SAN ANTONIO — Tickets are going fast to see Fred Hammond, Todd Dulaney, James Fortune, Anthony Brown, and VaShawn Mitchell at New Creation Christian Fellowship Church on Wednesday night.
The five artists are launching a national tour called 'Worship Live.' The San Antonio area is where it begins.
"Why not San Antonio?" Hammond said. "That's where I was born."
The 62-year-old said he was born in Bexar County but was raised in Detroit.
Hammond started releasing music with the Gospel group 'Commissioned' in the mid-80s before going solo and selling millions of albums.
He is bringing an arsenal of hit songs like 'Glory-to-Glory' and 'No Weapon' in a 'family-styled' concert with Dulaney, Fortune, Brown, and Mitchell.
"We all come out. We sing together," he said. "We back each other up. We have a good time."
The five will perform for up to three hours. Dulaney, a former professional minor league baseball player turned gospel artist, also brings a bevy of hits to the event, like his 2023 version of 'No Weapon.'
Fortune comes with hits like 'I Am' and 'Let your power fall.' Brown with 'Blessings on blessings' and 'Worth.' Mitchell has 'Nobody greater' and 'Turning around for me.'
"It was an absolute opportunity for us to bring something great to the city for the holiday time," Danielle Gulley said. That's for us. By us---from us. And when I mean us, I don't necessarily mean Black people. I mean Christ followers."
Gulley, owner of Perpetual Innovations Entertainment, is the San Antonio producer, playwright, promoter, and singer who assisted in bringing the show to town.
She said this is a united church effort with churches like Pastor Ray Brown's Resurrection Baptist Church (Schertz) and New Creation's Archbishop David M. Copeland making the concert a reality.
"We often complain that we don't have anything here in the city," Gulley said. "Now that things are coming in and, people are really getting geared up. They're getting excited about it."
The concert comes when Hammond believes people could use a boost of good old-fashioned joy.
"Sometimes, this is the most depressing time of year for a large population of people," said Hammond. "We're saying come on out and let us help you give some of the joy of the Lord to just let you know you're not alone."
Gulley said tickets are going fast. Some sections at the New Creation sanctuary are sold out. Others have many seats to fill.