Food Services Director + Gospel Singer

Passion for music: I started singing and playing drums at age 9. By the time I turned 20, I was singing gospel music at public venues. I was in two gospel groups, “The Brothers of Faith” and “In Faith.” I traveled throughout the southeastern United States and enjoyed that because gospel music encourages, motivates and uplifts people.

High notes: I’ve produced three gospel CDs: “Fred Rahming” in 2004, “In Spite of Here is My Praise” in 2010 and “My Best Solution,” releasing this fall.

Smash hit: My most popular song is “I Need a Word,” which has aired in both the United States and Britain. I’ve performed this song at Atlanta Live.

A family affair: My baby girl, Jamilya, sings with me at our church, Citadel of Hope in Leesburg. We recently performed a duet there. She is a 21-year-old student at the University of South Florida.

Behind the lens: When Jamilya graduated high school, I took graduation pictures and posted them on Facebook. Everyone loved them and started asking me to take pictures of them. That’s how FR Photography started.

Giving back: I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011. As a result, one thing I do is provide free photographs and prints to breast cancer patients to help give them their smile back. I don’t do photography to earn a living; I do it to earn a smile.

Guilty pleasure: Riding my Harley Davidson without a helmet. There’s something about the wind blowing around my head that makes me feel good.

Favorite book: “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. This book helped me understand what qualities you need to be an effective and successful leader.

Music you’d want on a deserted island: Fred Hammond, a popular gospel singer. He has been my favorite artist for a long time, and his inspirational music would help me cope with being on a deserted island.

Desired tombstone inscription: “For God I lived; For God I died.”

Pet peeve: Cold food that’s supposed to be hot.

VITAL STATS

Age: 43 
Resides: Grand Island
Food for thought: Fred is food services director of The Villages Rehab and Nursing Center
Spread the word: A gospel singer, Fred has written and produced three CDs
Close to home: Fred is a lifelong Lake County resident and 1989 graduate of Eustis High

PHOTO: Fred Lopez