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Four-time GRAMMY, multiple Stellar and Dove, and Soul Train Award winner Israel Houghton will share the stage for the very first time with peers Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp and Donnie McClurkin on The King’s Men tour. The 15-city major market US tour begins Sept. 16 at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix and travels coast-to-coast through Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Washington, DC and more before culminating in Brooklyn, NY at Barclays Center Oct. 14. Tickets for the tour are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 
 
Having individually headlined sold out concerts internationally, the four music celebrities join forces in what Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment and ecommerce company, is banking to be a hit for the fall touring season.
 
“In the Gospel world, this is like Springsteen, McCartney, Prince and Elton hitting the road together,” said Kevin Morrow, Senior Vice President of Touring at Live Nation, in a recent news release.  “It’s going to be a once in a lifetime event for music fans.”
 
For Houghton, the tour follows two back-to-back Billboard Top 200-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning solo studio albums, as well as his first live recording in five years with New Breed, Jesus At The Center, which releases Aug. 14 on Integrity Music.  Recorded live over four days in front of more than 29,000 worshippers at Houston’s Lakewood Church, this double-CD, 18 song album with three additional studio singles features Israel & New Breed returning to their roots, delivering new anthems for the modern day church.
 
“We purposely wanted to emphasize being a resource to the church worldwide,” says Houghton.  “As we embark on the second decade as a cross-cultural worship movement, we pray these songs speak life, love, hope and favor over you… and most importantly place Jesus at the center of His global church.”
 
Joining Israel & New Breed on the studio version of the Gospel single from Jesus At The Center, “It’s Not Over (When God Is In It),” are acclaimed vocalists Jason Nelson and James Fortune.  The single, which is available on iTunes® July 3, has already garnered the No. 1 Most Added status at radio, and debuted at No. 22 last week on the Billboard Gospel Songs chart.  The Christian AC single produced by hit maker Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Britt Nicole), “Your Presence Is Heaven,” is available on iTunes July 17.
 
Other guest vocalists featured on the live recordings are Aaron W. Lindsey, Michael Gungor, T-Bone, Bishop Michael Pitts, Jeremiah Woods, Daniel Johnson, Charlin Moore, Adam Ranney, Tina Baker, Onaje Jefferson, Krystle Harper and Israel’s daughter, Mariah Houghton.
 
In addition to the Jesus At The Center two-disc album, a companion DVD was recorded live in high-definition and features all 18 songs along with behind the scenes footage, story-behind-the-song vignettes and other bonus material.
 
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 & New Breed has amassed a legion of followers that crosses generational and African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, Israel has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 4 GRAMMY Awards, 12 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.
 
Active as worship leader in his local church, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church (Houston), Israel has served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences and Franklin Graham crusades. He has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards. He uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together. More information on Israel & New Breed is available at www.newbreedmusic.com.
 

Over the past decade, Israel Houghton has amassed a legion of fans while blasting down musical barriers and drawing together people of all ages, races and cultures through worship.  On March 6, Integrity Music celebrates the past 10 years of Houghton’s music and ministry with Decade, a two-disc collection that includes 26 of his best-loved songs including “Friend of God,” “Moving Forward,” “New Season,” “Say So” and many more.
 
As a worship leader, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and leader of the ministry ensemble New Breed, Houghton has created a canon of songs that have become standards in houses of faith around the globe. And along the way, has been fittingly graced with six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and four Grammy® Awards.
 
Decade features songs that are fan and congregational favorites from Houghton’s celebrated albums including New Season, Real, Live From Another Level, Alive in South Africa, A Deeper Level, The Power of One and Love God.Love People. The collection also includes the new song “Jesus At The Center,” which will be featured on Houghton’s new live recording titled Jesus At The Center available this fall.
 
