Winans
| The Winans | ||
|---|---|---|
 ' | ||
| Background Information | ||
|
Origin |
Detroit | |
|
Genre |
Gospel | |
|
Years Active |
1980 - Present | |
|
Labels |
Light Records | |
|
Members |
Marvin Winans | |
|
Past Members |
Ronald Winans (deceased) | |
|
Associated Acts |
BeBe & CeCe Winans | |
The Winans are an Gospel music quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans.
The Winans were pioneers in the field of contemporary gospel, updating the sound and style of traditional black gospel vocal groups for the urban contemporary age. While they weren't the first group to do so, they were probably the most important factor in popularizing the style, paving the way for countless urban-style gospel groups to follow -- including numerous other members of their own, confusingly large family tree. The Winans were composed of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Ronald, and Michael, all of whom were born in Detroit and raised in a strict, loving Christian environment. Their parents later recorded together as Mom & Pop Winans, and their other family spinoff acts included Daniel, Vickie, brother and sister BeBe & CeCe, and Angie & Debbie; plus, their own sons went on to form the third-generation group Winans Phase 2. All of that came later, though. The four brothers, like the rest of their siblings, grew up singing in gospel choirs, and decided to form a professional quartet in their twenties.
Contents
Musical career
Origins
Brothers Ronald, Marvin Winans, Carvin, and Michael Winans (the second, third, fourth and fifth siblings of the Winans family) grew up in Detroit and were discovered by Andrae Crouch, who signed them to Light Records.
Music
Their first record, Introducing The Winans was produced in 1981. They performed vocals in This is America, Charlie Brown's segment "The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad" in 1989. Their style was noted for its crossover efforts and received airplay on R&B radio. The group's last recording was in 1995, but they have subsequently been involved in various Winans family projects where they are credited as "The Winans" (e.g. November 2000's Christmas: Our Gifts To You).
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Music recording sales Certifications (List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200|US | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B |
Billboard charts|US Gospel |
Billboard charts|US CCM | |||
| 1981 | Introducing The Winans
|
— | — | — | — | |
| 1983 | Long Time Comin'
|
— | — | 8 | — | |
| 1984 | Tomorrow
|
— | — | 3 | — | |
| 1985 | Let My People Go
|
— | 57 | 1 | — | |
| 1987 | Decisions (The Winans album)|Decisions
|
109 | 30 | 1 | 12 | |
| 1988 | Live At Carnegie Hall
|
— | — | 13 | 22 | |
| 1990 | Return
|
90 | 12 | 1 | 4 |
|
| 1993 | All Out
|
— | 41 | 15 | 9 |
|
| 1995 | Heart & Soul
|
— | — | 3 | 12 | |
| 2000 | Christmas: Our Gifts to You
|
— | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Compilation
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Music recording sales certification|Certifications (List of music recording sales certifications|sales thresholds) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard charts|US Gospel | ||||||
| 1990 | The Best Of The Winans
|
— | ||||
| 1994 | Feel the Spirit
|
- | ||||
| 1995 | The Light Years
|
— | ||||
| 2002 | Legends Of Gospel
|
— | ||||
The Very Best Of The Winans
|
16 | |||||
| 2003 | Great Family Of Gospel
|
— | ||||
| 2004 | Gospel Greats
|
— | ||||
| 2005 | The Definitive Original Greatest Hits
|
— | ||||
| 2008 | Gospel Legacy
|
— | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions<ref name="billboard" | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
UK Singles Chart|UK | ||||
| 1985 | "Let My People Go" | 42 | 71 | Let My People Go | |
| "Very Real Way" | — | — | |||
| 1986 | "The Real Meaning of Christmas" | — | — | The Real Meaning of Christmas (Maxi-single)/"Decisions (The Winans album)|Decisions" | |
| 1987 | "Ain't No Need To Worry" (feat. Anita Baker) | 15 | — | Decisions | |
| "Love Has No Color" (feat. Michael McDonald) | — | — | |||
| "Give Me You" | — | — | |||
| 1989 | "Lean On Me" (with Thelma Houston) | 73 | — | Lean On Me (Soundtrack) | |
| 1990 | "It's Time" (featuring Teddy Riley) | 5 | — | Return | |
| "A Friend" (featuring Aaron Hall) | 11 | — | |||
| "When You Cry" | 40 | — | |||
| 1991 | "Don't Leave Me" | 34 | — | ||
| 1993 | "Payday" (featuring R. Kelly) | 74 | — | All Out | |
| 1994 | "That Extra Mile" | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Heart & Soul" | 89 | — | Heart & Soul | |
| 1996 | "Count It All Joy" | — | — | ||
| "Standing On Promises | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released | |||||
Awards
- Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: All Out (1993)
- Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group, Choir Or Chorus: The Winans Live At Carnegie Hall (1988)
- Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus: "Ain't No Need To Worry" (The Winans featuring Anita Baker) (1987)
- Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus: "Let My People Go" (1986)
- Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male: "Bring Back The Days Of Yea And Nay" (Marvin Winans) (1985)
- Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus: "Tomorrow" (1985)
