Brother and sister BeBe Winans (b. Benjamin Winans, 17 September 1962, Detroit, Michigan, USA) and CeCe Winans (b. Priscilla Winans, Detroit, Michigan, USA) are the most successful members of America’s premier gospel group, the Winans. During 10 years together as recording artists the duo were garlanded with awards, including two Grammy successes. More impressively they also crossed over into the contemporary R&B market while retaining their large Christian following. The two originally worked together in the PTL Singers, before recording their first album as a duo in 1987. This self-titled effort was produced by Keith Thomas, and contained the R&B crossover hits ‘I.O.U. Me’ and ‘For Always’. Their second album Heaven went gold, and not only reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s R&B chart but broke into the Top 100 on the pop chart. Both BeBe and CeCe were awarded Grammys for their vocal performances. Different Lifestyles was an even bigger breakthrough, reaching number 74 on the pop charts, going platinum and winning a further Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The singles ‘I’ll Take You There’ and ‘Addicted Love’ both topped the R&B charts, with the former also breaking into the Top 100 of the pop charts. The seasonal First Christmas was released in 1993. The following year’s Relationships was the duo’s first recording without long-term producer Keith Thomas. Instead they drafted in big name producers Arif Mardin, David Foster and Cedric Caldwell. Mardin also oversaw their contribution to the following year’s Carole King tribute album. With CeCe having embarked on a solo career, and BeBe enjoying an increasingly busy production schedule, the duo put their career on hold. A Greatest Hits collection in 1996 included several new tracks.