“After a decade worth of projects, hundreds of songs, thousands of nights of worship, and hundreds of thousands of people who have allowed us to usher them to Jesus, whether by way of recording or live events, I am so grateful that you gave us an opportunity to worship with you,” says Houghton. “Thank you for singing songs like 'You Are Good,' 'Friend of God,' 'Alpha and Omega,' 'Moving Forward,' and so many others and for responding to us over the last decade with such humbling words of encouragement.”
 
“There’s one decade down and generations more to come,” he adds. “We feel like we’re just getting started and we’re already putting finishing touches on the first project of the next decade!”
 
Decade will be available everywhere Christian music is sold beginning March 6. It will be distributed to Christian retail stores through Provident Distribution and to mainstream stores through Sony Music Entertainment.  A digital deluxe version of Decade, featuring additional songs and videos, will be available exclusively through iTunes.
 
A worship leader and member of Houston’s Lakewood Church, Israel has also led worship for Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and a variety of music festivals around the world. Houghton is the leader of New Breed Ministries, an organization comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large. Additional information can be found at http://newbreedmusic.com.

Nominations were announced today for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards with Integrity Music’s signed and distributed artists and songwriters receiving 14 nominations, including three each for Israel Houghton and John Mark McMillan.
 
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced the nominations today from the Grand Salon of the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta.  Integrity’s own Carlos Whittaker was among the artists participating in the press conference.

 
Carlos Whittaker announced nominations at the Atlanta press conference.
Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage
 
Integrity Music’s nominations include:
 
Israel Houghton
Male Vocalist                                      
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song for "You Hold My World"
Contemporary Gospel Album for Love God. Love People.
 
John Mark McMillan
New Artist                                           
Worship Song for “How He Loves”
Rock/Contemporary Album for The Medicine
 
Don Poythress
Inspirational Recorded Song for writing “Joseph” (with Tony Wood)
 
Paul Baloche
Worship Song for writing "How Great Is The Love" (with Meredith Andrews, Jacob Sooter)
 
Shout Praises Kids - Today is the Day
Children’s Music Album
 
Cuan Gran Amor-En Vivo Miami, Ingrid Rosario
Spanish Language Album
 
Devocion, Danilo Montero
Spanish Language Album
 
Mi Declaracion, Hector Sotelo
Spanish Language Album
 
Annette Oden
Musical for “Just Run”
 
Jeff Sandstrom/Annette Oden
Youth/Children's Musical for “Get to the Manger”
 
Fresh from winning his fourth straight GRAMMY Award on Sunday, Israel Hougthon’s three Dove nominations include Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year and Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, recognizing him for his critically and commercially successful Love God. Love People.  Love God. Love People. released in August on Integrity Music/Columbia Records and has garnered praise from critics reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond. The album features the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Houghton recordings, and includes special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6’s Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble, and was recorded and engineered at Abbey Road Studios.
 
The eight-time Dove Award winning Houghton now hits the road for the Love Revolution Tour, which will visit more than 20 cities in February and March.  Tour dates can be found at www.israelhoughton.net.
 
John Mark McMillan is new to Dove Award nominations and is recognized as such with a New Artist of the Year nod as well as nominations for Worship Song of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year on behalf of his Integrity debut The Medicine.
 
Heart-on-sleeves rock is what North Carolinian McMillan does best and it’s his bluesy voice and well-crafted lyrics that have brought him heightened popularity and universal critical acclaim with The Medicine, an intriguing, musically compelling and intensely in-depth project which expresses McMillan’s soul and personal life journey. Through his lyrics, McMillan takes listeners through a story of emotions. Poetic metaphors and vivid imagery thread themselves through the album binding together a universal theme of brokenness and love’s power over the weak and the wounded.
 
McMillan embarks on his national concert tour “A Mighty Raucous Evening” in March. Complete information about the dates and tickets can be found at www.thejohnmark.com or at www.facebook.com/therukusroom.
 
The 42nd EST Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre and will be t elevised nationwide on GMC( www.watchgmctv.com), on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 from 7-9p.m. ESTThe evening will be full of rare and exciting performances showcasing the genre’s hottest and most diverse artists.

