*Carvin Winans, a cornerstone of gospel’s iconic Winans family, unveiled his second solo project, “Cool Gospel,” on June 27 via Blackground Records 2.0. The 11-track album, led by the chart-topping single “God Still Working on Me,” marks his first No. 1 on the Gospel Airplay chart, Billboard reports.
“I just want to get out the music that God has given me and in the form that I believe he’s given me,” Winans says, reflecting his lifelong commitment to sharing divine inspiration through music.
Winans, who co-founded The Winans with brothers Ronald, Marvin, and Michael, brings a rich legacy to his solo work. The Detroit quartet, known for blending gospel with R&B, earned five Grammys and contributed backing vocals to Michael Jackson’s 1987 hit “Man in the Mirror.” Beyond performing, Winans has penned songs for artists like Whitney Houston and Regina Belle.
For “Cool Gospel,” Winans collaborated with producers Sean Garrett, Carlos Battey, and Gregg Pagani, while his wife Chérie, daughter Laylah, and sons Carvin Jr. and Juan contributed as songwriters. The album includes standout songs such as the uplifting “Shining Star,” the stirring “You Gotta Believe,” and the rhythmic “He Who Know God.” Winans describes the album as contemporary yet rooted in hope, saying, “I want people to understand that yeah, you can enjoy the music, you can clap to it, you can move to it.”
The album’s modern sound aims to attract younger listeners while staying true to its gospel core. Winans explains, “It’s not your regular gospel-sounding album … I like a good beat. I like a good rhythm.” He sees gospel as universal, noting, “God Still Working on Me” is a song for the whole world to hear because God ain’t just working on me because I’m a Christian.”
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Reflecting on his evolution since his 2019 debut, Winans shares how the loss of his brother Ronald initially dimmed his desire to sing.
“God let me know that he didn’t give me my gift to sit on it,” he says, crediting producer Sean Garrett for encouraging him to express his individual voice. The album closes with “Sing Forever,” a nod to the Winans family’s multi-generational legacy.
Looking ahead, Winans joins gospel heavyweights Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, and The Clark Sisters on the Detroit Gospel Legends Tour, kicking off October 18 in Stockbridge, Georgia.
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