Commissioned | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Gospel, contemporary Christian, contemporary worship, urban gospel |
| Years active | 1983–2006, 2011, 2013, 2017–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | Parkes Stewart Mitchell Jones Karl Reid Michael Williams |
| Past members | Fred Hammond Marvin Sapp Keith Staten Maxx Frank Montrell Darrett Chris Poole (deceased) Eddie Howard, Jr. Michael Brooks (deceased) Marcus Cole |
Commissioned is an American urban contemporary gospel group from Detroit, Michigan. Members included Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Mitchell Jones, Marvin Sapp, Marcus Cole and Montrell Darrett.
The group recorded twelve albums over a period of seventeen years, and were nominated for Grammy and Stellar awards.
The group originates from Detroit, Michigan. The six original members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks and Michael Williams. The group formed in 1982, two years after Hammond played bass for The Winans. In 1990, Staten and Brooks left the group and were replaced with Marvin Sapp, Maxx Frank and Eddie Howard, Jr. By 1994, Howard had left the group, and Williams left a year later. Hammond also left to pursue a career with the choir Radical For Christ. He was replaced by Montrell Darrett. By 1999, Marcus Cole and Chris Poole had taken the place of Sapp, Frank and Darrett on the group's last studio album.
The R&B group Silk covered the Commissioned ballad "Cry On" on the movie soundtrack for Blankman (1994).
In 2002, Commissioned released a reunion album, which was recorded live at the Straightgate Church in Detroit, Michigan on October 26, 2001. Most of the group's former members reunited, and featured most of its greatest hits.
The group performed live on stage during the 2002 Stellar Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. [1]
In 2011, they were honored at the BMI Awards after the Stellar Awards. Gospel artists sang musical tributes, including: Dawkins & Dawkins, Deitrick Haddon, Marvin Sapp, The Soul Seekers, The Clark Sisters and Men of Standard. The members who were present at the event were Hammond, Staten, Sapp, Jones, Reid, Williams, Frank, Darrett, Cole and Brooks. The group sang "Victory" from their sophomore record, Go Tell Somebody.
Hammond, Brooks, Staten, Sapp, Reid, Jones and Williams performed another reunion concert in 2019. It was hosted by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Incorporated. The group was invited to perform to celebrate the 104th Summer Convention of the P.A.W. Inc.
| Release date | Album title [2] | Label | RIAA certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | I'm Going On | Light Records | |
| 1986 | Go Tell Somebody | Light Records | |
| 1987 | On The Winning Side | Light Records | |
| 1988 | Will You Be Ready? | Light Records | |
| 1989 | Ordinary Just Won't Do | Light Records | |
| 1990 | State of Mind | Benson Records | |
| 1991 | Number 7 | Benson Records | |
| 1994 | Matters of the Heart | Benson Records | |
| 1996 | Irreplaceable Love | Benson Records | |
| 1999 | Time and Seasons | Verity Records | |
| 2002 | The Commissioned Reunion Live | Verity Records | |
| Release date | Album title [2] | Label | RIAA certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | A Collection | Light Records | |
| 1993 | Commissioned Complete | Platinum Records | |
| 1994 | Go Tell Somebody/I'm Going On | Light Records | |
| 1995 | The Light Years | CGI Records | |
| 1995 | Gospel Greats | Benson Records | |
| 1999 | The Best of Commissioned | Verity Records | |
| 2002 | Mega 3 Collection | Light Records | |
| 2003 | Essential | BMG Music | |
| 2003 | Legends of Gospel | Compendia Media Group | |
| 2006 | The Definitive 16 Greatest Hits | Intersound Records | |
| Release date | Single title [2] | Label | RIAA certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Love is the Way | A&M Records | |
| Title [2] | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Before It Falls Down" | 2000 | J2K - Jesus 2000 | Various |
| "All Because of You" | 2001 | With This Ring | Various |
| "What Child is This" | 2013 | Christmas Card | Marvin Sapp |
| "Honor The King" | |||
| Release date | Video / DVD title [3] [4] | 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 |
| Year | Album title | Chart name [5] | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Go Tell Somebody / I'm Going On | Top Gospel Albums | 5 |
| I'm Going On | Top Gospel Albums | 11 | |
| 1986 | Go Tell Somebody | Top Gospel Albums | 2 |
| 1987 | On the Winning Side | Top Gospel Albums | 6 |
| 1988 | Top Contemporary Christian | 24 | |
| 1989 | Will You Be Ready? | Top Contemporary Christian | 26 |
| Top Gospel Albums | 29 | ||
| 1990 | Ordinary Just Won't Do | Top Contemporary Christian | 28 |
| Top Gospel Albums | 4 | ||