MOBILE, Ala. (Dec. 2, 2010) – Integrity Music’s GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton has received two GRAMMY nominations for his critically acclaimed album, Love God. Love People.
 

Nominations for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced last night by The Recording Academy and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year as determined by the voting members of The Academy.  The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 13, 2011, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
 
Houghton’s CD was nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album while the song “You Hold My World” was nominated for Best Gospel Performance.  A complete list of nominees in the Gospel field is available at http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=14.
 
If Houghton’s Love God. Love People. CD wins a GRAMMY, it will be four straight for the worship leader from Houston.  Each of Houghton’s last three CDs have been honored with GRAMMY Awards.  Last year he won for his solo debut CD The Power of One, and with his powerhouse musical ensemble New Breed, Houghton won a GRAMMY in 2008 for A Deeper Level and in 2007 for Alive in South Africa.
 
Love God. Love People. released in August on Integrity Music/Columbia Records and has garnered praise from critics reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond.  Critics at media outlets ranging from CCM to Gospel Today and ChristianityToday.com to SoulTracks.com, CBA Retailer + Resources, GospelFlava.com, Breathecast.com, Crosswalk.com and more have lauded the new album, calling it “gospel music milk and honey,” “profound” “uplifting,” “spectacular,” “God dropped it out of heaven,” “excellent,” “amazing,” “musical and spiritual masterpiece,” “relentlessly original,” “wonderfulness” and more.
 
Writing or co-writing all but one of the songs on Love God. Love People., Israel is an innovative worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has also written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites.  Breaking down barriers and defying categorization with his music, Israel uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together.
 
 

The album features the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Houghton recordings, and includes special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6’s Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble, as well as song co-writes with Meleasa Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims and Michael Gungor.  Love God. Love People. blends the musical genres of worship, rock, pop, Gospel and R&B and was recorded and engineered at Abbey Road Studios.
 
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, has accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and has performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.  Houghton has been featured on FOX, CBS, ABC, BET, CNN, TBN and CBN, and has amassed a legion of fans that cross generational and cultural lines. While blasting down barriers, he has been fittingly graced with two Gold-selling albums, three GRAMMY Awards, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.
 
For more information, go to http://www.israelhoughton.net  or www.integritymusic.com.

Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton launched his “The Love Revolution” tour following the Aug. 31 release of his critically acclaimed, No. 1 selling album, Love God. Love People., on Integrity Music/Columbia Records. The major market tour began Sept. 5 in San Diego and traverses the nation before wrapping up Nov. 20 in Philadelphia, PA. (See tour itinerary below.)

Highlighting the greatest Gospel commandment with Love God. Love People., Israel played the title track of the recording for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno crowd as he sat in recently with Rickey Minor and the Tonight Show Band, and now carries that message into the “The Love Revolution” tour.

“Love God. Love People. is a return to a simple, foundational Gospel command: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself,” says Israel.  “Virtually every song touches on this profound simplicity. It all comes down to ‘love God, love people.’ Period.”

In this spirit, and in the midst of the tour, Israel will also play songs from the new album for an AIDS benefit concert Sept. 26 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.  Hosted by Magic Johnson and Blair Underwood, the benefit culminates the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s first annual “AIDS California Walk” to be held in Griffith Park.

In addition to featuring the new music from Love God. Love People. on tour, Israel will highlight his hit songs and fan favorites spanning nine best selling recordings as a solo artist and with New Breed. Joining Israel for the tour will be longtime collaborator Aaron Lindsey, along with guest appearances by Michael Gungor in select markets.

