Artists

Fred Hammond

With the close of each day, another chapter is recorded in the book of our lives - a chapter of joy or sorrow, triumph or failure, heightened emotion or simple routine. Through it all, the Lord asks that we praise Him, for He is the one who works each moment and each experience out for the good of His people.

This is the sweeping idea behind Pages of Life, the new solo release from award-winning Gospel recording artist and producer Fred Hammond. As the architect behind the new phenomenon in gospel music - urban-influenced praise and worship - Fred has become one of the most respected names in the Gospel music world. His new project is a culmination of his experience over his life, especially the time he spent last year on the road with the highly successful “Tour of Life” with Kirk Franklin and the Family and Yolanda Adams.

“We were dealing with a lot of different people on the [Tour of Life],“ says Fred. “We were seeing diverse people - rich, poor, black, white, red, yellow, brown - and we were seeing where they were coming from - families with no husband and father, men who had lost their jobs, children from abusive homes. We started writing songs that were not like the songs that we had been writing for the previous two years. We were starting to write out of seeing the need of the people. That’s where we came up with the idea for Pages of Life - songs written out of the suffering of the everyday, real-world lives of the people we had come face to face with.”

The songs on Pages of Life continue Fred’s quest to deliver praise and worship music with an urban flair. Intermingled with the smooth, flowing rhythms and funk grooves are messages geared toward encouraging the believer. “The Lord has given me a heart for the believer,” Fred says, “and these songs continue to move in that flow. There’s a song called ‘Your Steps Are Ordered’ that has a traditional feel to it. It lets you know that in the midst of what you’re going through, God is in control, and that a righteous man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. Another song, called “Let the Praise Begin,” opens up the album, and just simply leads you into praise. It kicks in with a Stevie Wonder-styled keyboard vibe, moving into an up-tempo, urban groove.”

Among the other songs on Pages of Life is “I Want to Know Your Ways,” a song based on the question Moses asked when God was dealing with him: “Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways.” Fred says that one of his personal favorites on the album is “Jesus Is All.” “It’s the first song I wrote for the album,” he says. “I wrote it in a hotel dressing room while out on the ‘Tour of Life’ with Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams. The song... speaks the sentiments of my heart. I do what I do because of Jesus and what He’s done for me. He is all.”

Fred states that Pages of Life takes up where The Spirit of David left off. “As with the previous two albums, this one begins with a focus on praise,” says Fred. “That’s followed by a moment of reflection, and ends on a note of worship.” Fred adds, “I guess you can say this album is the same book, but the beginning of the next chapter!”

Fred’s musical experience began at the age of twelve, singing in the church choir under the direction of his mother. He went on to play bass guitar for the Winans, and later formed and led the popular contemporary gospel group Commissioned. He spent more than a decade with the group before assembling Radical For Christ and recording The Inner Court and Spirit of David, albums of fresh, contemporary praise and worship. “I believe that today, praise and worship is the place where I need to be,” Fred says.

The Lord is continuing to do a new thing in the ministry of Fred Hammond, and Pages of Life is evidence of that fact. Fred envisions the album taking his ministry to another level. “I understand what it’s like to feel that God is not accessible,” he says. “When I was growing up in the church, I would look at the way the older people who had a relationship with God dressed and carried themselves. I thought to myself, ‘If that’s what it takes to be serious with God, then I’ll never get there.’ Instead, I want to be accessible - I want my music to show people that even thought I may be at a different point in my relationship with Him than they are, they can still get there. I want to show that God continues to love me where I am, even when I make mistakes - and He will love them right where they are, too.”

“My main goal with this album is to talk to people right where they are, whether in the church or not, and challenge them to a deeper level of relationship with Jesus Christ.”