Wikipedia

Juan Winans

Juan Winansis an American singer/songwriter, music producer, and a third-generation member of theWinans family.

Family and early life

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Juan Winans was born in Detroit, MI on July 24. The second child of four (Carvin Jr.,Deborah Joy Winans& Ian) born toCarvin Winans(b. 1958)[1]and Deborah Kerr Winans. His paternal grandparents, David (April 20, 1934 – April 8, 2009)[2]and Delores Winans (September 22, 1936) met each other in 1951, at the ages of 17 and 16 while singing in the Lemon Gospel Chorus. They married two years later; the marriage lasted nearly sixty years, producing ten children.[1]Mom & Pop Winans, as they would come to be known, had seven sons, David Jr, Ronald, Carvin, Marvin (Marvin Winans), Michael, Daniel, Benjamin (BeBe Winans), then three daughters, Priscilla (CeCe Winans), Angelique, and Debra. Both David's father and grandfather were preachers in the Pentecostal church, and he himself raised his ten children in a strict religious home. They taught their children how to sing and they honed their skills performing quartet music at their great-grandfather's church. However, it was not until 1980 that Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald were discovered byAndrae Crouch,who signed them toLight RecordsasThe Winans.[3]

On January 1, 1981, Juan's father, Carvin Winans along with three of his brothers released their debut album,Introducing The Winans,[3]embarking on a career that would earn them fiveGrammy Awards[4]and the title, First Family of Gospel music. In 1987 Juan's uncle and aunt, released their debut album and became internationally known asBeBe & CeCe Winans.Several years later, in 1993, his father's youngest siblings, Angie & Debbie Winans released their debut album.

Music career

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Winans Phase 2

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In the winter of 1997 the Winans were asked to compose and perform a theme song for a Detroit NBC affiliate. They approached their sons about recording the song with them. It was during this time that Juan first expressed an interest in pursuing music, stating in a 1999 interview for CCM magazine, "I don't think I ever aspired to sing before we put this group together".[5]He, along with his older brother, Carvin and two cousins,Marvin Winans Jrand Michael Winans Jr., formed the group Winans Phase 2. In the following year they signed a record deal with Myrrh/Epic Recordsand began working on their debut album, entitledWe Got Next,released in August 1999 with tracks fromRodney Jerkins,Narada Michael Walden,andBabyface.The album debuted at No. 1 on theBillboardTop Gospel Album's chart,[6]and sold over 250,000 copies in the U.S. It was nominated for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album at the42nd Grammy Awards.[7]However they lost the award toYolanda Adams.[8]The group was also featured on several national television shows includingThe Oprah Winfrey Show,Donnie & Marie,Soul Train,[9]and the Queen Latifah show. In the spring of 2000 the group performed to crowds in theUnited Kingdom,Germany,andAmsterdam,promoting the release ofWe Got Next.A 2002 40-city tour by the entire Winans Family marked the unexpected end of the group.

Juan has never publicly spoken about why Winans Phase 2 never recorded again. However, former members Marvin and Michael have cited "internal problems",[10]and "not really wanting to be an artist"[11]as reasons for the group's breakup.

2003-2007

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In 2003 Winans returned to the studio to record background vocals for his uncle BeBe Winans Christmas albumMy Christmas Prayer.[12]The following year he relocated to Nashville to concentrate on songwriting.

Later in 2004, Juan is credited with singing background vocals onMichelle Williamsalbum,Do You Know,andSmokie Norful'sNothing Without You.

In 2005 Winans, along with Babyface, provided backing vocals for the song "I Said I Love You" from theKirk WhalumreleaseThe Songs of Babyface.[13]He is also credited with singing and arranging background vocals onGeorge Huff's,My Christmas EP.[14]During this time Winans began attending Bethel World Outreach Church in Nashville, TN, where he led worship service for the next four years.

