Deeper Level
Israel Houghton has garnered acclaim as one of Christian and Gospel music's foremost worship leaders, songwriters, recording artists, and producers. Engaged in full–time ministry since 1989, Israel has touched the hearts of millions across the globe through his anointed, God–inspired music.In 1995, Israel and his wife, Meleasa Houghton, founded New Breed Ministries, an organization comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large.With a desire to draw people of all races, ages, and cultures together through worship, Israel and New Breed began melding sounds and songs to create music that breaks down barriers and defies categorization. Not an easy task, but it seems effortless for Israel who laughingly describes himself as "a black kid who grew up in a white family in a Hispanic neighborhood."Together with the vocalists and musicians of New Breed, Israel uses his own multi–cultural upbringing as a reference point. "It's not a white sound or black sound, it's a Kingdom sound," explains the songwriter and producer.Although their popularity had been growing steadily since the group's inception, they were catapulted into the limelight during 2005 with the release of their gold–certified CD,Live From Another Level. They followed this success with two others––the release ofAlive in South Africain late 2005, andA Timeless Christmasreleased in the fall of 2006. The accolades continued to flow including multiple Dove Awards and Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award, and a Grammy Award. The group has also made numerous appearances at high–visibility events including the The Stellar Awards and The Dove Awards presentation shows, as well as BET'sLift Every VoiceandCelebration of Gospel, TBN'sPraise The Lord, and CBN'sThe 700 Clubto name a few.All the while, this dedicated group of ministers continues to tour extensively and to serve at their local churches. But, even with such busy schedules, Israel and New Breed have recorded two more CDs—Sound of the New Breed: Freedom, a studio album currently in stores, andA Deeper Level, a live CD that released in September '07.Israel Houghton continues to serve as a worship leader at Houston's Lakewood Church. He and Meleasa make their home near Houston with their three young children.