Lindsey and Gungor, as well as Meleasa Houghton and Tommy Sims, co-wrote songs with Israel for the new album that has garnered praise from critics reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond.  Media outlets ranging from CCM to Gospel Today and ChristianityToday.com to SoulTracks.com, CBA Retailer + Resources, GospelFlava.com, Breathecast.com, Crosswalk.com and more have lauded Love God. Love People., calling it “gospel music milk and honey,” “profound” “uplifting,” “spectacular,” “God dropped it out of heaven,” “excellent,” “amazing,” “musical and spiritual masterpiece,” “relentlessly original,” “wonderfulness” and more.

Featuring the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, Love God. Love People. became the No. 1 selling album on the Top Gospel, Top Christian and Praise & Worship charts. Released Aug. 31, the album also climbed seven notches higher than his 2009 GRAMMY Award winning hit album, The Power Of One, to land at No. 27 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.  The album further includes special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6’s Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble.

Released simultaneously with the CD, Houghton’s Love God. Love People. iTunes LP is available at www.itunes.com/israelhoughton.  The first ever Christian artist iTunes LP and first LP, mainstream or Christian, that includes interactive social network capabilities, a music mixer, Bible verses and the ability to create your own album cover, Houghton’s LP also interactively includes the new music, animated lyrics, chord charts, liner notes, performance videos, photos and other bonus materials.

Writing or co-writing all but one of the songs on Love God. Love People., Israel is an innovative worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has also written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites.  Breaking down barriers and defying categorization with his music, Israel uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together. 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, has accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and has performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.

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, CNN, 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, 3 GRAMMY Awards, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

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

Upcoming Israel Houghton “Love Revolution Tour” dates follow:

9/22   - Munster, IN (Chicago area)
9/23   - Detroit, MI
9/24   - Indianapolis, IN
10/3   - Fort Worth, TX
10/5   - Oklahoma City, OK
10/6   - Tulsa, OK
10/10 - Gaithersburg, MD
10/12 - Rochester, NY
10/14 - Toledo, OH
10/15 - Washington, DC
10/16 - New York City, NY
10/17 - Martinsburg, WV
10/18 - Long Island, NY
10/24 - San Antonio, TX
10/26 - Raleigh, NC
10/28 - Greenville, NC
11/3   - El Paso, TX
11/6   - San José, CA
11/12 - Seattle, WA
11/20 - Philadelphia, PA

* Tour dates subject to change.

Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton highlights the greatest Gospel commandment with Love God. Love People. releasing TODAY amidst acclaim on Integrity Music/Columbia Records.  Featuring the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, the album also reveals special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6’s Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble, as well as song co-writes with Meleasa Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims and Michael Gungor.

Following today’s release of the album, Israel Houghton, widely acclaimed as an innovative worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, is tapped by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to sit in with Rickey Minor and the Tonight Show Band Sept. 8.  Collaborating live with Minor on the NBC late night talk show fits in well with Houghton’s many talents.  Widely known as a master collaborator, Houghton draws out the best performances from all those around him.  Having 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, Love God. Love People. follows Israel’s acclaimed GRAMMY Award winning and Billboard Top 200 hit, The Power Of One, and promises to be an inspiration to all who listen.

In addition to “The Tonight Show” appearance, Houghton appears today on “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show” (http://theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com) and Sept. 2 on the nationally syndicated “The Tavis Smiley Show” (www.tavistalks.com).  Music from Love God. Love People. is also being heard nationally as the current radio single, “You Hold My World,” which was named the No. 1 “Most Added” song two weeks in a row, makes its debut this week on Billboard’s Gospel Indicator chart at No. 26 with a bullet.  Additionally, the heart of the new album captured in the song “Others,” penned by Houghton and his wife, Meleasa, was released to AC radio just last week.

