Commissioned (gospel group)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
| Products | Urban contemporary gospel music |
Commissioned is a prominent American ensemble specializing in urban contemporary gospel, originating from Detroit, Michigan. The group’s lineup has included notable artists such as Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Mitchell Jones, Marvin Sapp, Marcus Cole, and Montrell Darrett.
Throughout a span of 17 years, the group produced twelve albums and received recognition through nominations for both Grammy and Stellar.
Group history
Hailing from Detroit, the founding six members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams. Commissioned was established in 1982, two years following Hammond’s tenure as bassist for The Winans. The lineup evolved in 1990 when Staten and Brooks departed, with Marvin Sapp, Maxx Frank, and Eddie Howard, Jr. stepping in as replacements. By 1994, Eddie Howard had exited, followed by Williams in 1995. Hammond left to dedicate his efforts to the choir project Radical For Christ, with Montrell Darrett taking his place. In 1999, for their final studio album, Marcus Cole and Chris Poole joined the group, succeeding Sapp, Frank, and Darrett.
The R&B vocal group Silk recorded a rendition of Commissioned’s ballad "Cry On" for the Blankman (1994) movie soundtrack.
In 2002, Commissioned released a live reunion album captured at Straightgate Church in Detroit, featuring performances by most former members revisiting their signature songs.
That same year, they appeared at the Stellar Awards ceremony held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Following the 2011 Stellar Awards, Commissioned was recognized at the BMI Awards. Esteemed gospel performers such as Dawkins & Dawkins, Deitrick Haddon, Marvin Sapp, The Soul Seekers, The Clark Sisters, and Men of Standard delivered tributes. Present during this event were members including Hammond, Staten, Sapp, Jones, Reid, Williams, Frank, Darrett, Cole, and Brooks. The group performed "Victory," a track from their sophomore album Go Tell Somebody.
In 2019, Hammond, Brooks, Staten, Sapp, Reid, Jones, and Williams reunited once more for a concert hosted by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Incorporated to commemorate its 104th Summer Convention.
Albums
| Release date | Album title |
|---|---|
| 1985 | I'm Going On |
| 1986 | Go Tell Somebody |
| 1987 | On The Winning Side |
| 1988 | Will You Be Ready? |
| 1989 | Ordinary Just Won't Do |
| 1990 | State of Mind |
| 1991 | Number 7 |
| 1991 |
A Collection |
| 1994 | Matters of the Heart |
| 1995 |
The Light Years |
| 1997 | Irreplaceable Love |
| 1999 |
The Best Of Commissioned |
| 1999 | Time & Seasons |
| 2002 | The Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2006 |
Praise & Worship |
| 2006 |
The Definitive 16 Greatest Hits |
| 2007 |
New Beginnings Gospel |
| 2008 |
The Essential Commissioned |
| 2008 |
Gospel Legacy |
| 2008 |
Fred Hammond & Commissioned |
| 2011 |
Setlist: The Very Best Of Commissioned Live |
| 2012 |
Mad Beats for Happy People |
Guest Contributions
| Track | Year | Album | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Before It Falls Down" | 2000 | J2K - Jesus 2000 | Various Artists |
| "All Because of You" | 2001 | With This Ring | Various Artists |
| "What Child is This" | 2013 | Marvin Sapp discography#Christmas Card | Marvin Sapp |
| "Honor The King" |
Live Performance Videos
| Release Year | Title (Video/DVD) | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "In Concert (Live)" (VHS) | Mercury Video |
| 1998 | "Matters of the Heart (Video/Live)" (VHS) | Verity Records |
| 1998 | "Commissioned: Live in Concert" (VHS) | Xenon Pictures |
| 1998 | "Number 7" (VHS) | Verity Records |
| 2002 | "The Commissioned Reunion: Live" (video/DVD) | Verity Records |
| 2005 | "The Winans: The Lost Concert" (video/DVD) | Xenon Pictures |
Award Nominations
| Year | Award Organization | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Grammy Awards | Best Soul Gospel Performance - Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus | Will You Be Ready? |
| 1991 | Grammy Awards | Best Pop Gospel Album | Shakin' the House...Live - Carman & Commissioned (& the Christ Church Choir) |
| 1994 | Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Matters of the Heart |
| 2001 | Stellar Awards | Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year | Time and Seasons |
| 2002 | Stellar Awards | Producer of the Year (Israel Humphrey) | Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2002 | Stellar Awards | Group/Duo of the Year | Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2002 | Stellar Awards | Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year | Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2002 | Stellar Awards | Contemporary CD of the Year | Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2002 | Stellar Awards | Special Event CD of the Year | Commissioned Reunion Live |
| 2002 | Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Commissioned Reunion Live |
Band Members
- Fred Hammond: bass guitar, lead and backing vocals (1982–1994, 2001–2002, 2011, 2013, 2018–2022)
- Keith Staten: lead and backing vocals (1982–1990, 2001–2002, 2011, 2013, 2017–2024)
- Mitchell Jones: lead and backing vocals (1982–2002, 2011, 2013, 2017–present)
- Karl Reid: lead and backing vocals (1982–2002, 2011, 2013, 2017–present)
- Eddie Howard, Jr: keyboards (1990–1994)
- Marvin Sapp: lead and backing vocals (1990–1996, 2001–2002, 2011, 2013, 2018–2023)
- Michael Williams: drums (1982–1994, 2001–2002, 2011, 2018–present)
- Marcus Cole: lead and backing vocals (1996–2002, 2013, 2017–2019, 2022–2024)
- Michael Brooks: keyboards (1982–1990, 2018–2024) (deceased 2024)
- Montrell Darrett: lead and backing vocals (1995–1996)
- Chris Poole: lead and backing vocals (1999–2000) (deceased)
- Maxx Frank: keyboards, B3 organ, mixing engineer (1990–1996)
- Parkes Stewart: lead and backing vocals (2023–present)