| State of Mind | Top Contemporary Christian | 19 | |
| Top Gospel Albums | 4 | ||
| 1991 | Number 7 | Top Contemporary Christian | 22 |
| Top Gospel Albums | 7 | ||
| 1994 | Matters of the Heart | Top Contemporary Christian | 13 |
| Top Gospel Albums | 13 | ||
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 65 | ||
| 1996 | Irreplaceable Love | Heatseekers | 19 |
| Top Contemporary Christian | 9 | ||
| Top Gospel Albums | 3 | ||
| 1999 | The Best of Commissioned | Top Gospel | 29 |
| 2000 | Time and Seasons | Heatseekers | 28 |
| Top Contemporary Christian | 13 | ||
| Top Gospel Albums | 6 | ||
| 2002 | The Commissioned Reunion: Live (video/DVD) | The Billboard 200 | 100 |
| Top Contemporary Christian | 8 | ||
| Top Gospel Albums | 3 | ||
| Year | Award-giving body | Award category | Song/album title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 & 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 |
Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American gospel singer, choir director, record producer and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC). His accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Frederick William Hammond is an American gospel singer, bass guitar player, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most popular figures in contemporary gospel music. He is known for using a variety of different styles in his music such as R&B, hip-hop, and disco.
Bishop Marvin Louis Sapp is an American Gospel music singer-songwriter who recorded with the group Commissioned during the 1990s before beginning a record-breaking solo career.
The Canton Spirituals are an American gospel recording group founded in Canton, Mississippi in 1943.
Doyle Wayne Lawson is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
I'm Going On is the debut album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1985 on Light Records.
Go Tell Somebody, is the second album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1986 on Light Records.
On the Winning Side is the third album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1987 on Light Records.
Will You Be Ready? is the fourth album by the American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1988. The album was nominated for a Grammy. It won a GMA Dove Award.
Ordinary Just Won't Do is the fifth album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1989 on Light Records.
State of Mind is the sixth album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1990 on Benson Records. It was the last album with the original line-up of the group before lead vocalist Keith Staten and songwriter/producer/keyboardist Michael Brooks left the group to pursue solo careers.
Number 7 is the seventh album by the American urban contemporary gospel group Commissioned, released in 1991 on Benson Records.
Matters Of The Heart is the eighth album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released in 1994 on Benson Records. It was the last album with Fred Hammond and Michael Williams, both of whom left after this album.
Irreplaceable Love is the ninth album by American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released on March 1, 1996 via Verity Records. It was the last album with Marvin Sapp.
The Commissioned Reunion Live is the 11th overall album and first live album by the American contemporary gospel music group Commissioned, released on April 23, 2002 via Verity Records.
Joann Judith Rosario is an American gospel/CCM singer, and a pastor.
WOW Gospel 2000 is a gospel music compilation album in the WOW series. Released February 8, 2000, it features thirty-two songs on a double disc set. The album hit number 93 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2000, and number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart, making it the first gospel album to peak on that respective chart.
All In One is the fifth solo album by multiple Grammy and Stellar award-winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on April 6, 2010. The album debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums chart and #98 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 albums chart and was the first album to be released on her own music label, Karew Records.
The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 20, 2011, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was broadcast on GMC on April 24, 2011, hosted by Sherri Shepherd from The Newlywed Game.
I Am Persuaded is the debut studio album from gospel singer Fred Hammond. It is Hammond's first album as a solo artist, recorded while still a member of the popular gospel group Commissioned. The album was released on May 28, 1991, through Verity Records and Benson Records. The album contains a distinct early 1990s sound, and combines uptempo R&B, soul and new jack swing musical elements with its core gospel sound.