As radio gains momentum, numerous media critics have already lauded the new album:

“Referring to Israel Houghton as simply a worship leader wouldn’t paint a whole picture of his vast repertoire throughout the vertically-framed Love God. Love People. In addition to moments of contemporary congregational praises, the singer/songwriter switches hats between soul, R&B, funk and rock, benefiting all the more from famous friends like Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Michael Gungor and members of Take 6, all of whom make vibrant appearances on an already uplifting album.” – CCM

“Spreading the message of God’s love as manifested through mankind set to a soundtrack of ‘soul music’ at its most profound, internationally acclaimed artist/composer/producer Israel Houghton has done it again. Building on the theme of his Grammy-winning 2009 offering The Power of One, Houghton returned to the studio, this time London’s famed Abbey Road Studios, to record his new masterwork, Love God. Love People., with a little help from his friends.” – Gospel Today

“Houghton is the current administrator of gospel music milk and honey. Incorporating easy melodies into intricate band tracks, Houghton exhibits technical proficiency without forfeiting each song’s accessible catchiness.” – ChristianityToday.com

“Houghton, one of modern gospel’s innovators, knows music… he incorporates modern sounds and classic gospel along with world music to craft a sound that is distinctly identifiable and relentlessly original…Love God. Love People. perfectly sums up Israel Houghton’s music and his ministry. He clearly views his music as a means to minister to people, and inspire them to love God and love God's people. Of course, it helps that message go down a lot easier when an artist makes music that people want to hear. And Israel Houghton has always had that part down. Recommended.” – SoulTracks.com

“Love God. Love People. delivers the kind of wonderfulness Houghton’s audience has come to expect, and which should continue to surprise listeners outside his core church market.” – CBA Retailer + Resources

“Love God, Love People goes down as a musical and spiritual masterpiece. Musicians are already salivating, and worship leaders will eagerly dig into the material. Music lovers will be more than pleased and most of all, many will be encouraged in their Christ walk and will be challenged to help others.” – GospelFlava.com

“In the spirit of the Bible’s greatest commandment reflected by its title, Israel Houghton’s new album is both simple and epic—a clearly ambitious mix of R&B, gospel, pop, worship, and rock packed with big moments that all come down to loving God and loving your neighbor. And like a life faithful to that call, this special record brings joy, issues challenges, and finds true rewards.” – Crosswalk.com

Israel co-produced the new album 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 Eric Clapton and Wynnona.  The trio of producers also co-wrote five of the songs, including the first Gospel single, “You Hold My World.” Three additional songs were penned by Israel and his wife Meleasa.

“Love God. Love People. is a return to a simple, foundational Gospel command: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself,” says Israel.  “Virtually every song touches on this profound simplicity. It all comes down to ‘love God, love people.’ Period.”

Love God. Love People. blends the musical styles of Gospel, pop, R&B and Latin, and was recorded and engineered by Danny Duncan (India.Arie, Hillsong LIVE, Natalie Grant, CeCe Winans) at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Releasing simultaneously with the CD, Houghton’s Love God. Love People. iTunes LP is available today at www.itunes.com/israelhoughton.  The first ever Christian artist iTunes LP and first LP, mainstream or Christian, that includes interactive social network capabilities, a music mixer, Bible verses and the ability to create your own album cover, Houghton’s LP also interactively includes the new music, animated lyrics, chord charts, liner notes, performance videos, photos and other bonus materials.

Writing or co-writing all but one of the songs on Love God. Love People., 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. 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, has accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and has performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.

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, CNN, 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, 3 GRAMMY Awards, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

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

Integrity Music launches the first ever Christian artist iTunes LP in support of multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton and his critically acclaimed album, Love God. Love People., releasing August 31 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records.  Houghton also becomes the first artist, mainstream or Christian, to have an LP release that includes interactive social network capabilities, a music mixer and Bible verses, as well as the ability to create your own album cover.  Other artists who have popular LPs include John Mayer, Dave Mathews, Lifehouse, OneRepublic and Christina Aguilera.

After becoming the first Christian artist with an iPhone Application last year, Houghton returns to lead the way for the industry with his iTunes LP, a format developed by Apple Inc. to bring back and even enhance the experience of owning the “long play” recording.  Houghton’s Love God. Love People. iTunes LP, available Aug. 31 at www.itunes.com/israelhoughton, interactively includes not only the new music, but also animated lyrics, chord charts, liner notes, performance videos, photos and other bonus materials, as well as the first-ever interactive “Mixer.”


