Lift Every Voice: Israel Houghton

Take a closer look at Israel Houghton.

Award-Winning - Israel Houghton has won every major award available to a gospel artist, including a Grammy, Stellar and Dove award. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel Celebration 2011)

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Israel Houghton - Houghton was born in 1971 to a White mother and Black father. At an early age, he experienced racism from family.\r(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel Celebration 2011)

Israel’s Sound - Houghton mixes elements of gospel, jazz and rock to create a cross-cultural style of worship music. He leads the ensemble “Israel and New Breed.”\r (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Israel’s Sound - Houghton mixes elements of gospel, jazz and rock to create a cross-cultural style of worship music. He leads the ensemble “Israel and New Breed.”\r (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Come Together - Houghton didn’t want to settle on one particular style of worship when getting into the recording industry. “I would hear, ‘Choose a style,’ and I used to say, ‘How about we just put it all together?’ Because when we get to heaven, there’s not going to be sections.... ‘This is the Black section of heaven.”\r(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

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Come Together - Houghton didn’t want to settle on one particular style of worship when getting into the recording industry. “I would hear, ‘Choose a style,’ and I used to say, ‘How about we just put it all together?’ Because when we get to heaven, there’s not going to be sections.... ‘This is the Black section of heaven.”\r(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

Leader of Worship - Houghton attends popular TV preacher Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church and serves as worship leader. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Leader of Worship - Houghton attends popular TV preacher Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church and serves as worship leader. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Album Credits - Houghton has released a total of 10 albums, including New Season, Alive in South Africa, The Power of One and Love God, Love People.\r(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

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Album Credits - Houghton has released a total of 10 albums, including New Season, Alive in South Africa, The Power of One and Love God, Love People.\r(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

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Family Guy - Houghton lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Meleasa. They have four children.\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Family Guy - Houghton lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife, Meleasa. They have four children.\r(Photo by Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Award Winner - Over his career, Houghton has won six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and four Grammy Awards.\r(Photo by Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

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Award Winner - Over his career, Houghton has won six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and four Grammy Awards.\r(Photo by Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

Family First - “I believe that if I don’t take care of my family as a great leader and husband and father, I could have all kinds of accolades and awards and a big mantle up there or something with a bunch of statuettes, but if my children don’t respect me, if I haven’t been a good husband, then that’s all a joke to me.”\r(Photo by Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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Family First - “I believe that if I don’t take care of my family as a great leader and husband and father, I could have all kinds of accolades and awards and a big mantle up there or something with a bunch of statuettes, but if my children don’t respect me, if I haven’t been a good husband, then that’s all a joke to me.”\r(Photo by Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)