ISRAEL HOUGHTON Releases The Power Of One! Album Receives Widespread Acclaim

New Album From This Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar, Dove Award Winner Receives Widespread Critical Acclaim; FOX News, PBS, BET, TBN, FamilyNet, Billboard, Ebony, CCM, BlogCritics, Worship Leader - Numerous Publications, Broadcast Outlets Cover Story

Project Features Special Guest Vocalists tobyMac, Martin Smith, Mary Mary, Chevelle Franklyn

Major Market Tour Selling Out Venues Nationally

Nashville, Tenn. – Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton releases his highly anticipated album, The Power Of One, on Integrity Music/Columbia Records. The most widely acclaimed album ever for Houghton, critics far and wide reaching out to a diverse variety of music fans nationally and beyond have championed the recording.

Numerous publications and broadcast outlets nationally are covering the recording’s launch, including FOX News, BET, FamilyNet, Billboard, Reuters, Ebony, CCM, BlogCritics, Worship Leader and more. Yesterday alone, Houghton completed 14 interviews ranging from KRIV-TV FOX 26 (Houston) to WPRS FM (Washington, DC) and Upscale Magazine, plus Israel completed a “Brown Bag” concert event for KSBJ FM (Houston, TX). With additional interviews this week, including one tomorrow for the PBS show, Tavis Smiley, as well as a showcase event Wednesday at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, Houghton’s The Power Of One continues to receive praise from the critics:

“Singer, worship leader Houghton shares ‘The Power’… Few singers cover diverse musical territory as effortlessly as Israel Houghton…” – Billboard

“…Israel Houghton releases the most creatively expansive, musically unlimited album on his career…we never lose sight of Houghton’s experienced mastery of performance, arrangement and flow…I know few artists who are as gifted to capture the sounds of heaven and make them accessible to peoples everywhere. This CD is fresh, healing, uplifting and encouraging; it is both a celebration of God’s faithfulness and a reminder of the promise of His presence in every circumstance.” – Worship leader

“…I feel pretty confident that I won't hear five albums that are better than Israel Houghton's The Power of One [this year]…an album that has the potential to have great crossover appeal.” – Soul Tracks, Howard Dukes

“Solo but still spectacular…Whether in congregational settings or personal moments of prayer, The Power of One dually hits the spot, once again positioning Houghton as one of today’s most innovative worship leaders…” – CCMmagazine.com

“Listeners familiar with his passionate, youthful energy won’t be disappointed with the latest offering from this singer, composer, producer and worship leader. This guest-filled tour de force rocks everything from reggae to sanctified funk and pop while staying on message.” – Ebony

“…Israel Houghton is taking his gifts on a whole 'nother level with his profoundly moving project. The Power of One is a challenge to all of faith to be as impassioned and Christ-like in their earthly walk as humanly possible…Power of One is a visceral rush of bravado and gratitude.” – Urban Network

“If you’re looking for more uplifting tunes with a faith-based message, be sure to pick up The Power of One when it drops on March 24th.” – DJ Booth

“The successful variety of Power of One rouses the possibilities of Houghton crossing over with artists like John Mayer or Alicia Keys, with whom he has performed with publicly. His music is celebratory, never condemning…Power of One is a quality album and one for both Houghton fans and those unfamiliar with his work to add to or start a collection. With Power of One, Houghton continues to balance the transcendence of believing in Christ as an individual and how through this faith, an individual becomes a part of something much greater than his or herself.” – BlogCritics Magazine

“With The Power of One, Houghton joins the likes of Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, and Marvin Winans – artists who have deftly stepped outside the box of Contemporary Gospel music – to create a genre-defying solo project that inspires the soul, engages the body and treats the ear to many a musical surprise…The result is an album rich in influences and styles, yet unified by a rich, solid production…moving, powerful.” – Soul-Audio.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.

Music fans across the nation have received an early introduction to the music as Israel Houghton’s national major market, 37-city tour with Chris Tomlin that began Jan. 22 has already logged 10 sellouts, including concerts at Houston’s Berry Center, San Antonio’s Municipal Auditorium and Los Angeles’s Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk. With other venues across the country at, or near capacity, the latest tour information can be found at www.myspace.com/israelhoughtonmusic.

In addition to the tour, 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 in his local church, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, Houston, 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.