# Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton (/ˈhoʊtən/; born May 19, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, producer, and worship leader. His worship team is credited as Israel & New Breed.

## Musical career

Houghton produced an album by Michael Gungor, Bigger Than My Imagination, which was described as "one of the year's best worship albums" in a 2003 Christianity Today review.

### Israel & New Breed

New Breed is the backing band of Israel Houghton. Many of Israel's album releases are credited to Israel & New Breed.

## Discography

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| 1997 | Whisper It Loud Released: January 28 Label: Warner Brothers Format: CD | |
| 2001 | New Season Released: July 31 Label: Integrity Format: CD | |
| 2001 | Nueva Generación (Spanish version of New Season) Released: August Label: Integrity Format: CD | |
| 2002 | Real Released: October 29 Label: Integrity Format: CD | No. 33 on Top Christian Albums No. 13 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2004 | Live From Another Level Released: May 4 Label: Integrity Format: CD/DVD | No. 146 on Billboard 200 No. 5 on Top Christian Albums No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums No. 3 on Heatseekers Albums |
| 2005 | Alive in South Africa Released: October 25 Label: Integrity Format: CD/DVD | No. 62 on Billboard 200 No. 3 on Top Christian Albums No. 2 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2006 | A Timeless Christmas Released: September 26 Label: Integrity Format: CD | No. 40 on Top Christian Albums No. 11 on Top Gospel Albums No. 32 on Top Holiday Albums |
| 2007 | A Deeper Level Released: September 4 Label: Integrity Format: CD/DVD | No. 48 on Billboard 200 No. 3 on Top Christian Albums No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2009 | The Power of One Released: March 24 Label: Integrity/Columbia Format: CD/Digital download | No. 34 on Billboard 200 No. 1 on Top Christian Albums No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums No. 19 on Digital Albums |
| 2010 | Love God, Love People Released: August 31 Label: Integrity/Columbia Format: CD/Digital download | No. 27 on Billboard 200 No. 1 on Top Christian Albums No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums No. 18 on Digital Albums |
| 2012 | Decade (compilation) Released: March 5 Label: Integrity Format: CD/Digital download | No. 10 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2012 | Jesus at the Center: Live Released: August 14 Label: Integrity/Columbia Format: CD/DVD | No. 32 on Billboard 200 No. 1 on Top Christian Albums No. 2 on Top Gospel Albums No. 16 on Digital Albums |
| 2013 | Jesús En El Centro: En Vivo (Spanish version of Jesus at the Center: Live) Released: August 14 Label: Integrity/Columbia Format: CD/DVD | No. 23 on Top Latin Albums No. 11 on Latin Pop Albums No. 48 on Top Christian Albums No. 16 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2014 | The Very Best of Israel & New Breed (compilation) Released: January 19 Label: Integrity Format: CD/Digital download | No. 34 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2015 | Covered: Alive in Asia Released: July 24 Label: RCA Inspiration Format: CD/Digital download | No. 48 on Billboard 200 No. 1 on Top Christian Albums No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums No. 11 on Digital Albums |
| 2018 | The Road To DeMaskUs Released: September 28 Label: Provident Label Group/RCA Format: CD/Digital download | No. 15 on Top Christian Albums No. 2 on Top Gospel Albums |
| 2021 | Feels Like Home Released: February 26 Label: District 11 Entertainment Format: Digital download, vinyl | |

### Other recordings

* 2002: "Champions for Christ" – Hi5 (worship leader)
* 2004: "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions (EMI Gospel)
* 2003: "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & a Prayer (EMI Gospel)
* 2002: We Speak to Nations (Lakewood Live; Integrity)
* 2003: Cover the Earth (Lakewood Live; Integrity)
* 2006: The Gift: A Christmas Presentation (Lakewood Live)
* 2007: Free to Worship (Lakewood Live)
* 2007: Moving Forward (Free Chapel Live)
* 2008: Hope for Today Worship (Lakewood Live)
* 2009: Free Chapel Live: Power of the Cross (Integrity)
* 2009: New Breed Live: Generation Love
* 2011: Echo: Forward Conference (Free Chapel Live)
* 2014: Covenant Worship: Kingdom
* 2014: Rey De Mi Universo (Lucía Parker)
* 2016: Eres Mi Todo (Job González)

## Personal life

Houghton is mixed race, he was born to a white mother and Afro-Jamaican father. Houghton and his college girlfriend had a son together.
In 1994, Houghton married Meleasa Houghton, with whom he had three children. Mariah in 1996, Israel Jr in 2001 and Milan in 2003. They separated in 2015 and their divorce was finalized in February 2016. During his marriage, Houghton fathered two sons with his mistress, DeVawn Moreno. Kingston in 2012 and Khristian in 2014.
On November 11, 2016, Houghton married singer and TV personality Adrienne Bailon in Paris, after several months of dating. In 2022, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son.

