Israel & New Breed

Israel & New Breed is a contemporary Christian worship group led by Israel Houghton, a worship leader, songwriter, and producer who became fully involved in worship ministry in the late 1980s. Seeking to overcome cultural and denominational divides through music, Houghton formed New Breed Ministries with his wife, Meleasa, together with a rotating collective of musicians and vocalists, and toured widely to bring the group’s sound to churches across the United States.

The group’s recordings blend gospel with elements of R&B, pop, and world music, reflecting Houghton’s intentionally multicultural approach to worship. Albums such as «New Season» and «Real» established Israel & New Breed as a major force in contemporary worship music, while live recordings including «Alive in South Africa» and «Jesus at the Center: Live» captured the group’s dynamic concert energy in front of large congregations and audiences.

Songs like «You Are Good», «Friend Of God», and «Trading My Sorrows (Yes Lord)» became staples of church worship services well beyond the group’s core audience. Over a career spanning multiple releases and international performances, Israel & New Breed helped shape the sound of modern worship music, balancing accessible melodies with a strong emphasis on communal, celebratory praise.