The Love God. Love People. iTunes LP “Mixer” area allows the user to control the mix of the song, “The Name Of,” featured on the new album. Users can pull the lead vocals, background vocals, drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard in or out of the song, or use any combinations thereof.  Similarly, users can interact with the first-ever LP “Create A Cover,” making their own Love God. Love People. cover artwork, which they then can share with friends on their social networks.

“We are very excited to bring a whole new level of interactivity to this exclusive iTunes music experience,” says Chris Estes, Integrity Music sr. director of digital media.  “This new platform brings the best of both worlds together. Fans will experience the album like never before and be able to create unique content inside the LP. When you combine that with social network interaction, it becomes a valuable shared experience.  We really wanted to push the envelope in this new media, so the best place to start was in the Facebook and Twitter arenas where Israel is well established with over 100,000 fans.  I believe this will be a great album experience for the fans.  I don’t know any other iTunes LPs that offer chord charts, video, extra audio, cover art creation tools, and rich media interactions all for $12.99.”

Other significant features on the iTunes LP include:

- The first-ever "Interactive Bible" that displays a new verse everyday focusing on loving God and loving people.
- A "Song List" play area lets the user, for the first time ever on an iTunes LP, share what song is being listened to via Twitter.
- A “Work Tape” area that features early “demo” song versions being played by Houghton and co-producers Aaron Lindsey and Tommy Sims.
- “Black Cab Sessions” that includes a “making of the album” video filmed at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London, known for being the studio where all the Beatles records were recorded, as well as a host of other best-selling artists.
- Three custom “visualizers” that cue with selected songs and feature recording studio photos, album artwork and more.

As an innovative worship leader, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Israel is also known for his work as a master collaborator, drawing out the best performances from all those around him.  Having written or co-written 11 CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) Top 500 favorites, creating a canon of songs that have become standards in houses of faith around the globe, Love God. Love People. follows Israel’s acclaimed GRAMMY Award winning and Billboard Top 200 hit, The Power Of One, and promises to be an inspiration to all who listen.

“Love God. Love People. is a return to a simple, foundational Gospel command: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself,” says Israel.  “Virtually every song touches on this profound simplicity. It all comes down to ‘Love God, love people.’ Period.”

The album features the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, and includes special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6’s Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble, as well as song co-writes with Meleasa Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims and Michael Gungor.  Love God. Love People. blends the musical genres of worship, rock, pop, Gospel and R&B and was recorded and engineered at Abbey Road Studios.

Writing or co-writing all but one of the songs on Love God. Love People., 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. 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, has accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's “Freedom '90,” and has performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans.

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, CNN, TBN and CBN, and has amassed a legion of fans that cross generational and cultural lines. While blasting down barriers, he has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 3 GRAMMY Awards, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

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

Integrity Music artists Kari Jobe and Israel Houghton took home two Dove Awards and Jennie Lee Riddle, writer of “Revelation Song,” was named the Dove Award Songwriter of the Year last night in Nashville.
 
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year, was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and will be seen on television nationwide on gmc (http://www.gmclife.com), Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. EST.  gmc can be seen on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.
 
 

Jobe, whose debut self-title project was the year’s biggest-selling CD by a new artist, received two Dove trophies for Spanish Language Album of the Year for the Spanish version of her debut record and Special Event Album of the Year for her participation on the Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship.
 
The awards were just part of Jobe’s exciting first experience at the Dove Awards as she revealed her gifts as a worshipper and vocalist tonight joining Phillips, Craig & Dean onstage for a powerful collaboration of "Revelation Song," and judging from the audience’s thunderous reaction it was one of the most powerful performances of the night.
 
