Vickie Winans
High-octane gospel that hits like a warm embrace. Powerful, R&B-infused vocals and massive choir arrangements designed to lift you up and keep you moving.
High-octane gospel that hits like a warm embrace. Powerful, R&B-infused vocals and massive choir arrangements designed to lift you up and keep you moving.
Vickie Winans delivers music that feels like a conversation with a wise, hilarious, and deeply soulful aunt. Her sound is rooted in the grand tradition of Black gospel, but it is dressed in the sleek, rhythmic textures of contemporary R&B and urban pop. There is a palpable sense of resilience in her voice; she sings with the authority of someone who has weathered the storm and come out dancing on the other side. It is music that refuses to be small, filling every corner of the room with brassy arrangements and soaring vocal runs.
What truly sets Winans apart is her ability to bridge the gap between the sacred and the everyday. She doesn't just sing about abstract theology; she sings about the gritty realities of womanhood, divorce, and survival, often punctuating her live performances with a sharp, self-deprecating wit. Her production often leans into the '90s and 2000s urban sound, utilizing crisp drum programming and lush synthesizer pads that make her tracks feel as at home on a modern playlist as they do in a sanctuary.
For those new to her catalog, start with the high-energy anthem 'Shake Yourself Loose.' It perfectly encapsulates her mission: a infectious, rhythmic call to shed your burdens and find joy. From there, dive into her live recordings to experience the raw, unscripted power of her connection with an audience. It is essential listening for anyone who needs a sonic reminder that they are stronger than their circumstances.
Vickie Winans (born Viviane Bowman; October 18, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, comedian, and actress. In 1987, she released her debut album Be Encouraged on Light Records. She departed from Light Records after her second album Total Victory (1989) was less successful than its predecessor. Her third album, The Lady (1991), was met with controversy due to its more contemporary sound. In 1994, Winans released her fourth album Vickie Winans on Intersound Records. Her career breakthrough came with the release of her live album, Live in Detroit (1997), which spawned the gospel hit "Long as I Got King Jesus". Her success continued with the release of her second live album, Live in Detroit II (1999). After a four-year hiatus, Winans returned with her fifth studio album Bringing It All Together (2003). The album spent nine weeks at number one on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart, fueled by the album's lead single "Shake Yourself Loose". She followed that with her sixth album Woman to Woman: Songs of Life (2006), which also peaked at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart. In 2007, she formed her own record label, Destiny Joy Records. She released two more albums on her record label, Happy Holidays (2007) and How I Got Over (2009), the latter of which also peaked at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Winans has earned eight Stellar Awards and been nominated for seven Grammy Awards. Her contributions and work in gospel music have credited her as 'The Hardest Working Woman in Gospel Music'.
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