For more than four decades, the Winans name has been stitched into the fabric of gospel music. So much so that when St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus director Kevin McBeth referred to the Winans gospel royalty. He also introduced BeBe Winans as “the prince” of gospel”—during his 2024 featured soloist appearance with IN UNISON.
Now, on the eve of Resurrection Sunday, BeBe is returning to St. Louis — a city that has embraced him and his family from the very beginning — to headline a special pre‑Easter concert at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church presented by Breakaway.
“I just love St. Louis,” BeBe told The St. Louis American back in 2011. “Me and my sister CeCe — and the Winans — St. Louis has always put your arms around us, and we want to say thank you for that support all through the years.”
BeBe’s older brothers — Carvin, Marvin, Michael, and Ronald — known collectively as The Winans, broke barriers by blending the message of the church with the polish of R&B. Their collaborations with Teddy Riley, Anita Baker, and other mainstream artists made them as likely to appear on Video Soul as Bobby Jones Gospel. Long before contemporary gospel had a name, The Winans expanded what Black faith-based music could be.
BeBe and CeCe carried that torch into a new era. When their album “Heaven” hit the airwaves 35 years ago, the title track shot to number one on urban adult contemporary radio and pushed the album into Billboard’s Top 10 R&B chart. The album’s ascent was something no inspirational record had done since Aretha Franklin’s return to gospel in 1972. Their easy‑listening gospel became a soundtrack for believers and seekers alike, with hits like “Addictive Love” and “Lost Without You” cementing their place in both gospel and mainstream music history.
By the mid‑1990s, both siblings launched solo careers — and BeBe’s voice, songwriting, and storytelling found new room to stretch. His solo catalog includes the Grammy‑winning album BeBe & CeCe Winans: Still, Dove Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and collaborations with artists across genres. He has written for film and stage, released memoirs, and even created the Broadway‑bound musical Born for This, chronicling his and CeCe’s early years. Through it all, his music has remained rooted in testimony.
“You can’t help but realize the blessing this whole journey has been,” BeBe said. “Plenty have come and gone — some gone quicker than they came. The whole experience has been rewarding and is something we don’t take for granted.”
That lived experience is what audiences will feel when he steps onto the Friendly Temple stage.
“We’re not perfect,” he said. “But it has been a joy to sing what we sing and say what we say — and live what we sing about.”
Breakaway presents “A Pre‑Easter Night with BeBe Winans” will take place on Saturday, April 4 at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
For tickets, visit www.breakaway.ticketbud.com or stop by Vintage Vinyl, 6610 Delmar Blvd. For more information, call 314‑837‑3424.