Integrity Music announces the release of The Power Of One – Worship Leader Edition, a new product for worship leaders and musicians that features music, video and a variety of resource materials from GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winning worship artist Israel Houghton.

“This is an incredible resource for churches, small groups… anyone who wants to translate Israel’s songs into a small to medium worship setting,” said Jay King, Vice President of Artist Development/A&R.  “It’s a ‘must have’.”

The new, 3-disc Worship Leader Edition of Houghton’s critically-acclaimed project features the original, full album for The Power of One plus a DVD and a resource-packed, enhanced CD that includes acoustic versions of 11 songs from the original album.  

The DVD contains a live performance of acoustic versions of songs from the album. The intimate setting features Houghton on lead vocals/guitar/piano backed by Aaron Lindsey on piano, Akil Thompson on bass and Javier Solis on percussion. In addition, the DVD contains song stories and guitar instructional tutorials hosted by Houghton.

The Worship Leader Edition enhanced CD contains matching, acoustic audio from the DVD plus sheet music, chord charts and lyric text files for all songs.*

To help promote this new resource, Integrity is offering free copies of the Worship Leader Edition to worship leaders through a Twitter contest. Additional details are available at http://twitter.com/integritymusic.

The Power Of One Worship Leader Edition is available in Christian Retail stores through Provident-Integrity Distribution and also on line at http://www.integritydirect.com and http://www.worshipkitchen.com/. (The UPC for the product is 000768455105, U.S. Retail $29.95.)

Israel Houghton is a multi-award winning, gold selling artist and a worship leader at Houston’s Lakewood Church. He has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 songs, served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and is a featured CompassionArt songwriter and artist.  Houghton also ministers through concerts in the U.S. and around the world. He is signed to Integrity Music, distributed to Christian retail by Provident-Integrity Distribution and to the general market by Columbia Records/Sony Distribution.  Additional information is available at www.israelhoughton.net or www.integritymusic.com.

*The CD-ROM will run on computers based on Mac OS X or Windows XP or later. The menu requires an Internet browser with the Adobe Flash Player 8.x or later installed. For best results, Internet Explorer 6.x or later (for Windows machines), and Safari 2.x or later (for Mac OSX machines) is recommended.

Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton released his highly anticipated album, The Power Of One, last week on Integrity Music/Columbia Records.  This week, the most widely acclaimed recording ever for Houghton has in its retail debut also become a No. 1 best selling album.  The Power Of One climbed to the top of the Christian, Gospel Overall and Praise & Worship sales charts, to No. 34 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, to No. 11 on the iTunes overall and to No. 1 on the Christian/Gospel digital albums charts.

 
Israel Houghton (right) is pictured after a showcase event last week at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles with producer/musician Tommy Sims (Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, Bonnie Raitt). [Photo credit: Amy Coleman]
The sales success follows acclaim from critics far and wide reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond.  With Israel on the current Worship Musician cover, featured tomorrow on PBS’s Tavis Smiley show and on a Charisma magazine cover this summer, his story has also been told by FOX News, BET, TBN, FamilyNet, Billboard, Ebony, CCM, BlogCritics, Worship Leader and numerous publications, broadcast outlets nationally. Reviewers have also lauded the album, calling it “spectacular,” “creatively expansive, musically unlimited,” “fresh, healing, uplifting, encouraging,” “passionate, youthful energy,” “a visceral rush,” “celebratory,” “genre-defying” and “moving, powerful.” And the acclaim continues:

“[The Power Of One] is a 14-track smorgasbord of rock, funk, pop, reggae and gospel…Saved by Grace, for example, is a Prince-like jam. And on the infectious Surely Goodness, Houghton sings like Bob Marley…The album’s title track asks listeners to see social consciousness as a natural extension of worship.” – Houston Chronicle

“The Power of One is not only a terrific album – it’s one of his best…a fresh, fluid album that inspires with its positive messages of acceptance and worship while entertaining with its bold musicality.” – Kiwibox.com

“Kudos to Israel Houghton for not staying in his comfort zone and giving listeners another standard, albeit solid, praise and worship album with those funky guitars that he and his band mates play so well.” – CharismaMag.com

“Israel Houghton The Power of One - Award-winner brings energy and pop style into Gospel music.” – CreativeLoafing.com

“More than just music, ‘The Power of One’ has become a movement for the artist and his team. It is an opportunity to remind people that it only takes one person to set the wheels of change in motion.” – Beliefnet.com

Israel Houghton’s The Power Of One marks his first solo studio offering after a string of highly successful New Breed live concert projects and features guest vocals from such genre-leading artists as tobyMac, Martin Smith of Delirious?, Mary Mary and Chevelle Franklyn.  From its genre-blending roots reggae and heavy rock to sanctified funk and power pop, the album features songs of hope, redemption and revelation.  