 
Jennie Lee Riddle and Kari Jobe celebrate their Dove Awards with their Integrity Music and Gateway Church families.
“Revelation Song” won the Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year for its writer Jennie Lee Riddle, a Gateway Create/Integrity Praise Music songwriter.  “Revelation Song” is featured Jobe's debut album and was also a radio hit for Phillips, Craig & Dean.  That song and its impact in churches and on the radio was one of the key reasons Riddle was given her additional Dove Award as Songwriter of the Year, a tremendous honor in a music genre that is defined by its lyrics.
 
Israel Houghton, after winning his third GRAMMY Award earlier this year, was honored with two Dove Awards last night.  The title track “The Power of One” from his latest CD was named the Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year and “Just Wanna Say” from The Power of One won Urban Recorded Song of the Year (in a tie with BeBe and CeCe Winan’s “Close To You.”).
 
Earlier in the week, leading U.S. music rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) saluted the past year’s most-performed songs on Christian radio and television during its annual Christian Music Awards. Integrity Music Publishing and songwriter received two awards -- My Name is Victory” by BMI songwriter, Jonathan Nelson; and “Today is the Day” by BMI songwriter, Lincoln Brewster (co-written with ASCAP writer Paul Baloche).
 

Integrity Music worship leader, songwriter and recording artist Israel Houghton will be featured Easter Morning on the national broadcast of CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING. The segment will be on Sunday, April 4 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. ET.
 
In a segment called "AMEN!" Sunday Morning correspondents offer a sampling of Gospel music today talking with performers including Houghton and CeCe Winans.
 
Correspondents from CBS visited Houghton in his hometown of Houston, Texas at Lakewood Church where he also serves as a worship pastor.  Lakewood pastor Joel Osteen was interviewed for the segment about Houghton.
 
In addition to his career as worship leader and recording artist, Houghton is a spokesman for international relief agency World Vision. He is the recipient of six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and three GRAMMY Awards. Additional information is available at www.israelhoughton.net and www.integritymusic.com.

When nominations were announced last week for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, Integrity Music’s signed and distributed artists and songwriters received an impressive 18 nods.
 
With one of the most successful CDs by a debut artist in recent years and the top-selling new artist album of 2009, Kari Jobe was nominated as New Artist of the Year.  The artist/songwriter/worship leader earned a total of three nominations.  Her additional nods were for Spanish Language Album for the Spanish version of her debut record and for Special Event Album of the Year for her participation on the Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship.
 
 

“I am so excited to be up for these nominations!  It’s a dream come true and such an honor.  I’m having more fun meeting other artists that I’ve looked up to over the years and the newer ones who I am running alongside now in ministry and life.  It’s so fun, and I cannot wait for April 21st and the Dove Awards show,” a joyful Jobe responded after not only receiving the three nominations but also participating in the press conference in Nashville to make the Dove Awards announcement.  Before the Dove Awards in April, Jobe will be performing on tour with Desperation Band and leading worship at churches across the country.
 
"Revelation Song," which is featured on Jobe's debut album and was a radio hit for Phillips, Craig & Dean, was nominated for two songwriter awards - Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year - for Jennie Lee Riddle, a Gateway Create/Integrity Praise Music songwriter
 
Mary Mary, whose recent album The Sound has won for the sister duo both Stellar Awards and a GRAMMY Award, was honored with their first nomination in the Dove Award’s top category – Artist of the Year.  The sister duo who records on Columbia Records and is distributed by Integrity Music, is currently featured prominently in the 25th anniversary recording of “We Are the World,” the multi-artist Haiti benefit song and video.
 

Fresh from his GRAMMY Award win last month, Israel Houghton earned four nominations, including three nominations for songs from his GRAMMY Award-winning album The Power of One.  “Just Wanna Say” was nominated for Urban Recorded Song of the Year while “Every Prayer” and “The Power of One” share nominations in the Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.  Houghton received a fourth nomination for Special Event Album for his contributions to CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty.
 
