In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton along with Aaron Lindsay founded New Breed Ministries, an organization comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large.
With a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together through worship, Israel and New Breed began melding sounds and songs to create music that breaks down barriers and defies categorization. Not an easy task you might think. But, it seems effortless for Israel who laughingly describes himself as a "black kid who grew up in a white family in a Hispanic neighborhood."
Together with the vocalists and musicians of New Breed, Israel uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point.
"...It's not a white sound or black sound, it's a Kingdom sound." explains the songwriter and producer.
Although their popularity had been growing steadily since the group's inception, they were catapulted into the limelight during 2005 with the release of their gold-certified CD Live From Another Level. They followed this success with two others - - the release of Alive in South Africa in late 2005 and A Timeless Christmas released in the fall of 2006. The accolades continued to flow including Dove Awards, Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and multiple GRAMMY Award nominations. The group also made numerous appearances at high-visibility events including the Stellars and GMA Music Awards and also appeared on BET's "Lift Every Voice" and "Celebration of Gospel" shows along with TBN's "Praise The Lord" and CBN's "The 700 Club" to name a few.
All the while, this dedicated group of ministers continues to tour extensively and to serve at their local churches. (Israel is a worship leader at Houston's Lakewood Church, home of the popular preacher/author Joel Osteen.)
FREEDOM
Integrity Gospel announces the release of Sound of the New Breed - Freedom, a new album from the award-winning and gold-selling group Israel and New Breed.
Freedom features the musical and vocal talents of New Breed under the leadership of producer Israel Houghton and is the first title in a series of thematic releases planned by the group. The album offers 10 newly-recorded songs that focus on the freedom found in Jesus Christ. The song list includes popular praise and worship songs such as "Freedom" (Darrell Evans), "Made Me Glad" (Miriam Webster/Hillsong) and "I Am Free" (Desperation Band) served up with an urban groove as only Israel and New Breed can.
The New Breed vocalists featured on Freedom include: Danielle Stephens, Daniel Johnson, Jamil Whiting, Stacey Joseph, Lois Du Plessis, Leah Smith, Dakri Brown and Neville Deidrick. New Breed musicians featured on the album are Buddy Strong and Jerry Harris on keys, Terrance Palmer on bass, Juan Najera on guitar and Marvin McQuitty and Aaron Spears on drums.
Sound of the New Breed - Freedom will be available everywhere Christian music is sold beginning May 1.
