Conversation With Fred Hammond

Fred Hammond is considered to be the originator of Urban Praise and Worship Music, and a modern day Gospel Icon. He continues his legacy with his latest release, Free To Worship (Verity/Zomba). We went on a mission to find Fred and talk with him about this new project and the fact that he has changed his state of residence and is now single.

Q: What changes have occurred in your life since your last project?
Fred: Well, the biggest change is that I relocated from my hometown of Detroit, Michigan to Dallas, Texas. I originally was going to move to Atlanta, because my mother lives there, but I happened to be watching T.D. Jakes' television ministry one day and knew that I needed to be in Dallas because I need his level of teaching in my life right now.

Q: Is this new CD reflective of those life changes?
Fred: The new CD has a new group of musicians and singers that I assembled in Dallas and their energy is really captured on this project. Personally, God has used the transitions in my life to bring me to a place of being unbound and free to worship literally and that is the whole essence of this CD…freedom in praise, freedom in worship; no matter what is going on around you.

Q: What's musically different about it?
Fred: Free to Worship has some different vibes on it. I put my own swing on “This IS The Day� for instance and I approached the whole CD with total abandon so there is just a vitality and vibrancy on Free to Worship that I hope people will appreciate.

Q: How have you been able to sustain yourself after 20+ years in this biz?
Fred: Creatively, I have learned to give the people what they want. I have learned to reinvent myself and I have learned to humble myself. It's hard, because all artists want to do what WE want to do, what WE like, but we have to keep the audience in mind, do what's working for them and putting a little extra of ourselves into it. But I'm a learner, I like to learn and make changes and I think that has helped me in my career. Humility, enduring the trials in order to experience the successes, being willing to change.

Q: Are you working on any other projects like movies, tours, plays, etc.?
Fred: I'm working on a tour for 2007, and a Radical for Christ reunion project.
Free To Worship is available in stores now.

 Contributed by Urban Network

www.fredhammondmusic.com
www.myspace.com/therealfredhammond

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