## Awards and nominations

Among the awards that Houghton has won includes six Grammy Awards; three for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and one for Best Traditional Gospel Album for Alive In South Africa.
GMA Dove Awards :
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2005 | Male Vocalist of the Year | | Nominated |
| 2005 | Song of the Year | "Friend of God" | Nominated |
| 2005 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Live from Another Level – Israel & New Breed | Won |
| 2005 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Again I Say Rejoice" | Won |
| 2006 | Song of the Year | "Friend of God" | Nominated |
| 2006 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Not Forgotten" | Won |
| 2006 | Praise & Worship Album of the Year | Alive in South Africa – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2006 | Long Form Music Video of the Year | Live From Another Level – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2007 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Turn It Around" | Won |
| 2007 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | It's Not Over | Won |
| 2007 | Choral Collection of the Year | Again I Say Rejoice: Celebrating The Songs Of Israel Houghton – various artists | Nominated |
| 2007 | Long Form Music Video of the Year | Alive In South Africa – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2008 | Producer of the Year | | Nominated |
| 2008 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Say So" | Won |
| 2008 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | A Deeper Level | Won |
| 2010 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "Every Prayer" | Nominated |
| 2010 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "The Power of One (Change the World)" | Won |
| 2010 | Urban Song of the Year | "Just Wanna Say" (tie) | Won |
| 2011 | Male Vocalist of the Year | | Nominated |
| 2011 | Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year | "You Hold My World" | Nominated |
| 2011 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Love God, Love People | Won |
| 2014 | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Duets (shared with Donnie McClurkin, Asaph A. Ward, Aaron W. Lindsey, Trent Phillips, Justin Savage) | Won |
Grammy Awards :
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2005 | Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album | Live From Another Level – Israel and New Breed | Nominated |
| 2006 | Best Gospel Song | "Again I Say Rejoice" – Houghton & Aaron Lindsey | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Traditional Gospel Album | Alive in South Africa | Won |
| 2007 | Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album | A Timeless Christmas – Israel and New Breed | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Gospel Song | "Not Forgotten" – Houghton and Aaron Lindsey | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance | "Not Forgotten" – Israel and New Breed | Nominated |
| 2008 | Best Gospel Performance | "With Long Life" – Israel and New Breed, featuring T-Bone (tie) | Nominated |
| 2008 | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | A Deeper Level – Israel and New Breed | Won |
| 2010 | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | The Power Of One | Won |
| 2010 | Best Gospel Performance | "You Hold My World" | Nominated |
| 2010 | Best Gospel Song | "Every Prayer" – shared with Dayna Caddell, Aaron Lindsey & Ricardo Sanchez (co-writers) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album | Love God, Love People | Won |
| 2013 | Best Contemporary Christian Music Song | "Your Presence Is Heaven" (tie); Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters | Won |
| 2013 | Best Gospel Album | Jesus at the Center: Live – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Gospel Performance/Song | "How Awesome Is Our God" – Israel & NewBreed, featuring Yolanda Adams; Neville Diedericks, Israel & Meleasa Houghton, songwriters | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Gospel Album | Covered: Alive In Asia – Israel & New Breed | Won |
| 2021 | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album | Feels Like Home, Vol. 2 – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
Stellar Awards :
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2005 | Artist of the Year | Live from Another Level | Nominated |
| 2005 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Live from Another Level | Won |
| 2005 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Live from Another Level | Won |
| 2005 | Producer of the Year | Live from Another Level | Nominated |
| 2006 | Video of the Year | Live from Another Level | Nominated |
| 2007 | Male Vocalist of the Year | ALIVE in South Africa | Nominated |
| 2007 | CD of the Year | ALIVE in South Africa | Nominated |
| 2007 | Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | ALIVE in South Africa | Nominated |
| 2007 | Urban/Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year | "Turn It Around" – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2008 | Group / Duo of the Year | Live: A Deeper Level – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2008 | Contemporary CD of the Year | Live: A Deeper Level – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2008 | Praise and Worship CD of the Year | Live: A Deeper Level – Israel & New Breed | Nominated |
| 2010 | Male Vocalist of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2010 | Praise and Worship CD of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2012 | Male Vocalist of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2012 | Producer of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2012 | Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2012 | Praise and Worship CD of the Year | The Power of One | Nominated |
| 2014 | Group / Duo of the Year | Jesus at the Center: Live | Nominated |
Daytime Emmy Awards :
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2019 | Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program | "Secrets" (shared with Adrienne Houghton) | Nominated | |