David Winans Sr dies in Detroit aged 74

GOSPEL music patriarch David Winans Sr died on 8th April 2009 after suffering a heart attack and stroke in October 2008. Known as Pop Winans, the Detroit-based singer, musician and father presided over one of the most important musical dynasties of recent times, The Winans Family. Delores Winans, his wife of 55 years, was at his bedside at Alive Hospice in Nashville when he died.

Winans was born on 20th April 1934 in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in the Mack Avenue (COGIC) where his grandfather Isaiah Winans was the pastor. At the age of 18, Winans began singing with the Nobelaires quartet group. A saxophonist and clarinet player, he later joined the Lemon Gospel Chorus in 1950. There he met his future wife Delores Ransom, who sang in the ensemble. After their 1953 marriage, Winans juggled multiple jobs (car salesman, taxi driver, custodian and barber) to take care of the 10 children the couple would eventually have. Aside from his various entrepreneurial activities, Winans began to preach sermons in the late 1960s and was very active in his community. He started a youth organization in 1968. "We had 300 kids, 10 little league baseball teams, a track team, arts and crafts. We were trying to do everything we could to help the youth," he said in 1999.

In the '80s David's sons Carvin, Marvin, Michael and Ronald formed The Winans to huge success. Later BeBe, CeCe, Angie, Debbie and Daniel also launched successful recording careers. In 1990 Sparrow Records released the album 'Mom And Pop Winans' and 1999 Diamante issued Pop's 'Uncensored' CD.