Music
Ronald Winans
1956–2005 · singer, producer
Eldest member of the Detroit gospel quartet the Winans, leader of the Family & Friends Choir recordings, who died in 2005.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
aged 48- Detroit years
- 1956–2005
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Ronald Winans, the second of David and Delores Winans's ten children, grew up in Detroit singing in church with his brothers. With Marvin and Carvin he made two albums in 1974 as the Testimonial Singers, joined by Michael the next year, and in 1975 the group became the Winans, the eldest brother at its head. Discovered by Andraé Crouch and signed to Light Records, they released Introducing The Winans (1981) and went on to win Grammy Awards for "Tomorrow", Let My People Go, Live at Carnegie Hall and All Out, with a style that crossed onto R&B radio. Ronald also organized the Family & Friends Choir albums that gathered the extended Winans clan; his brother BeBe won his first Grammy for "Abundant Life" on one of them. He co-founded a chicken-and-waffles restaurant chain with Gladys Knight. He died in 2005.
Highlights
- Eldest member of the Winans
- Grammy-winning group recordings including "Tomorrow" (1985) and All Out (1993)
- Led the Family & Friends Choir albums
- Co-founded Gladys and Ron's Chicken & Waffles with Gladys Knight