Israel Houghton & New Breed’s “Coritos Vol. 1” Honours Latino Worship With Soulful Praise

NASHVILLE, TN. Israel Houghton & New Breed’s “Coritos Vol. 1” Honours Latino Worship With Soulful Praise. Grammy-winning gospel icon Israel Houghton and his ensemble, Israel & New Breed, have officially released their highly anticipated album, Coritos Vol. 1, now available on all streaming platforms.

Announced through a heartfelt message from Houghton on social media—“Good morning, Familia. Coritos Vol. 1 is available now on all platforms. We hope you love it as much as we do. #CoritosVol1”—the album marks a vibrant tribute to the rich Latino tradition of coritos, which are short and soulful praise choruses cherished within Hispanic faith communities for generations.

This release follows the overwhelmingly positive reception of the 2021 track “Coritos Medley,” from Israel & New Breed’s Feels Like Home, Vol. 1. The track blended classic coritos with the group’s unique mix of gospel, jazz, and Latin influences, sparking a wave of nostalgia and calls for more from Spanish-speaking listeners. In response, Houghton teamed up with his wife, Adrienne Houghton—singer and television personality—to craft an entire album dedicated to these beloved songs.

“Coritos are more than just music; they’re a legacy,” Houghton shared in a recent interview with Christianity Today. “We’ve really felt like we are stewards of this tradition.” Featuring a mix of beloved coritos classics alongside original compositions, the album aims to revive these songs, which have been slowly fading from Latino Protestant congregations in favour of more contemporary worship music.

Adrienne Houghton, who joins Israel and other collaborators on vocals, described the process as deeply meaningful.

“People have shared stories like, ‘My grandmother used to sing this song to me before I went to bed.’ We’re bringing back those sacred memories,” she said.

Collaborating with artists such as Aaron Moses and other New Breed members, Houghton and his team have captured the communal spirit of coritos, which were traditionally passed down orally through churches across Latin America and the U.S. Tracks like “Campfire Coritos,” previously featured on Worship Anywhere (2022), demonstrate Israel & New Breed’s signature blend of raw, heartfelt worship and polished production. The album also showcases moments of improvisation and call-and-response that evoke the lively, spontaneous atmosphere of church services.

For Houghton, a seven-time Grammy winner known for iconic albums like Live From Another Level and Alive in South Africa, Coritos Vol. 1 represents a return to his roots. Raised in a Hispanic church, Houghton recalls singing coritos as a child, a formative experience that shaped his eclectic musical style. “These songs are simple, but they carry so much power,” Houghton reflected. “They connect generations.”

The release has resonated deeply with listeners worldwide, especially within Latino communities where coritos are seen as an enduring pillar of faith.

Now available on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, Coritos Vol. 1 invites listeners to rediscover the joy and intimacy of worship through song. Whether reconnecting with cherished childhood church memories or encountering coritos for the first time, Israel & New Breed’s latest release promises to uplift and inspire. As Houghton and his team hope, this album is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a celebration of faith, family, and cultural heritage.