When you sit down and talk with Israel Tutson you get the feeling that, music is more who he is, than what he does. When he discusses his passion, it's as if you can see the excitement dancing in his eyes. But once you get the chance to actually hear him play, one thing becomes powerfully apparent: Israel was born to make music! It's been almost thirty years since Israel began playing the piano. At the age of four he learned to play by ear and was quickly labeled a child prodigy for his uncanny ability to "hear a song once then play it back from memory." His parents nurtured his natural talents, sending him to the prestigous All-State Music Camp at the University of IA where he studied various musical subjects including Jazz Improvisation, Music Theory, Orchestral Conducting and Vocal Performance. During his Jr. high school years Israel gained local notariety performing in talent competitions and school concerts. But after finding his singing voice in high school, Israel became a double threat, going on to perform on national stages across the country from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York and even the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. The University of IA again took notice of Israel and his growth as a music artist and awarded him with a full four-year Vocal Performance scholarship when he finished high school. In 2002 however, during a bout with severe depression, Israel decided to step away from pursuing music as a career. He stopped touring and performing and even lost his music scholarship. "I had a lot going on then" he explains. "My mind, my spirit, my soul, everything seemed completely out of wack! I couldn't write. I was depressed, I had writers' block and I just felt trapped -" An autobiography that Israel is currently working on "explains everything" he says, including, his road to salvation and how after a decade, God revitalized him by not only restoring his lost passion for music but taking it to another level! "I was looking to be an R&B artist but when God saved me, He showed me that I had a higher purpose in life. - I knew that my talents were God-given, it just took me a while to realize that God didn't give me those talents just to entertain people but to use my music to glorify Him!" Currently living in Des Moines, IA, the Singer/Songwriter/Pianist/Producer/Lyricist is back on the music scene and making music that he feels is "better than ever!" His dream is to "spread the Gospel all around the world through song." The Illinois born, Los Angeles / Iowa City bred crooner seems poised to do just that as he is quickly emerging as one of the must-hear Independent Gospel Artists of 2015. His most recent album: Red Carpet was released in May and has already garnered impressive accolades including an early nomination for "Neo Soul Gospel Album of the Year" through the Prayze Factor Awards. Israel says that it feels good to be once again doing what he loves while at the same time knowing that his music has a greater purpose. “I enjoy making music that can help someone’s life you know? I feel like musicians and music artists have a great responsibility on our shoulders because of the power of music itself. Music has the power to hit every emotion that we can feel, good or bad. I just want to do my part to take something like this that’s so powerful and use it to minister to someone’s soul.” It's been years since we've heard anything from Israel and during that time he says he has become a better version of himself. "I've grown, I've matured as a man, as a Christian, and now as a husband and father. Yes, I'm still evolving but I'm definitely not the person I used to be, be it musically or otherwise. I've learned a lot through the years and I just feel that now is the time that God has given me to take what I've learned and share it with the world."