It Hurts" | Nominated |
| 2020 | "Alright" | Nominated | |
| 2022 | "Hallelujah" | Nominated |
Dove Awards
The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Hammond has received 9 awards from 34 nominations and has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year | Will You Be Ready? (with Commissioned) | Won |
| 1991 | State of Mind (with Commissioned) | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Inspiration Album of the Year | Generation 2 Generation | Won |
| Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year | Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration | Won | |
| Contemporary Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Kings of Glory" (with Commissioned) | Nominated | |
| 1995 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year | Matters of the Year (with Commissioned) | Nominated |
| 1996 | Urban Album of the Year | Give Your Love (as producer) | Won |
| Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Glory To Glory To Glory" | Nominated | |
| 1997 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Irreplaceable Love (with Commissioned) | Nominated |
| The Spirit of David | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "No Weapon" | Nominated | |
| 1999 | "Let The Praise Begin" | Won | |
| "Your Steps Are Ordered" | Nominated | ||
| "Jesus Is All" | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Pages of Life: Chapters 1 & 2 | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Power" | Won |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Purpose by Design | Won |
| Long Form Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "When You Praise" | Nominated | |
| Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "I Want My Destiny" | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Urban Album of the Year | Christmas... Just Remember | Won |
| Special Event Album of the Year | In Case You Missed It ... and Then Some | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 | Nominated |
| 2005 | Somethin' 'Bout Love | Nominated | |
| Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Celebrate (He Lives)" | Nominated | |
| 2006 | "I Will Find A Way" | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Free to Worship | Nominated |
| 2010 | Love Unstoppable | Won | |
| Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Awesome God" | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Gospel Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year | I Will Trust | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Worship Journal - Live | Nominated | |
| Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Father Jesus Spirit" | Nominated | |
| 2026 | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Love Never Fails" | Pending |
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Hammond has received 1 award from 15 nominations.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Best Soup Gospel Vocal Performance By a Duo, Group, Choir, or Chorus | Will You Be Ready? (with Commissioned) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Best Pop Gospel Album' | Shakin' The House...Live | Nominated |
| 1995 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Matters of the Heart | Nominated |
| 1997 | Shakin' The House...Live In L.A. | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Pages Of Life - Chapters I And II | Nominated | |
| Best Engineered Album - Non-Classical | The Nu Nation Project | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Purpose By Design | Nominated |
| 2002 | In Case You Missed It...And Then Some | Nominated | |
| 2003 | Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 | Nominated | |
| The Commissioned Reunion "Live" | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | Somethin' 'Bout Love | Nominated | |
| Best Gospel Performance | "Celebrate (He Lives)" | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album | Free To Worship | Won |
| 2011 | Love Unstoppable | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Best Gospel Song | "I Feel Good" | Nominated |
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Hammond has received 7 nominations.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2003 | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Outstanding Gospel Album | Love Unstoppable | Nominated |
| 2013 | God, Love & Romance | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Worship Journal Live | Nominated |
Soul Train Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Hammond has received 5 nominations.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Best Gospel Album | Pages of Life - Chapters I & II | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Gospel Performance | "They That Wait" (with John P Kee) | Nominated |
| 2010 | Himself | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Best Gospel/Inspirational Song | "I Will Trust" (with BreeAnn Hammond) | Nominated |
| 2022 | Best Gospel/Inspiration Award | Himself | Nominated |
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Hammond has received 9 awards from 58 nominations.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Song of the Year | "King of Glory" | Nominated |
| Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | Christmas... Just Remember | Nominated | |
| Contemporary CD of the Year | The Commissioned Reunion Live (with Commissioned) | Nominated | |
| Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Group Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Special Event CD of the Year | Won | ||
| 2005 | Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 | Nominated |
| 2005 | Producer of the Year | Somethin' 'Bout Love | Won |
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | "Celebrate (He Lives)" | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Producer of the Year | Better Than That | Nominated |
| 2008 | Contemporary Male of the Year | Free To Worship | Won |
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Artist of the Year | Love Unstoppable | Nominated |
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | "They That Wait" | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | God, Love & Romance | Won |
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year | "I Feel Good" | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Producer of the Year | United Tenors | Won |
| Contemporary CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Group/Duo of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Urban/Inspiration Single or Performance of the Year | "Here In Our Praise" | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | I Will Trust | Nominated |
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Traditional CD of the Year | Worship Journal Live | Nominated |
| Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Special Event CD of the Year | The Best of Fred Hammond | Won |
| 2021 | Urban/Inspiration Single or Performance of the Year | "Alright" | Nominated |
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | Duo/Chorus Group of the Year | Time Capsule - The Trilogy (with Keith Staten and Marcus Cole) | Nominated |
| Producer of the Year | Nominated |
Personal life
Hammond has two children who have appeared on his 2009 album, Love Unstoppable. Hammond divorced his wife of 18 years, Kim, in 2004, 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.
According to Fred Hammond in an interview with Tim Ross, his father is Bishop Charles Watkins (now deceased), a former gospel artist and a former full bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana)
Hammond is an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity