Israel Houghton's Love God, Love people is No 1!

Israel Houghton's critically acclaimed album Love God. Love People. has shot to No 1 in the US Top Gospel, Top Christian and Praise & Worship charts.

Released on August 31 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records, the album has 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.

Love God. Love People further hit No 12 on the iTunes overall and No 1 on the Christian/Gospel digital albums charts.

Highlighting the greatest Gospel commandment with Love God. Love People., Israel played the title track of the album for “The Tonight Show” crowd last night as his latest recording has garnered praise from critics reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond.

Featuring the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, Love God. Love People. features 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. 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.”

Releasing 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 favourites.

Breaking down barriers and defying categorisation 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 neighbourhood”.

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.