One of contemporary gospel music’s most exciting, dynamic performers will headline “Sounds of Praise Gospel Concert” at the Four States Fair Entertainment Center a little more than a week from now.

Grammy winner Fred Hammond and several other gospel performers take the stage at 7 p.m. Jan. 10, and Hammond, once a member of the popular gospel group Commissioned, said kicking off the new year should be a good time for the show.

“No. 1, I do a very high energy, very exciting kind of concert,” Hammond said, noting this will be his first trip to Texarkana. He sees himself as a bridge between old school and new school gospel.

“This is not just your mother’s gospel and your father’s gospel, but then again it is,” he said.

Born in San Antonio and now based in the Dallas area, Hammond was raised in Detroit, giving him a great pot of diverse music to listen to as he grew up. It was Motown, Berry Gordy, Marvin Gaye, and the gospel side of things.

“It was good, I’m glad I grew up there,” said Hammond, who has been involved in the business for nearly 29 years.

Hammond has many different projects going, including theater. His play “Christmas ... Who Needs It” just completed a short run in Dallas. Last year, Hammond launched fHammond Family Entertainment to provide entertainment in film, TV, music and the Internet with a focus on urban Christian entertainment.

“I’m trying to do as much as I can, get the creative side out,” Hammond said.

Sometimes, said Hammond, gospel music gets locked into telling just one side of the story, so through his plays, theater, independent movies and other projects he can go a little deeper.

“I get a chance to see all sides,” Hammond said, who said youth absolutely respond to his hopeful message.

“They respond to it, and the music is cool enough because gospel is gospel,” he said.

After nearly three decades in the entertainment industry, what has he learned that helps keep him going?

“Seeing how it affects people helps me out,” Hammond said. “When I see the effect of what it does for people then it helps.”

He said his Texarkana concert will most assuredly be a party, though.

“I’m looking forward to getting a chance to meet my people there,” Hammond said.

Other Christian gospel performers lined up to play the concert are Image, David Wyatt, Kerri Crocker, Shelly Wilson and AnnaMaria. They’re local, regional and national. Gospel comedian Derrick Keener will host.

Texarkana Radio and KTOY 104.7 FM and Danielle Roberson’s company Perpetual Innovations have teamed up to present this show. Roberson wrote the gospel play “Itching Ears.”

Roberson worked as a background singer earlier this year for his Warehouse Worship videos.

“It’s definitely one of those events where we did not try to cater to one particular audience. We really tried to hit everybody because praising God and worshipping is important to everybody,” she said. “And I think sometimes we get out of the habit of going out to be entertained and having a good time. We could do that in a good spirit.”

She said Hammond’s band will be phenomenal, as well as the lights show set up at Four States.

“Anybody that loves music, live music, they are going to love this concert,” Roberson said.



(Doors open for the show at 6 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start. Tickets in advance are between $7 and $40. On the day of the show they are $30 or $40. Info: 870-773-2941 or visit www.fourstatesfair.com. More info on Hammond: www.fhammondfamilyent.com.)