Since 2008–present

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In 2008 Winans co-wrote the songSeattle[15]for Gospel/R&B duoMary Maryfor their platinum selling fourth studio releaseThe Sound.The album proved to be their best charting album to date, debuting No. 7 on theBillboard200,No. 2 on the US R&B chart, and topping the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music charts. The album held the No. 1 position on theBillboardGospel Albums chart for over six months after its release.[16]Winans also collaborated with Hip-Hop legendHeavy Don his critically acclaimed,Grammynominated album,Vibes,co-writing[17]and singing background vocals for the songNo Matter What.

The following year Winans composed the lyrics for and produced the songNeed You To Fall[18]forMichael Bolton.The song was released on Bolton'sOne World One Lovealbum in September 2009 in the United Kingdom, and in the U.S. on May 4, 2010. In October 2010 Winans and his wife, Lisa, collaborated with producerWarryn Campbellto compose material for the highly anticipatedTyler Perryfilm,For Colored Girls.They wrote the songSun,[19]performed byLalah Hathaway.It appears in both the film and on the soundtrack.

Winans once again teamed up with Warryn Campbell and Mary Mary on their fifth studio release,Something Big,co-writingCatch MeandNever Wave My Flag.The latter was performed by the group onThe Tonight ShowwithJay LenoMarch 31, 2011.

Winans has been credited with providing music for the movieJumping the Broom.[20]He also wrote the second single,Closer,forBishop T.D. Jakes'sSacred Love Songs IIalbum,[21]performed by R&B singerJoe.

In 2011, Juan, along withWarryn Campbell,composed and produced the songs,Marchin' On,and disco era remake,Dr. LoveforJessica Reedy's debut album,From The Heart.He is also listed as a songwriter on the songBest Man,from theDawkins & Dawkinsrelease,From Now On,andHeavy D's,Put It All on Me,from the album entitledLove Opus,singing background on the latter.

2012 began with another Campbell/Winans collaboration, writing and producingYou Should KnowforEssence Music Festivalwinner, Greta Prince.

Juan is also featured as a songwriter on blues rockerBeth Hart's newest releaseBang Bang Boom Boom,co-writing the songWith You Everydaywith Ms. Hart. The album was released on April 2, 2013, to great reviews.

In 2022 Juan co-wrote theErica Campbellhit songPositivewhich became aBillboard#1 on the Gospel Airplay chart and yielded anotherGrammy Awardnomination as a songwriter.

Discography

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References

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  1. ^abThe Winans Study Guide & Homework Help - eNotes.com
  2. ^David 'Pop' Winans Sr. dies at 74; patriarch of gospel music family - latimes.com
  3. ^abThe Winans Biography - Yahoo! Music
  4. ^Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com
  5. ^Winans Phase 2 Biography | TodaysChristianMusic.comArchived2012-03-26 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^We Got Next - Winans Phase 2 | Billboard
  7. ^42nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Coverage (2000) | DigitalHit.com
  8. ^Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com
  9. ^Soul Train - Season 31, Episode 28: Winans Phase 2/ Soluna/ Ms. Jade - TV.com
  10. ^The scoop on WINANS PHASE 2
  11. ^Mike Winans: Bad Boy Writer launches Solo career with new Christmas CD
  12. ^Bebe Winans - My Christmas Prayer CD Album
  13. ^Kirk Whalum Performs the Babyface Songbook CD Album
  14. ^George Huff Christmas CD Album
  15. ^Mary Mary Albums - AOL Music
  16. ^The Sound - Mary Mary | Billboard
  17. ^Heavy D Albums - AOL Music
  18. ^norwegiancharts.com - Michael Bolton - Need You To FallArchived2011-10-17 at theWayback Machine
  19. ^For Colored Girls Cast & Director - Yahoo! Movies
  20. ^Jumping the Broom Cast & Director - Yahoo! Movies
  21. ^"Sacred Love Songs 2".RetrievedJuly 7,2011.
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