Marvin Winans

Marvin Lawrence Winans Sr. (born March 5, 1958) is an American pastor and gospel singer, and a member of the Winans family as well as The Winans musical group. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

Bishop Marvin Winans
Birth name	Marvin Lawrence Winans
Born	(1958-03-05) March 5, 1958 (age 67)
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

Life and career

Early life

Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan,^[1] the fourth of 10 children of Delores (née Ransom) and David Glenn Winans Sr., who recorded together as "Mom and Pop Winans".^[2] His siblings David II, Carvin (Marvin's fraternal twin), Benjamin (BeBe), Daniel, Michael, Ronald, Priscilla (CeCe), Deborah (Debbie), and Angelique (Angie) also have careers in the music industry as singers, writers and producers.

Musical career

Winans sang in the 1970s with his brothers Ronald, his twin Carvin, and Michael as The Testimonial Singers. The group also included others. 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 between the 1980s into the 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.^[3]

The Winans were greatly influenced by 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 founded The Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan in 1989.^[4] He released an album featuring the church's choir in 1992 entitled Introducing Perfected Praise. His 2007 release, Alone but Not Alone, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album.

In 1997, he founded the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts ("WAPA"). In 2007, Winans released his first solo recording, Alone, But Not Alone. His fourth album entitled Marvin L. Winans presents The Praise + Worship Experience was released on June 26, 2012, recorded at his church through MLW Productions. The album features: Don Moen, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Mom Winans, Roderick Dixon, Bishop Paul Morton, amongst others.

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, Winans preached the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral, at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.^[5] He and several of his siblings and family members sang The Winans' hit "Tomorrow" at the service.^[3]

On July 11, 2025, Winans appeared on Justin Bieber's album Swag with his song "Forgiveness", a rendition of the 1989 song "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" by Rick Founds.^[6] With 163,000 sales and 3.8 million digital streams in the US, the song debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart and number 3 on the Hot Christian Songs.^[7]

Personal life

Winans was formerly married to gospel singer Viviane "Vickie" Winans, née Bowman, for 16 years, until their divorce in 1995. His sons, Marvin Jr. (Coconut), Josiah Winans, and stepson Mario "Skeeter" Winans are in the music business. Mario is a producer and R&B singer. Josiah Winans is a producer, featured on Marvin Jr.'s first solo project. Marvin Jr., once a member of Winans Phase 2, is a solo artist, a producer and pastor of Perfecting Home Church.

Winans married Dr. Deneen Carter in April 2022.

Discography

''Introducing The Winans''

• Released: 1981 (1981)
• Format: LP
• Label: Light Records

''Long Time Comin' ''

• Released: 1983 (1983)
• Format: LP
• Label: Light Records

''Tomorrow''

• Released: 1984 (1984)
• Format: LP
• Label: Light Records

''Let My People Go''

• Released: 1985 (1985)
• Format: LP
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''Decisions''

• Released: 1987 (1987)
• Format: LP
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''The Winans Live At Carnegie Hall''

• Released: 1988 (1988)
• Format: LP
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''Return''

• Released: 1990 (1990)
• Format: CD
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''All Out''

• Released: 1993 (1993)
• Format: CD
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''Heart & Soul''

• Released: 1995 (1995)
• Format: CD
• Label: Qwest/Warner Bros.

''Christmas: Our Gifts To You''

• Released: 2000 (2000)
• Format: CD
• Label: Diamante Music Group

''Introducing Perfected Praise''

• Released: 1992 (1992)
• Format: CD
• Label: Sparrow Records
• Chart position: #14 US Gospel^[8]

''Friends''

• Released: 2001 (2001)
• Format: CD
• Label: Diamante Music Group
• Chart position: #7 US Gospel, #18 US Independent^[8]

''The Songs of Marvin Winans''

• Released: 2006 (2006)
• Format: CD
• Label: Artemis Gospel

''Alone but Not Alone''

• Released: 2007 (2007)
• Format: CD
• Label: Pure Springs Gospel
• Chart position: #85 US^[8]

Other charted songs

List of charting songs and peak chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions				Album
		US Christ [9]	US Christ Stream [10]	US Gospel [11]	US Gospel Stream [12]
"Forgiveness"	2025	3	3	1	1	Swag