Marvin Winans | |
---|---|
Birth name | Marvin Lawrence Winans |
Born | March 5, 1958 |
Origin |
Detroit, Michigan United States |
Genres | Gospel |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Pastor, Actor |
Years active | 1975-present |
Labels |
with The Winans Light Qwest/Warner Bros. with the Perfected Praise Choir Sparrow Records Diamante Music Group Artemis Gospel Pure Springs Gospel |
Associated acts | The Winans, Fred Hammond. |
Notable instruments | |
piano |
Marvin Lawrence Winans (born March 5, 1958) is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, the fourth of 10 children of Delores (née Ransom) and David Glenn Winans, Sr., who recorded together as "Mom and Pop Winans". His siblings David II, Carvin (his fraternal twin), Benjamin (BeBe), Daniel, Michael, Ronald, Priscilla (CeCe), Deborah (Debbie), Angelique (Angie) are also musically gifted and have careers in the music industry singing, writing and producing. Marvin met and married Vickie Bowman, to whom he was married for 16 years until their divorce in 1995. His sons, Marvin Jr. (Coconut), Josiah Winans, and stepson Mario (Skeeter) are also in the music business. Mario is a producer and R&B singer. Marvin Jr., once a member of Winans Phase 2, is now a solo artist and is also a producer, and Josiah Winans is also a producer featured on Marvin Jr.'s first solo project.
Winans sang in the 1970s with his brothers Ronald, Carvin (his twin) and Michael (the group also included others) as The Testimonial Singers. Their first performance was at a high school talent show. In 1975 the group's name was changed to The Winans. Their musical careers spanned both the 1980s and 1990s. The Winans, who were discovered by Andrae Crouch, released their first album under the new group's name, entitled Introducing The Winans, in 1981. The Winans were greatly influenced by the Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans. An organist and pianist, Marvin also wrote songs, and produced for The Winans records, for solo projects from family members, and on other gospel releases. For his vocals on the 1985 song "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay", Winans was awarded a Grammy for Best Male Soul Gospel Performance. He and several of his siblings and family members sang The Winans' hit "Tomorrow" at Whitney Houston's funeral.