GOSPEL

Fred Hammond

Zomba Records

CBN.com – For more than 21 years, gospel listeners around the world have known Fred Hammond as a talented songwriter, bassist and vocalist. Throughout that time, he has been known within the music industry as a gifted musical arranger and producer. But, his work with Face to Face Productions Corporation, the company for which he is both founder and CEO, has earned him the title the "Babyface" of gospel.

Few gospel artists can boast of the consistency of sales, radio airplay and concert appearances which Hammond has achieved over the course of his career. As a solo artist and member of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned, he has sold nearly 2 million albums. Since retiring from that group in 1995, his work with Radical for Christ has made him a mainstay on Billboard's Gospel Chart top 10, along with frequent appearances on the magazine's Heatseekers and Music Video Sales charts. In addition, as if that were not enough, Hammond's work as a producer has landed him in the #1 spot among gospel producers according to the Gospel Music Round-up.

Throughout his professional life, Hammond has maintained a reputation for excellence, racking up numerous awards and nominations, as the leader of the two chart-busting musical acts, Commissioned and more recently, Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ. His projects have received and been nominated for every major award including the Grammy, and the N.A.A.C.P. Image, Stellar, Dove, and GMWA Excellence Awards.

Beyond Hammond's individual success, his achievements as CEO of Face to Face Productions have placed him in a class by himself. Since the company's founding in 1992, Hammond has served as producer on more than 80 album projects. With that level of productivity, it is not surprising that the Face to Face sound has dominated the gospel marketplace. Their recent success in bringing the praise and worship format to the African-American church has resulted in the development of a new genre of gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship. As the architect behind the new phenomenon in Gospel music, Fred has become one of the most respected names in the industry. His CD Pages of Life Chapters I & II has reached Platinum status and held the #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Charts for over 15 weeks and remains on Billboard's Gospel Charts. His previous release Somethin' Bout Love bombarded Billboard's #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Charts for over 12. His latest release, Free To Worship, is highly anticipated and boasts a signature “live” sound that is sure to follow the course of record breaking sales.

Hammond is taking his music savvy to a higher level with his latest business venture "F. Hammond Music Label". "F. Hammond Music Label" is a unique partnership between Hammond and his record label Verity Records. Hammond who is widely considered the architect of "urban praise and worship" is creating a whole new genre of contemporary Gospel music with the establishment of this exciting new label. Its debut release entitled In Case You Missed... And Then Some features some brand new artists on the F. Hammond Music Label and sold well over 100,000 copies. The label roster also includes Joann Rosario, The Singletons and Shea Norman, whose projects have taken the industry by storm!

In addition to Hammond's studio career, he has continued to take his special brand of gospel to audiences around the world, performing an average of 30 weeks per year. Hammond and his group, Radical for Christ has headlined thousands of concert dates with an average audience attendance of 3,000, in addition to television appearances on the nationally syndicated The Stellar Awards, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, BET's Celebration of Gospel Music, Walk of Fame, 106 & Park and TBN's highly-rated shows The Pat Boone Show, Praise the Lord, and The 700 Club.