As far back as I can remember, I used to sing. I remember singing probably just as much as I remember talking. It was always a part of our home.”
CeCe Winans, 8th of 10 siblings who all ventured into gospel music.
A family can be so dynamic, such that siblings rarely follow the same path. However, one family of a whooping 10 children managed to follow the same path into gospel music – the Winans family (US).
They absolutely know how to ace it. All members of the Winans family have accomplished feats in the musical world, and earned prestigious accolades to their names.
Members of the family have collectively bagged over 30 Grammys. They began dominating in the gospel music industry in the 1980’s.
You must have heard of the the duo BeBe and CeCe Winans, they are the most well known members of the family.
The duo’s songs include I found love, It’s OK, Close to you and many more. As a solo artist, some of CeCe’s popular songs include More than what I wanted, Mercy said no, King of glory and Believe for it.
The Winans siblings are David II, Carvin, Marvin, Michael, Daniel, Benjamin (BeBe), Priscilla (CeCe), Angelique and Debra Renee.
Their mother is Delores “Mom” Winans.
Along the way, the family lost it’s patriarch David “Pop” Winans and one of the siblings, Ronald Winans.
Growing up singing
Singing was a Winans favorite.
“We enjoyed singing, everybody sang and we have figured everybody in; in the Winans family song,” said Ronald Winans, the second sibling, in a BET interview.
Pop and Mom themselves met while singing in the same musical group (Lemon Chorus Group) in 1951. Their debut album, “Mom and Pop” was released in 1989.
The family was and still is invested in music, it’s third generation is testimony to this.
Delores “Mom” Winans explains how her children fell in love with music,
“They just kinda fell into it and started doing things, making up their own songs, learning to play their own instruments.”
Being active in the church and singing in choirs must have had an impact on the 10 Winans, coupled with the fact that their father was a preacher.
Their home must have been so lively and vocal.
Living in a 3 bedroom home, CeCe says that it was always crowded, “When you have 10 children in a 3 bedroom home, you have one full bathroom upstairs, you have…a half bath house.”
Discipline – no pants, no makeup, no movies
It wasn’t all easy for the Winans girls, the code was no pants, no makeup and no movies (for all children). This was a church standard adopted into the family.
It made them exceptional in a world where these things were a norm.
“We were embarrassed, a little cos everybody had pants on…make up, we just had to come to school plain.” Says Angie the 9th sibling.
“Back then we felt like children were children and parents were parents and we didn’t get that mixed up,” Delores explains the tough rules.
Family’s debut into the music industry
The Winans, a music group comprised of Ronald, Marvin, Carvin and Michael Winans (second to fifth siblings), debuted the family into the music industry in 1981 with their album Introducing the Winans. Their father David “Pop” Winans was their manager.
Later on in 1982, BeBe and CeCe got into PTL (Praise The Lord) TV show, where they recorded their first album.
The duo left TPL in 1987, releasing several albums afterwards, including BeBe and CeCe Winans, Heaven, Different Lifestyles, First Christmas, Relationships and Still.
The two split up in 1995, according to prior agreement; to pursue their careers individually. They however did another duo in 2009.
Going solo was a big step which allowed both CeCe and BeBe to grow.
Accolades
The entire Winans family has collectively won over 30 Grammy awards
The Winans quartet bagged six Grammy awards in the late 1980s and 1993.
CeCe has an overwhelming 12 Grammy Award winnings and 28 nominations. She also has 2 GMA Dove awards and 3 nominations under the same. Her presence in the music industry cannot be ignored.
BeBe on the other hand has scooped 6 Grammys and 21 nominations.
Transcending Generations
The music streak is running down the family tree – the third generation Winans have picked up on it.
Juan Winans, son to Carvin Winans was part of the Winans phase II, and has been active in the music world ever since. Juan’s elder brother Carvin Jr., cousins Marvin Winans Jr. and Michael Winans Jr. were also part of Winans phase II.
CeCe Winan’s son Alvin Love III also appears to have inherited the music streak. He is a 2 time Grammy awards winner (2017 & 2018) and also has a GMA Dove award.
Interesting story