The Winans!

Detroit’s first family of gospel music:

The Winans family is a group of gospel artists from Detroit consisting of David “Pop”, Delores “Mom”, David II, Ronald, Carvin, Marvin, Michael, Daniel, Benjamin “BeBe”, Priscilla “CeCe”, Angelique, and Debra. Combined, the family has won 18 Grammys.

David “Pop” Winans was born April 20, 1934 in Detroit. He began singing as a teenager, where he met his wife Delores in 1949. Once his kids were born, Pop stopped singing to manage them and preach. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2000. Pop joined the ancestors April 8, 2009.

Delores “Mom” Winans was born September 22, 1936 in Detroit. She met her husband in 1949 while singing in the Lucille Lemons Choir. The matriarch of the family, Mom also played the piano for the choir. She is credited for getting her 10 children to sing and get into music.

David Winans II was born September 24, 1954 in Detroit and is the oldest of the 10 children. Unlike his siblings, David is an award-winning instrumentalist like his parents. He played the bass and the guitar for his bothers when they were the Winanaires and then The Winans.

Ronald Winans was born June 30, 1956 in Detroit. He graduated from Mumford High School. Ron was 1/4 of the gospel group “The Winans” with his four younger brothers Carvin, Marvin, and Michael in 1981. They went on to win five Grammys. He joined the ancestors June 17, 2005.

Carvin Winans Sr. was born March 5, 1958. He is the third oldest of the Winans children and older twin brother of Marvin Winans. He graduated from Mumford in 1976. Carvin was part of the quartet groups “The Winans” with his brothers Ron, Marvin, & Michael, winning five Grammys.

Pastor Marvin Winans Sr. was born March 5, 1958 in Detroit. He is the fourth oldest and younger twin brother of Carvin. He graduated from Mumford in 1976. He is pastor of Perfecting Church in Detroit, opened Winans Academy in the city, and starred in a Tyler Perry movie.

Michael Winans Sr. was born June 5, 1959 and is the fifth oldest of the Winans children. He attended Mumford High School. Michael was a member of “The Winans” singing group with his older brothers. They were discovered by gospel legend Andraé Crouch. The Winans won five Grammys.

Daniel Winans was born July 22, 1961 in Detroit. He is the sixth oldest of the Winans children. He graduated from Mumford in 1979. He went on to have a very successful solo career, winning a Grammy in 1989 for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir, or Chorus.

Benjamin “BeBe” Winans was born September 17, 1962 in Detroit and is the seventh oldest Winans child. He attended Mumford. He performed with his younger sister CeCe for a period of time, then went on so a solo career. BeBe has won six Grammys, being nominated 21 times.

Priscilla “CeCe” Winans was born October 8, 1964 in Detroit and is the eighth oldest Winan, and first daughter to be born. She attended Mumford. CeCe performed with her older brother Bebe and as a solo act. She has won 12 Grammys and had been nominated 28 times.

Angelique Winans was born March 4, 1968 in Detroit and is the ninth oldest Winans child and second daughter born. She performed with younger sister Debbie and then went on to have a solo career. Her solo album “Melodies of My Heart” was nominated for a Grammy in 2001.

Debra Winans was born September 3, 1972 and is the youngest of the Winans children and the third daughter born. She attended Mumford High School. Debbie performed with her older sister Angie for a few years, recording two albums. She went on to do theater work.

David and Delores Winans performed together as “Mom & Pop” Winans and also had solo careers. They received a Grammy nomination for their album “Mom & Pop Winans” in 1989. They set aside their own singing careers for decades so their children could tap into their own potential.

The Winans quartet consisted of Ronald, Carvin, Marvin, and Michael. They started off as the “Winanaires” and “The Testimonial Singers.” Gospel legend Andraé Crouch discovered them. They released their first album in 1981 and won five Grammys, with 11 nominations.

In 1997, Atlanta native Gladys Knight and Ron Winans opened a chicken & waffles joint. They opened a few locations in the Atlanta area and in Maryland. The chicken & waffles concept is believed to have originated in Harlem to satisfy the tastebuds of late night club-goers.

Marvin Winans followed in his father’s footsteps and became a pastor. He has led Perfecting Church in Detroit for the last 30 years. He began to build a new edifice on the corner of 7 Mile and Woodward in 2003. The congregation still hasn’t moved into it, relying on donations.

Michael Winans Jr. was was nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for best contemporary soul gospel album. In 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for opening an $8 million fraud scheme. Winans led investors to believe they were investing in Saudi Arabian crude oil bonds.

Bebe & CeCe Winans released a number of albums as a duet beginning in 1984. They released three No. 1 gospel albums together and have won several Grammys Awards. They were one of the first Black artists to receive significant airplay on contemporary Christian music radio.

BeBe & CeCe Winans became very popular in American pop culture, appearing on shows like Martin & Sesame Street. They performed “The First Noel” on Martin Payne’s show before the angry Santa Claus came interrupted, trying to blow the studio up with his fake bomb. Classic episode.

Angie & Debbie Winans released their final collaboration album in 1997 titled ‘Bold.’ It contains a song called “Not Natural,” which denounces homosexuality. Gay-rights activists were angered and protested the two. They even received death threats because of their record.

Vickie Winans is the ex-wife of Pastor Marvin Winans. She is from Detroit and married him in 1978. They were married for 16 years and had two children together, Marvin Jr. and Josiah. Mario Winans is her son from a previous marriage. “Long As I Got King Jesus” is a classic!

Mario Winans is the son of Vickie Winans and stepson of Pastor Marvin Winans. He released two albums, one in 1997 under Motown Records and his No. 1 album “Hurt No More” under Bad Boy Records in 2004. His song “I Don’t Wanna Know” featuring Diddy was No. 2 in the country.