Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton is a Grammy-, Dove-, and Stellar Award-winning CCM artist, songwriter, producer, and worship leader with a wide-ranging sound incorporating gospel, jazz, rock, and reggae elements. He is best known for his work with Israel & New Breed, and their multiple gold-selling albums including 2004's Live from Another Level, 2005's Alive in South Africa, and 2015's Covered: Alive in Asia. In 2025, Houghton, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell, Jonathan McReynolds, and Jekalyn Carr received the Best Gospel Performance/Song Grammy for contributing to the song "One Hallelujah."

Israel Houghton became involved full-time in worship ministry in 1989. From the start, he looked to overcome cultural and denominational barriers. With this idea as a centerpiece, Israel formed his New Breed Ministries in 1995 with his wife, Meleasa, and a group of world-class musicians and singers. Touring extensively brought the Ministries' powerful and diverse sound to churches around the U.S., while Israel's two 1997 releases -- Whisper It Loud and Way of the World -- kicked off his recording career. New Season from 2001 became the first Israel & New Breed release and their first release on Sony. That label also issued Real in 2002 and Live from Another Level (on both CD and DVD) in 2004. Alive in South Africa from 2005 featured a performance in Cape Town in front of 8,000 attendees. The holiday album Timeless Christmas appeared a year later, followed by Love God. Love People. The London Sessions in 2010. In 2012, Integrity issued Decade, a two-disc, 26-track career overview. Houghton and his group continued to document their travels with Covered: Alive in Asia, released in 2015.

2018 saw the release of The Road to DeMaskUs, a powerful worship effort that included guest spots from Adrienne Bailon and Travis Greene. Houghton kicked off the next decade with Feels Like Home, a 2021 concert album celebrating the group's two decades of service. Collaborations with Total Praise Mass Choir ("Hymn of Breakthrough") and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell, Jonathan McReynolds, and Jekalyn Carr ("One Hallelujah") followed in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the latter release earning a Grammy Award. ~ David Jeffries