As preparations continue for the October 1st, 2016 Festival of Praise Tour launch—the tour’s third consecutive year--Grammy®, Stellar, Dove, BET and NAACP Image Award-winning Gospel mega-star and tour founder Fred Hammond marks his return to the road with first single, “Father Jesus Spirit,” from his new RCA Inspiration album, “Worship Journal Live,” out September 30th and currently available for pre-order at all digital retailers.  The much-anticipated live cd, his first in 17 years, was recorded before a packed and enthusiastic Houston crowd earlier in May.

The tour features multi Grammy ® Award Winner Gospel music superstar, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, whose just-released #1 EOne album “Azusa The Next Generation 2,” and smash single “Better,” have ascended multiple media platforms: “Better” is charting at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay, #1 on Gospel Digital Songs and #1 overall on the Top Gospel charts. This is Walker’s fifteenth album release.

The star-studded national event Hammond founded several years ago kicks off October 1ST, at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, and will reach over 50 major cities across the country, running through December, 2016. 

“FOP 2016 is going to be off the chain!,” Hammond said, adding, “ The thing I love about this tour is that no matter who you are or where you’ve come from, you’re guaranteed to have a great time, something is surely going to inspire you, and you're going to want to come back again and again! You definitely don’t want to miss this so don't be late because we've got an incredible show planned from beginning to end!”

One of the most revered singer/songwriter/producers in Christian music today, Fred Hammond is the triple threat that has gone on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. He is considered the architect behind the “Urban Praise & Worship” phenomenon in Gospel music today.

The Detroit native who is now based in Dallas where tour production is currently underway, plans to release a new cd to coincide with the tour; the new cd is expected out in October on RCA Records.

The Festival of Praise Tour 2016 will feature performances by the biggest names in the industry, such as Hezekiah Walker, the singer/composer/choir leader/radio host,  and visionary founder and Senior Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Churches in Brooklyn, and Bensalem, PA., The lineup also features Donnie McClurkin, Casey Janice Hobbs, “Casey J,” best known for her Number 1 hit song, “Fill Me Up,” and Regina Belle, who recorded the Grammy® winning song, “A Whole New World,” for the film, Aladdin.  Comedian “Earthquake” will serve as show host.