Israel Houghton lands at No 1 with new album

|PIC1|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.

Last 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’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 January 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 programme, “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.

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 US 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