Taking the new songs on tour, Houghton’s national major market, 37-city tour with Chris Tomlin that began Jan. 22 has logged packed venues coast to coast as Houghton prepares for his first appearance at Yankee Stadium in New York with his pastor, Joel Osteen (Lakewood Church, Houston).  This “A Night of Hope” event Saturday, April 25, marks the first non-baseball event at the new stadium.  

On the same day, Houghton will be featured on the new Gospel Music Channel program, “Revealed.” Israel performs fan favorites and new songs from The Power Of One for the show’s live audience, as well as shares his story and insight into his songs.

Israel’s latest tour information can be found at http://www.myspace.com/israelhoughtonmusic.

In addition to his touring, millions of iPhone or iPod Touch users can now discover new music from Israel Houghton, and much more, through his first ever, Christian artist iPhone Application.  Available now for FREE at the iPhone App Store, Houghton’s app is on a short list of recording artists that have their own apps, including Akon, David Cook, P!nk, Fall Out Boy and only a few others.

Active as worship leader at Lakewood Church, Israel has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and is a featured CompassionArt songwriter and artist.  Israel also ministers through concerts in the U.S. and around the world, including accompanying Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and as a performer at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music.

In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton founded New Breed Ministries, an organization they continue to run and that is comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large.  Since then, Israel has amassed a legion of followers that bridges generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, he has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and 2 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.

Israel Houghton is signed to Integrity Music, distributed to Christian retail by Provident-Integrity Distribution and to the general market by Columbia Records/Sony Distribution.  For more information, go to www.israelhoughton.net.

Gospel Music Channel (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) television network will premiere a new original series bringing fans up close and personal with their favorite artists, who in turn bring fans closer by revealing insights and stories about themselves and their music in Revealed. The series premiere will feature GRAMMY and AMA award winning group Third Day. Third Day: Revealed premieres on Sat, March 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Unplugged Meets Storytellers Plus Faith = Revealed
Revealed will feature a single artist or group performing in front of a live audience in an intimate, acoustic-like setting.  The artists will play songs from their latest albums as well as past favorites and hits and share personal stories, inspirations, writing experiences and memories behind their music.  The series premiere will feature Third Day with and in-depth look into the making of its album Revelation. Among the songs featured in Third Day: Revealed: Always Be True, Call My Name, Cry Out To Jesus, I’ve Always Loved You, Love Song, Revelation, Tunnel and Your Love Oh Lord. Third Day: Revealed has encores that night (9p, 10p, 11p) as well as March 29 (11a) and April 2 (10p) - all times eastern.

Artists featured in upcoming installments of Revealed include Jars of Clay (April 4) and Israel Houghton (May 2).

Over the past decade, rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 25 No. 1 radio singles and sold close to seven million albums. The band has garnered 23 career Dove Awards, three GRAMMY Awards (with eight career nominations), an American Music Award, three AMA nominations and multiple ASCAP honors.  One of the top-ranked touring bands according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. Due to its mass appeal, Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS),  “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, New York Times and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine (June 7, 2008).
 
While celebrated for its live shows and chart-topping album sales, Third Day is also highly respected for its humanitarian efforts. The band actively supports the ONE Campaign, Blood:Water Mission, Habitat for Humanity and World Vision.  Third Day recently established the “Come Together Fund” as a vehicle to direct a portion of concert proceeds to grassroots humanitarian efforts around the world.  Third Day is currently on its “Revelation Tour” with special guests Brandon Heath and pop/rock band Revive as it readies for the release of latest project, a DVD/CD titled Live Revelations: On Stage, Off Stage, Backstage, due out April 7. For more information on Third Day, please visit: www.ThirdDay.com.
 
Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in more than 43 million homes on various cable systems around the country and on DIRECTV on channel 338.

Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 2008 – Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton returns to his roots as a solo artist with The Power Of One.  Releasing March 24, 2009 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records, the album features the youthful and musically masterful energy that has made Israel among the most highly influential tastemakers across a variety of musical genres.  The album also features guest vocals from such genre-leading artists as tobyMac, Martin Smith of Delirious?, Mary Mary and Chevelle Franklin.

As a worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Israel has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, creating a canon of songs that have become standards in houses of faith around the globe. The Power of One, Israel’s first studio offering after a string of highly successful New Breed live concert projects, comes with a challenge to people of faith to be as impassioned and Christ-like in their earthly walk as humanly possible.

“If you look at our albums thematically, the early ones were about the church and what God is doing,” recalls Israel.  “On the most recent records, our message has shifted into more social and global concerns, focusing on identity and the purpose of God in everyone’s life. I strongly believe that those of us who consider ourselves worshippers need to have a heart for social justice. ‘Power of One’ is the song we wrote specifically around that thought for this album.”

Interestingly, the anthemic, introspective title track was not originally intended to be recorded by Israel. “Two and a half years ago, I was asked to write a song for a mainstream artist who was looking for something based around a socially conscious idea,” explains Israel.  “At that time I was just beginning to understand the connection between worship and justice, so this song came very quickly to me. I was about to send it to the artist’s manager when my wife Meleasa asked me to play it again. When I did she said, ‘Don’t you dare send that away! The time will soon come for you to sing that song.’ Now is that time.”

From its genre-blending roots reggae and heavy rock to sanctified funk and power pop, The Power of One features songs of hope, redemption and revelation.  The songs benefited early on from Israel’s writing retreat with longtime collaborator Aaron Lindsey, whose credits include Shirley Caesar, Martha Munizzi, CeCe Winans and many more, and with Tommy Sims, whose writing, recording and performing credits range from Bruce Springstein and Garth Brooks to Bonnie Raitt and Kelly Clarkson.

“This is the first time I’ve entered into a project with no premeditation,” Israel says. “In the past I’d go into a project saying we need this kind of song here and that kind there - worrying if it would sell or if the Church would accept it. This time it was fun to go into creating a record with no rules and just do what was in our hearts...a very cathartic experience.”

Throwing out the rulebook, Israel was free to also invite some of his friends representing very different musical genres to join him on the record.  Noted rapper tobyMac is featured on the rock song “You Found Me, while the powerful gospel ballad “Every Prayer” features Mary Mary.  Well-known reggae vocalist Chevelle Franklin joins Israel on the Bob Marley influenced “Surely Goodness.”  Chevelle also joins Israel and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith on the worshipful British-rocker, “Sing (Redemption’s Song).”

The difference between The Power of One as an Israel solo project verses a New Breed album is subtle.  

“Most New Breed albums are done live,” says Israel.  “This is a studio record so it has a different energy. I get to call on any and everybody for specific sessions. The biggest question is always who’s going to play drums. The first week I used Calvin Rogers [Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams]. The second week we brought in Dan Needham [Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams, Michael McDonald]. And we used Lamar Carter [Ayiesha Woods, India.Arie, Out of Eden] on ‘Saved by Grace.’”  Another special guest on the album is multi-instrumentalist Akil Thompson (son of drum master Chester Thompson from Weather Report and Genesis) who co-wrote “U R Loved” with Israel.

Writing or co-writing all the songs on the album, Israel creates music that breaks down barriers and defies categorization.  Israel uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together through worship. Israel laughingly describes himself as “black kid who grew up in a white family in a Hispanic neighborhood.”

Active as worship leader in his local church, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, Houston, Israel has served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and is a featured CompassionArt songwriter and artist.  Israel also ministers through concerts in the U.S. and around the world, including accompanying Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and as a performer at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music, alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.  Next month (January 22) he launches on a national major market, 37-city tour with Chris Tomlin.  For the latest tour information, go to http://www.myspace.com/israelandnewbreedofficial.

In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton founded New Breed Ministries, an organization they continue to run and that is comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large.  Since then, Israel has been featured on FOX, CBS, ABC, BET, TBN and CBN, and has amassed a legion of followers that crosses generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, he has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and 2 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.  He also penned his first book with New Breed, A Deeper Level (Whitaker House), and wrote a chapter in the upcoming The Art of Compassion charity book.

Israel Houghton is signed to Integrity Music, distributed to Christian retail by Provident-Integrity Distribution and to the general market by Columbia Records/Sony-BMG Distribution.  For more information, go to www.newbreedmusic.com.