CeCe Winans: The US gospel singer with a new R&B-influenced sound

Monday 1st June 1998

With a hot new R&B-oriented album to be released here, gospel diva CECE WINANS is back with a bang. She spoke to David Waite.

Photo Fair Trade Services
Photo Fair Trade Services

If you want to know what success American style means in the world of gospel music, you need look no further than the career of CeCe Winans. The number of awards and nominations she has received in the last 10 years is simply breathtaking. There're (deep breath) Grammy award nominations; eight Grammy awards; nine Dove awards; five Stellar awards; three NAACP Image awards; two Motor City Music awards; and one Soul Train Music award. Add to that the fact that two of her albums with brother BeBe have gone platinum and three have gone gold and you begin to understand what a huge success this wonderfully talented and deeply committed Christian lady is. And yet, when I spoke to her recently her many awards and best selling albums were not the first thing I wanted to chat about. What I enquired about initially was the origin of her name CeCe, given that her equally famous brother was culled BeBe! I told her that it wasn't a name I had come across too often in Britain. Laughing she said, "My real name is Priscilla' but my nickname is CeCe and I have always been known as CeCe. My brother Benjamin is known as BeBe. Nobody in the family can now remember why we were called those names in the first place, but the names stuck. I guess you could say that it's just a family thing."

From the famed Winans gospel dynasty, CeCe was obviously encouraged to sing at an early age. "I always enjoyed singing, although I never wanted to sing in front of people, mainly because I got nervous if 1 did and I never felt that I really had what it takes to sing in front of an audience. I always felt more comfortable just being in the background!" Thankfully for the many millions of people who have been blessed by her ministry in song. CeCe got over those feelings of inadequacy and nervousness, becoming a consummate artist of the highest calibre. CeCe feels very strongly that she has been called to sing about the good news of Jesus Christ, and although she sings different styles of songs, all have the same message of love concerning her Saviour and Lord.

"So many people like to put labels on the music that I sing," said CeCe. "Some label it 'pop', the next one will label it 'R&B' and the next will label it 'gospel'. But I don't like to label music. Although I do like to sing a variety of styles, for me each song has to be about the message of the Bible, and the good news of Jesus." As well as growing in her musical ability and the range of songs that she sings, CeCe is concerned about her own spiritual growth. "I'm not the same person that I was say five years ago," she said, laughing, "because I've grown older and hopefully wiser. My walk with the Lord grows more important every day, because you get to know the Lord better each day."

Although CeCe is an artist who has risen to heights that some can only dream about, she has not lost touch with her roots. And they go deep into the local church where she sang as a youngster. Even now, CeCe has a team of people praying for her, and making sure that she is covered spiritually when touring and when making her albums - a possible clue to why they have achieved such outstanding success. Admitted CeCe. "My own fellowship are behind me 100 per cent and God's people everywhere have been a blessing in my life. I realise just how powerful prayer is. I believe strongly in the power of prayer to change situations and to help all those who call on the name of the Lord. I know my ministry is strengthened because of those who pray for me daily. Sometimes I can actually fee! the prayers of others for me - especially on the occasions when God has taken me into dark places to be a light, and I feel his anointing and the power of his Spirit, through the power of the prayer of his saints."

Although many people would just enjoy the beautiful music that she produces, CeCe sings with a purpose - to give glory to God and to tell others about his saving power. "I don't see myself as an entertainer," explained CeCe, "but as an evangelist and I have found that music is a powerful way of putting across the message of salvation." CeCe gave her heart to the Lord as a child when she was just nine or ten. Given that she made such a big commitment at such a young age I wondered if she had to recommit her life to the Lord later on in life. "Yes. I did," she said directly. "But then I think each day we should recommit our lives to the Lord for his service. It's a constant recommitting, it's a daily walk, a constant denying of self and asking for forgiveness when we make mistakes. But as you get older and get to know him better, you kind of get excited about the things that you have to go through for him."

Although CeCe is now firmly established in her Christian faith and has had an influence on the lives of many people, she can still remember the times as a child when she was laughed at or left alone because of her faith in God. She went through a certain amount of ridicule from classmates who did not understand her strong faith in God and although she admits that it was hardly a pleasant experience, looking back she now realises that it was something that strengthened her beliefs.

Following the success of previous releases, CeCe is about to launch a new album in the UK. Entitled 'Everlasting Love', it sounds the kind of album that will have the same appeal as her previous ones. I asked her to tell me more. "My last album was a praise and worship one, which I loved making because I love to praise God, but this new one is more evangelistic, with a contemporary feel to it. The music is packed in such a way that it will appeal to the non-believer and bring them in. I'm excited about the substance of the album - the message and the songs."

She had good reason to be. Involved in the album are a string of talented producers and songwriters who almost couldn't fail to come up with a winning formula. "I've never worked with so many producers before." said CeCe, laughing. "I think the key to a quality album is recording songs that convey a certain amount of versatility. This was the first time that I listened to so many outside songs. The selection of material was incredible. The few that I finally selected really impacted me and lifted me."

CeCe hopes to visit Britain in the near future, but in the meantime has a special message to all her admirers in this country. "Can you tell them how much I appreciate their love and support. It means so much to me."

CeCe Winans has come a long way since nerves and insecurity got the better of her when she wanted to sing in church. But she knows where her strength and life flow come from and there is no way that she wants to lose sight of her main goal -to bring others to a saving faith in Jesus through the medium of song. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
 

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