Pop Winans facts for kids

David Glenn Winans Sr. (born April 20, 1934 – died April 8, 2009), known to many as "Pop" Winans, was an American gospel music singer. He was also a band manager. Pop Winans was famous for managing the gospel group The Winans in the 1980s. He was also the respected leader of the famous Winans family of musicians.

Pop Winans also had his own music career. In 1989, he released a gospel CD with his wife, Delores "Mom" Winans. It was called Mom & Pop Winans. This CD was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Pop Winans himself received a Grammy nomination in 2000. This was for his solo album Uncensored, in the best traditional gospel album category.

Early Life and Family Beginnings

Growing Up in Detroit

David Glenn was born on April 20, 1934, in Detroit. His mother, Laura Glenn, was a singer at the Zion Congregational Church. David was raised in the Mack Avenue Church of God in Christ. His grandfather, Isaiah Winans, was the pastor there. When David grew up, he changed his last name to Winans. This was at his grandfather's request.

Early Music and Meeting Delores

At 18, Winans started singing with The Nobelaires. This was a soul group in Detroit. He also played the saxophone and clarinet. In 1950, he joined the Lucille Lemon Gospel Chorus. But after his children were born, he stopped singing professionally. He would not sing for 30 years.

Delores Ransom was born on September 22, 1936, in Detroit. She learned to play the piano as a child. As a teenager, she became the pianist for the Lucille Lemon Gospel Chorus. Delores and David met in 1950. They started dating and got married on November 21, 1953.

The Big Winans Family

David and Delores had ten children. Their first child, David Winans Jr., was born in 1954. Then came six more sons: Ronald, Carvin II, Marvin (who were twins), Michael, Daniel, and Benjamin "BeBe". Their first daughter, Priscilla Marie (CeCe Winans), was born in 1964. Two more daughters, Angelique "Angie" and Debbie, completed their family.

For many years, Pop Winans worked different jobs. He was a car salesman, taxi driver, barber, and janitor. He even worked at the Dodge Automobile Company in Detroit in the 1960s.

Pop Winans as a Preacher

Pop Winans began preaching in Detroit churches in 1969. He felt a strong desire to preach in 1964. But he waited a few years before starting. His first sermon was at the Detroit Pentecostal Church of Hope. This church was led by family friend Bishop Ramey. His first sermon was from the book of Isaiah chapter 55.

Pop Winans' Music Career

Managing The Winans Group

Pop Winans' sons Ronald, Carvin II, Marvin, and Michael started singing young. They sang in church. In the early 1980s, a famous gospel artist named Andraé Crouch discovered them. Soon after, the boys formed a group called "The Winans". They signed with Light Records. Pop Winans became their personal manager.

Their first album, Introducing The Winans, came out in 1981. The group's music was known for blending different styles. Their songs were even played on R&B radio. The group's last recording was in 1995. However, they have sung together for other family projects since then.

Pop Winans' son Benjamin and daughter Priscilla also started singing together. They became known as BeBe & CeCe. They released many hit albums. Some of their popular songs include Addictive Love and I'll Take You There.

Pop and Mom's Solo Work

Pop Winans and his wife Delores, known as "Mom" Winans, started singing professionally in the late 1980s. Their first album, Mom & Pop Winans, was released in 1989. It was nominated for a Grammy Award. Their second album, The Rest of My Life, came out in 1991. Pop wrote two songs on this album.

Pop Winans' only solo album, Uncensored (Against The Flow), was released in 1999. This album had classic songs and new ones. Uncensored received a Grammy nomination in 2000.

Pop Winans' Personal Life

Helping the Community

In 1968, Pop Winans started a youth organization in Detroit. Its goal was to help children with their problems. This included family, money, or school issues. The organization helped about 300 kids. It had ten little league baseball teams, a track team, and arts and crafts.

Later in their lives, Mom and Pop Winans appeared on many Christian TV shows. They often contributed to the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the Christian Broadcasting Network. They also appeared at Benny Hinn crusades and on the Praise the Lord TV program.

The Winans Family Tree

David and Delores married on November 21, 1953. They had ten children:

• David Winans Jr. (born September 24, 1954)
• Ronald Winans (June 30, 1956 – June 17, 2005)
• Carvin Winans II (born March 5, 1958)
• Marvin Lawrence Winans (born March 5, 1958)
• Michael Winans (born June 5, 1959)
• Daniel Winans Sr. (born July 11, 1961)
• Benjamin "BeBe" Winans (born September 17, 1962)
• Priscilla Marie 'CeCe' Winans Love (born October 8, 1964)
• Angelique "Angie" Winans-Caldwell (born March 4, 1968)
• Debra Renee "Debbie" Winans-Lowe (born September 3, 1972)

David Jr. is an engineer. He is the only one of the Winans children not to go into music. The group "The Winans" released several hit albums. They even appeared in Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" music video. The group reunited several times after 1995. Ronald Winans sadly passed away in 2005 at age 48.

Benjamin and Priscilla formed "BeBe & CeCe" in 1984. Their album Different Lifestyles sold over a million copies. It was the first album to top both US gospel and pop charts. BeBe and CeCe received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. This honored their contributions to music.

Youngest daughters Angelique and Debra formed the group "Angie & Debbie". Son Daniel won a Grammy for his 1989 song "Brotherly Love". Some of Pop Winans' grandsons also became musicians. They formed "Winans Phase II" in 1998. This group continues the legacy of "The Winans".

Later Years and Passing

Pop Winans had serious health problems in October 2008. In January 2009, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. This was to be closer to some of his children. His health worsened. On April 8, 2009, he passed away at age 74. He was survived by his wife Delores, nine children, 23 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

Two memorial services were held for Pop Winans in Detroit. Many famous people from gospel music attended his funeral. These included the Williams Brothers, Tramaine Hawkins, Donnie McClurkin, Whitney Houston, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy.

Pop Winans was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.