The Vine News

Whenever I saw David “Pop” Winans on the Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise the Lord program he had a gleam in his eye, praise on his lips and a dance in his feet. 

On Wednesday, this ever-charismatic man of great faith, the King of Gospel music’s royal family died. 

“Pop” Winans passed away quietly in a Tennessee hospice with his wife Delores by his side.  Last October he suffered multiple strokes and a heart attack.  His youngest son Be Be said in an interview in February that his dad was hanging in there, in the care of his daughter Ce Ce.

Both singers, David and Delores Winans met in 1949 as members of the Lucille Lemon Gospel Chorus, a popular Detroit choir that at one time was directed by gospel legend the Rev. James Cleveland.  

Born David Glen in Detroit, Michigan, he was raised in the Mack Avenue (COGIC) church where his grandfather, Isaiah Winans, was the pastor. At the age of 18, a saxophonist and clarinet player, Pop began singing with the Nobelaires quartet group.

His contribution to Motown’s gospel music history lives on in generations of his offspring.

Mr. and Mrs. Winans were married for 55 years and had 10 children that spawned a multi-Grammy award winning musical legacy yielding the acclaimed 80's male gospel quartet The Winans and leaders in contemporary gospel music BeBe and CeCe, who have had thriving careers together and as soloists.   The Winans’ singing heritage was extended into the 90s with a second batch of talented children—the duo of Angie and Debbie, Daniel, and even his grandchildren, The Winans Phase II had successful recording careers.

Affectionately known as Mom & Pop Winans, the couple showed the world who their children got those voices from by recording their own Grammy nominated duet CD titled “Mom & Pop Winans” for Sparrow Records in 1989.  In 1999, Pop went into the studio solo at the urging of his daughter Angie and son-in-law Cedric Caldwell to record the kind of quartet and bluesy music he grew up on. Billboard magazine hailed the Grammy-nominated solo CD “Uncensored” as “some of the most compelling music this century has spawned.”

In his lifetime Pop Winans was a preacher, singer, taxi driver, community leader and janitor. He used some of the money he earned from odd jobs to finance his sons’ first album and served as the group’s manager for a while. 

He was preceeded in death by his son Ronald Winans who passed in June 2005.  Pop Winans is survived by wife, Delores, his children BeBe & CeCe, Daniel , Angie, Debbie, and eldest son David Winans II and 23 grandchildren.

 He would have turned 75 on April 20.

Services for David “Pop” Winans are to be held next Tuesday and Wednesday at his son the Rev. Marvin Winans’ Perfecting Church in Detroit as follows:

TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH                                             WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH              

                 7:00 p.m.                                                                    10:00a.m.
     Memorial Service/Viewing                                        Homegoing Celebration Service

            Perfecting Church                                                         Perfecting Church

            7616 E. Nevada                                                           7616 E. Nevada

            Detroit, MI 48234                                                          Detroit, MI 48234

            (313) 365-3787                                                             (313) 365-3787

MCFALL BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME

9419 Dexter Ave
Detroit, MI 48206
(313) 895-8900
* Flowers will be received at this location

* The Winans Family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers and continued support.  Flowers, donations and well wishes can be sent to Perfecting Church as well.