Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton is known for injecting contemporary gospel and worship with a blazing, youthful energy that has made him among the most influential “tastemakers” in his field. As a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and worship leader, he has created a canon of songs that have become standards in houses of faith around the globe. He has accomplished this largely as the leader of “Israel and New Breed,” a Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award-winning musical ensemble and ministry organization that has amassed gold-selling albums and critical platitudes reserved for the best of the best.

Houghton has blasted down musical barriers, and drawn together people of all races, ages and cultures through worship. He has been fittingly graced with two Gold-selling albums, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award, and two Grammy® Awards – one for “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” for A Deeper Level and one for “Best Traditional Gospel Album” for Alive In South Africa.

Ironically, there is very little that is “traditional” about the way Houghton approaches music and ministry, defying categorization with an ease unlike other artists.

“It’s not a white sound or black sound, it’s a Kingdom sound,” explains Houghton. And it is because of this progressive connection to now-generation believers that Houghton's music has been fanatically embraced around the globe.

Houghton recorded a solo project, which is his most personal effort to date. The album, The Power of One, challenges people to change the world. “I strongly believe that those of us who consider ourselves worshippers need to have a heart for social justice,” says Houghton.

As a singer/songwriter, Houghton & New Breed has a number of awards and nominations. Of these awards he received, six are from the prestigious Grammy Awards. He won thrice for the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category and once for the Best Traditional Gospel Album category for his work Alive in South Africa.

Aside from the Grammy Awards, Houghton & New Breed has also won several recognition from the GMA Dove Awards and Stellar Awards.

As part of his personal effort to change the world, Houghton supports a variety of compassion-focused ministries including the international relief and aid organization World Vision and a medical missions ministry birthed out of Houston’s Lakewood Church where he serves as a worship leader.