Biography
Emerging from a lineage steeped in gospel traditions across multiple generations, Carvin Winans first gained notice during the 1980s and 1990s alongside brothers Marvin, Michael, and Ron in the Grammy-winning ensemble the Winans. In the 2010s he joined Marvin and BeBe Winans to create 3 Winans Brothers. Across decades he contributed studio vocals to projects by Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, and Kenny Loggins while penning material for Whitney Houston, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, and numerous solo and group releases by his relatives. Following more than thirty-five years in the industry, he issued his debut solo effort, the urban contemporary-styled In the Softest Way, through the Dance Factory label in 2019.
Born Carvin Lawrence Winans in Detroit, Michigan, in 1958 to Delores and David Winans, known as Mom & Pop Winans, he began performing at age four. As one of ten siblings, he united with older brother Ron, twin Marvin, and younger brother Michael to launch the Winans in 1980. Andraé Crouch quickly noticed their work and placed them on Light Records. Their introductory album, Introducing the Winans, appeared in 1981. The follow-up, Long Time Comin' from 1983, marked their initial Billboard gospel chart entry inside the Top Ten, a placement matched the next year by Tomorrow. That release earned two Grammy Awards—one for Marvin Winans' rendition of "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay" and another for the group's performance of the title track. Their fourth collection, Let My People Go, reached number one on the gospel survey in 1985, crossed over to peak at number 57 on the R&B/hip-hop chart, and secured a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance with its title song; it also marked their first project for Quincy Jones' Qwest Records.
Within his initial half-decade alongside the Winans, Carvin not only supplied songs but also took on production duties for several of their releases. As part of the group he supplied backing vocals on Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. The next two Winans studio sets entered the Billboard 200, among them Decisions, which garnered a Grammy for "Ain't No Need to Worry" featuring Anita Baker, and Return, which climbed to a career-best number 90 in 1990. That same year Selah Records issued Gospel Buggy, a joint project between Carvin Winans and actress/singer Kim Fields that featured more than a dozen contributors including Vickie Winans and David Peaston. The Winans revisited the Top 20 of the gospel and Christian charts with 1993's All Out and 1995's Heart & Soul, the former capturing the Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
Meanwhile Carvin lent vocals to family endeavors such as releases by BeBe & CeCe Winans and the youngest sisters Angie & Debbie Winans. His backing vocals surfaced on Kenny Loggins' 1997 album The Unimaginable Life. A holiday set credited to the Winans, Christmas: Our Gifts to You, arrived in 2000 with involvement from additional relatives and guests, though Carvin did not participate. The Rhino compilation The Very Best of the Winans reached number 16 on the Billboard gospel chart in 2002. Ron Winans passed away in 2005, closing the door on any reunion, yet the Winans received induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2007.
Carvin Winans later assembled 3 Winans Brothers with Marvin and BeBe. Their album Foreign Land, containing productions by Daniel Weatherspoon and Rodney Jerkins, appeared on eOne in 2014. In 2017 saxophonist Kirk Whalum featured the Carvin and Deborah Winans composition "Tomorrow" on #Lovecovers, with Carvin, Debbie, BeBe, Angie, and Juan Winans also contributing vocals. At age sixty, Carvin Winans delivered his first solo album, In the Softest Way, via the Dance Factory imprint in 2019.
Born Carvin Lawrence Winans in Detroit, Michigan, in 1958 to Delores and David Winans, known as Mom & Pop Winans, he began performing at age four. As one of ten siblings, he united with older brother Ron, twin Marvin, and younger brother Michael to launch the Winans in 1980. Andraé Crouch quickly noticed their work and placed them on Light Records. Their introductory album, Introducing the Winans, appeared in 1981. The follow-up, Long Time Comin' from 1983, marked their initial Billboard gospel chart entry inside the Top Ten, a placement matched the next year by Tomorrow. That release earned two Grammy Awards—one for Marvin Winans' rendition of "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay" and another for the group's performance of the title track. Their fourth collection, Let My People Go, reached number one on the gospel survey in 1985, crossed over to peak at number 57 on the R&B/hip-hop chart, and secured a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance with its title song; it also marked their first project for Quincy Jones' Qwest Records.
Within his initial half-decade alongside the Winans, Carvin not only supplied songs but also took on production duties for several of their releases. As part of the group he supplied backing vocals on Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. The next two Winans studio sets entered the Billboard 200, among them Decisions, which garnered a Grammy for "Ain't No Need to Worry" featuring Anita Baker, and Return, which climbed to a career-best number 90 in 1990. That same year Selah Records issued Gospel Buggy, a joint project between Carvin Winans and actress/singer Kim Fields that featured more than a dozen contributors including Vickie Winans and David Peaston. The Winans revisited the Top 20 of the gospel and Christian charts with 1993's All Out and 1995's Heart & Soul, the former capturing the Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
Meanwhile Carvin lent vocals to family endeavors such as releases by BeBe & CeCe Winans and the youngest sisters Angie & Debbie Winans. His backing vocals surfaced on Kenny Loggins' 1997 album The Unimaginable Life. A holiday set credited to the Winans, Christmas: Our Gifts to You, arrived in 2000 with involvement from additional relatives and guests, though Carvin did not participate. The Rhino compilation The Very Best of the Winans reached number 16 on the Billboard gospel chart in 2002. Ron Winans passed away in 2005, closing the door on any reunion, yet the Winans received induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2007.
Carvin Winans later assembled 3 Winans Brothers with Marvin and BeBe. Their album Foreign Land, containing productions by Daniel Weatherspoon and Rodney Jerkins, appeared on eOne in 2014. In 2017 saxophonist Kirk Whalum featured the Carvin and Deborah Winans composition "Tomorrow" on #Lovecovers, with Carvin, Debbie, BeBe, Angie, and Juan Winans also contributing vocals. At age sixty, Carvin Winans delivered his first solo album, In the Softest Way, via the Dance Factory imprint in 2019.
Albums
Singles