Also nominated for the CompassionArt project was Paul Baloche.  Baloche earned a second nomination for Worship Song of the Year for “Hosanna.”
 
Hillsong’s Brooke Fraser penned a worship song also called “Hosanna,” and that modern hymn was nominated for Inspirational Song of the Year from Selah’s album You Deliver Me.  Hillsong was also recognized with a Dove Award nomination for Long Form Video of the Year for “Faith + Hope + Love.”
 
Integrity’s other album nominations include Country music superstar Collin Raye’s first solo Dove Award nomination for his TimeLife/Integrity Music CD Never Going Back.  Integrity Music Latin’s Julissa was nominated in the Spanish Language Album category for Adorandote and in the Children’s Music Album category, Shout Praises Kids – Today is the Day was recognized.  Finally, Integrity’s Choral division earned a nod for Youth/Children’s Music of the Year for “Get To The Manager” by Jeff Sandstrom.
 
(For the second year in a row, fans will be able to cast their votes online for Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.  Fans can vote for Jobe as New Artist and Mary Mary for Artist starting the first week of March at www.gmclife.com.)
 
The GMA Dove Awards is Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows the industry's highest honor -- the Dove Award.  The 41st Annual Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House and televised nationwide on gmc (http://www.gmclife.com), Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. EST. gmc is the fastest-growing network in television and can be seen in 46 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.
 

Multi-talented worship leader, songwriter and recording artist Israel Houghton won his third consecutive GRAMMY® last night during the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Houghton took home the award for “Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” for his critically-acclaimed CD The Power Of One and also was honored as a nominee for “Best Gospel Song” for “Every Prayer” from The Power of One.
 
Previously, Houghton and his powerhouse musical ensemble New Breed won two GRAMMYS in 2008 for A Deeper Level and in 2007 for Alive in South Africa. This year’s win marks his first GRAMMY as a “solo” artist.  
 
“It’s really an honor to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” says Houghton. “And to win is such a surreal experience…I'm so moved that the message in the music was embraced and appreciated.”
 
The “message” of the genre-blending album is one of hope, redemption and revelation, especially the title track, which expresses Houghton’s passion for social justice.
 
“I strongly believe that those of us who consider ourselves worshippers need to have a heart for social justice,” says Houghton who will be in Toronto for a Haiti benefit concert on Feb. 12.
 
In addition to his career as a recording artist, Israel Houghton is a worship leader at Houston’s Lakewood Church and a spokesman for international relief agency World Vision. He is the recipient of six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and three GRAMMY Awards. Additional information is available at www.israelhoughton.net and www.integritymusic.com.
 


 


    
 

MOBILE, Ala. – Dec. 3, 2009 – Integrity Music artists Israel Houghton and Mary Mary were among the nominees announced last night for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.
 
Israel Houghton received two GRAMMY nominations.  “Every Prayer,” from Houghton’s critically acclaimed The Power of One, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Gospel Song.  The Best Gospel Song category recognizes the songwriters which for this song include Houghton, Dayna Caddell, Aaron Lindsey and Ricardo Sanchez, songwriters.  Fellow labelmates and also Grammy nominees Mary Mary appear on the recording of “Every Prayer.”

Houghton’s second GRAMMY nomination is for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for The Power of One.   Houghton has two GRAMMY Awards to his credit.
 
Recent American Music Award winners Mary Mary are also nominated for Best Gospel Song for their hit song “God In Me.”  The nominees for “God In Me” are Mary Mary (Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell) and Warryn Campbell.  “God In Me,” is on the duo’s current hit album The Sound.  The Columbia Records and Integrity Music distributed Mary Mary has previously won two GRAMMYs.
 
The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Jan. 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
 
Prior to the GRAMMYs, the music awards season kicks off with the 25th Annual Stellar Awards where Hougthon has three nominations and Mary Mary has four nominations.
 
Follow the artists on Twitter: @israelnewbreed, @therealmarymary and @integritymusic.
 

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.