Fred Hammond — Tiny Desk, 2026

Tiny Desk concert by Fred Hammond, filmed for NPR Music at the radio’s offices in Washington, in 2026, as part of the Black Music Month programming. A singer, bassist and producer, Fred Hammond has been for over forty years one of the leading architects of contemporary gospel, particularly praise and worship. From his beginnings in the groups Commissioned and United Tenors to leading the choir Radical for Christ and a long solo career, he has deeply shaped modern Christian music. This live recording brings together several facets of his repertoire: the recent Love Never Fails, the classic Running Back to You from the Commissioned era (1986), and his major hits Jesus Be a Fence Around Me, No Weapon and the essential We’re Blessed. In the intimate Tiny Desk format, the fervour and infectious warmth of his music remain intact, carried by inspired backing vocals. For fans of gospel and soul, this filmed live offers a rare moment of communion, captured up close with a living legend of praise music.