Marvin Winans

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

Life and career

Early life

Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, the fourth of ten children of Delores (née Ransom) and David Glenn Winans Sr., who recorded together as "Mom and Pop Winans". 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. As a pastor, he was influenced by Mother Estella Boyd, who was known for her healing, music, and Pentecostal ministry in Detroit.

Musical career

Winans sang in the 1970s with his brothers Ronald, 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 from the 1980s to 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.

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. He released an album featuring the church's choir in 1992 entitled Introducing Perfected Praise.

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, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. His fourth album, entitled Marvin L. Winans presents The Praise + Worship Experience, was released on June 26, 2012, and recorded at his church through MLW Productions. The album features: Don Moen, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Mom Winans, Roderick Dixon, and Bishop Paul S. Morton, amongst others.

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

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. 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.