Music / Religion
Marvin Winans
born 1958 · pastor, singer, songwriter, producer
Detroit gospel singer of the Winans and founding pastor of Detroit's Perfecting Church, who delivered the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 68- Birth name
- Marvin Lawrence Winans
- Also known as
- Marvin L. Winans
- Detroit years
- 1958–
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Marvin Winans was born in Detroit, the fourth of ten children of Delores and David "Pop" Winans, and a fraternal twin of Carvin. In the 1970s he sang with his brothers Ronald, Carvin and Michael as the Testimonial Singers, who began at a high school talent show and became the Winans in 1975. Discovered by Andraé Crouch, they released Introducing The Winans in 1981; Marvin wrote and produced much of their material and won a Grammy for "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay" (1985). In 1989 he founded Perfecting Church on Detroit's east side, recording with its choir as Perfected Praise, and in 1997 he founded the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts in Detroit. He delivered the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral in 2012 and had a recurring role on Tyler Perry's House of Payne. In 2025 a video of him rebuking a congregant over a donation drew national criticism.
Highlights
- Founding member of the Winans (1975)
- Grammy for "Bring Back the Days of Yea and Nay" (1985)
- Founded Perfecting Church in Detroit (1989)
- Founded the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts (1997)
- Eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral (2012)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · 1989–
Perfecting Church
He founded the church in 1989 and is its pastor.
Founded · 1997
Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts
Status being checked
He founded this Detroit performing-arts school.