Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton (; 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.

Personal life

Houghton is mixed race; he was born to a white mother and 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.

Discography Albums Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions US USChrist USGospel Whisper It Loud Released: January 28, 1997 Label: Warner Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — Real Released: January 1, 2002 Label: Integrity Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — 33 13 Esse Momento... Released: January 1, 2007 Label: Discotoni Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — The Power of One Released: March 29, 2009 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 34 1 1 Love God. Love People. Released: August 31, 2010 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — Road to DeMaskUs Released: September 28, 2018 Label: Provident Label Group/Sony Music Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — Feels Like Home, Vol. 1 Released: February 26, 2021 Label: District 11 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — 3 1 Feels Like Home, Vol. 2 Released: April 2, 2021 Label: District 11 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — 7 Coritos, Vol. 1 Released: May 9, 2025 Label: District 11/Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — 12 Coritos, Vol. 2 Released: September 19, 2025 Label: District 11/Integrity Formats: Digital download, streaming — — — Magnificent Released: May 22, 2026 Label: Integrity Formats: Digital download, streaming — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums Title Details Peak chart positionsCertifications US Nueva Generación Released: January 1, 2001 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — New Season Released: July 31, 2001 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — Live From Another Level Released: January 1, 2004 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 146 5 1 — RIAA: Gold Alive in South Africa Released: August 20, 2005 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 62 3 2 — RIAA: Gold | Released: September 4, 2007 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Released: August 14, 2012 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Released: July 24, 2015 Label: RGM NewBreed/RCA Records, Sony Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Released: October 22, 2021 Label: District 11 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Label: District 11 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — 12 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Christmas albums Title DetailsPeak chart positions USChrist A Timeless Christmas Released: September 26, 2006 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 40 11 32

Compilation albums Title Details Peak chart positions US | Released: March 6, 2012 Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Label: Integrity Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — 34 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Spanish reissue albums Title Details Peak chart positions USChrist USLatinPop Jesús En El Centro: En Vivo Released: April 21, 2013 Label: Integrity/Columbia Record Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 48 16 23 11 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Charted singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum USAdultR&B US Gospel USGospelAir. "Not Forgotten" 2005 — 17 Alive in South Africa "Turn It Around" 2006 — 17 "With Long Life" 2007 — 13 A Deeper Level "If Not for Your Grace" 2008 — 18 "It's Not Over (When God Is in It)" 2012 32 1 Jesus at the Center "How Awesome Is Our God" 2015 — 9 6 "Chasing Me Down" 2016 — 15 — Covered: Alive in Asia "Hymn of Breakthrough" 2021 — — 9 Feels Like Home, Vol. 1 "Coritos de Fuego" 2025 — 12 — Coritos, Vol. 1 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

Year Award Nominated workResult 2019 Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program "Secrets"(shared with Adrienne Houghton)

GMA Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Houghton has won 15 awards from 40 nominations. Year Award Nominated workResult 2002 Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "There's a Liftin' of the Hands" 2003 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Real Urban Recorded Song of the Year "Get Up" 2005 Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year "Again I Say Rejoice" Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Live From Another Level Male Vocalist of the Year Song of the Year "Friend of God" 2006 Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year"Not Forgotten" Song of the Year "Friend of God" Praise & Worship Album of the YearAlive in South Africa Long Form Music Video of the YearLive From Another Level 2007 Alive in South Africa Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year"Turn It Around" Contemporary Gospel Album of the YearIt's Not Over (as producer) Choral Collection of the YearAgain I Say Rejoice: Celebrating The Songs Of Israel Houghton Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Favor" (as producer) 2008 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year A Deeper Level Producer of the Year Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year "Say So" 2009 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Change The World (as producer) 2010 Urban Song of the Year"Just Wanna Say" Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year"The Power of One (Change the World)" "Every Prayer" 2011 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Love God, Love People Male Vocalist of the Year Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year "You Hold My World" 2013 Long Form Video of the Year Jesus at the Center Spanish Language Album of the Year Jesus En El Centro Gospel Performance of the Year "It's Not Over (When God Is In It)" Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year 2014 Traditional Gospel Album of the YearDuets Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year "Sunday Kind of Love" 2015 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "How Awesome Is Our God" Gospel Artist of the Year Himself 2016 Urban Worship Album of the Year Covered: Alive in Asia 2019 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Yeaer Road To DeMaskUs 2022 Clarity (as producer) 2025 Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year "One Hallelujah" Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year "Coritos de Fuego" Traditional Gospel Album of the Year "Then and Now (Live)" 2026 Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year "Digno" Spanish Language Album of the Year Coritos, Vol. 1

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Houghton has won 8 awards from 18 nominations. Year Award Nominated workResult 2005 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Live From Another Level 2006 Best Gospel Song "Again I Say Rejoice" 2007 Best Traditional Gospel AlbumAlive in South Africa Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album A Timeless Christmas Best Gospel Song "Not Forgotten" Best Gospel Performance 2008 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel AlbumA Deeper Level Best Gospel Performance "With Long Life" 2010 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album The Power Of One Best Gospel Song "Every Prayer" 2011 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel AlbumLove God, Love People Best Gospel Performance "You Hold My Hand" 2013 Best Contemporary Christian Music Song "Your Presence Is Heaven" Best Gospel Album Jesus at the Center: Live 2016 Covered: Alive In Asia – Israel & New Breed Best Gospel Performance/Song "How Awesome Is Our God" 2022 Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumFeels Like Home, Vol. 2 2025 Best Gospel Performance/Song "One Hallelujah" 2026 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Coritos Vol. 1

Stellar Awards The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Houghton has received 2 awards from 33 nominations. Year Award Nominated workResult 2005 CD of the YearLive from Another Level Male Vocalist of the Year Artist of the Year Producer of the Year 2006 Music Video of the Year 2007 CD of the YearALIVE in South Africa Contemporary CD of the Year Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Urban/Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year "Turn It Around" 2009 Contemporary CD of the Year Live: A Deeper Level Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year Group/Duo of the Year Praise and Worship CD of the Year 2010 Male Vocalist of the YearThe Power of One Praise and Worship CD of the Year 2012 Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Love God. Love People Male Vocalist of the Year Praise and Worship CD of the Year Producer of the Year 2014 Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year Jesus at the Center: Live Group/Duo of the Year Praise and Worship CD of the Year 2016 Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year Covered: Alive in Asia Group/Duo of the Year Praise and Worship CD of the Year Special Event CD of the Year 2018 Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year Reckless Love Recorded Music Packaging of the Year Road to DeMaskUs 2022 Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year Feels Like Home Contemporary Male Artist of the Year Duo/Group Chorus of the Year Male Artist of the Year 2026 Praise and Worship Album of the Year Coritos Vol. 1