Israel Houghton is a talented American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, producer, and worship leader best known for his work with the band Israel & New Breed.
In addition to his own successful music career, Houghton has produced albums for other artists, such as Michael Gungor.
The collaboration resulted in the critically acclaimed album “Bigger than I thought.” was hailed by Christianity Today as one of the best worship albums of 2003.
New Breed is Israel Houghton’s backing band and has appeared on many of his albums under the stage name Israel & New Breed.
contour
- Full name: Israel Sonny Houghton Jr.
- Stage name: Israel Houghton
- Date of Birth: May 19, 1971
- Age: 52 years old.
- Birthplace: Oceanside, California, USA
- Country: United States
- Occupation: Singer-songwriter
- Height: 1.67 m
- Parent: Margaret Houghton
- Brothers and sisters: None
- Spouse: Adrienne Bailon-Houghton (m. 2016), Meleasa Houghton (m. 1994-2016)
- Children: Maria Houghton, Jordan Houghton, Milan Houghton, Ever James Houghton, Israel Houghton, Sonny
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $10 million
early life
Israel Houghton was born on May 19, 1971 in Oceanside, California, of mixed race, with a white mother and an Afro-Jamaican father.
Although public information about his childhood experiences is limited, he hints at some of the complexities of his family life through difficult encounters with his grandfather.
However, Horton felt a strong calling to music and faith early in life, and in 1989 he began to work in worship ministry full-time.
educate
Israel Houghton’s educational background remains a mystery as there is no publicly available information online.
However, he showed a talent for music early on and in 1995 he founded his own worship ministry, New Breed Ministries.
Horton’s musical talents were fully demonstrated through his ability to play guitar and keyboards, as well as his gift for songwriting, which was evident in the numerous hymns he wrote and produced.
Although more information is needed about his formal music education, Horton’s musicianship stems from a combination of personal passion, practical experience, and creative inspiration.
Profession
Israel Houghton’s musical journey has been marked by innovation, collaboration and numerous awards. He developed a keen interest in music at an early age and devoted himself to worship ministry in 1989.
In 1995, he and his wife, Meleasa, founded New Breed Ministries to create a space for talented musicians who were passionate about worship.
Horton’s official recording career began in 1997, when he released his first solo album, “Speak Out” and “The way of the world.”
After joining Sony Music, he released a series of successful albums with Israel & New Breed, including New Season, Reality and “To live life on another level.”
Israel Houghton’s performances, e.g. “Living in South Africa” It demonstrates his huge international influence in the music industry.
Throughout his career, he has won several prestigious awards, including six Grammy Awards – three for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Albums and one for Best Traditional Gospel Album.
Horton revolutionized contemporary Christian worship with his innovative fusion of gospel music with elements of jazz, R&B, and other musical genres.
As a result, he continues to be a prominent figure in the industry, touring extensively and inspiring countless admirers around the world.
Social Media
- Instagram: @israelhoughton
- Facebook account: Israel & New Breed
- Twitter: @israelhoughton
Personal life
Houghton has a diverse background. His mother is white and his father is African-Jamaican.
He had a son with his college girlfriend before marrying Meleasa Houghton in 1994, with whom he has three children.
Their marriage ended in 2015 and they were officially divorced on February 22, 2016. During the marriage, Horton also had two sons with his mistress, DeVawn Moreno.
After a brief relationship, he married singer and television personality Adrienne Bailon in Paris on November 11, 2016. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2022.
Discography
Personal album
- The Real Me (1997)
- Angel Heart (1999)
- Power and Praise (2006)
- Reckless Love (2015)
- Feeling at Home: Worship Experiences During Quarantine (2021)
- Worship Anywhere (2022) (in collaboration with New Breed)
- Israel and the New Breed Album
- The Power of One Person (2003)
- Live from Another Level (2004)
- Living in South Africa (2005)
- A Timeless Christmas (2008)
- Love God. Love humanity. (2010)
- London Conference (2010)
- Decade: The Best of Israel Houghton and New Breed (2012) (Compilation)
- Jesus at the Center: Live (2012)
- Covered: Living in Asia (2015)
- The Road to Secrets (2018)
- A Feeling of Home: Volume 2 (2021)
Other appearances
- Breakthrough Hymns (Live) (with Total Praise Mass Choir) (2003)
- I repeat, I am happy with the audio performance Trax
- Taste and Observe (audio performance Trax) (2006)
- In the Blood (Audio Performance Track) (2006)
- Better audio performance Trax
- Sunday Kinda Love (feat. Aaron Lindsey, PJ Morton and Nikki Ross) (2019)
- Promise Keeper (Radio Edit) (feat. Travis Greene) (2019)
- Freedom Indeed (You Say I Am) (2020)
- Secret (feat. ) (2023)
net worth
Israel Houghton’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million