Author: Calvin R. Evans
Published: November 7, 2005
Tool: [ email ]
Winans: Hi Calvin!
Manhunt: CeCe! How are you?
Winans: I am blessed Calvin, how are you?
Manhunt: Blessed as well. First of all, before we get started I want to say thank you very much for allowing us to interview you. We appreciate it very much.
Winans: You're welcome. I appreciate you.
Manhunt: Thank you. I want to start off by asking you to give us your thoughts about your CD project, Purified.
Winans: Purified, a CD that will make you smile, that will encourage you.
Manhunt: We need that.
Winans: Yeah, especially during these times. It's a good listening CD. It talks about love relationships between husband and wife, between sisters, reminding people that they are loved no matter who they are. Encouraging us to go back to those times, there's a song on there called Mama's Kitchen, the first one, go back to those times when it meant something to call someone your brother or sister. To remember those values that our parents put in us. So it's a cool CD to me, it doesn't jump in your face, but it's something that touches your heart and makes you really examine yourself. And it's a CD that's about real love and that's what Purified is all about. God tells us to purify ourselves and we must be pure in all of our relationships.
Amen. Well what does the project mean to you personally?
Winans: (Sighs) it means so much because family is so important to me. It always has been. And then this year I lost my brother Ronald, and I had already finished the CD. I wasn't expecting to lose him. But I had to listen to Him for myself, He is concerned about you and you have to be reminded about certain things when you go through rough times. God is there and He is going to carry you through the storm. So the CD probably means even more now then what it did when I finished it because of what we've been through. God is just faithful and I love my mom and dad, and my brothers and sisters, and you know you love them but you realize how much you love them even more so when you lose them.
Manhunt: Yes you do.
Winans: And I wish we could love better without losing anybody. But for some reason when that happens it's like, 'Woo.' You always think that somebody is going to always be there.
Manhunt: Sure. It gives you a greater appreciation.
Winans: (in agreement) Greater appreciation.
Manhunt: It really does. And how is the family? How is everyone?
Winans: We're all doing well. We have our moments when it hits you and it's like, 'What?'
Manhunt: Sure.
Winans: So it's like we still can hardly believe that Ron is gone. But we're doing great, and that's been an amazing thing as well because I've never been this way before so you don't know how it really feels to lose a sibling until you've lost one. But God's Word is true and we do have that joy in the midst of the sorrow because we know that we are going to worship with him again. The sadness of not seeing him now is real, but he left with a big grin on his face so he's in a better place. He's not going through all this stuff we're going through down here with all of these disasters everywhere...
Manhunt: Oh Lord, amen.
Winans: (laughs) and you know you have to trust God, you have to trust Him. He didn't say we wouldn't go through the fire, He said we would go through the fire. The Lord said He would be there with us, He would take us through it and that's what He's done for all of us. But I would just like to thank everybody who has prayed for us and send cards. The love has just been overwhelming for the whole family. So we're all doing well.
Manhunt: Well you and your whole family are in our prayers over here at Manhunt. You see in times like this how much people really do care for you. There are so many people that you have affected in a positive way through your ministry and people want to give back and that's beautiful.
Winans: Yeah, God has been good. It has really been awesome.
Manhunt: Amen. So why did you choose the title Purified?
Winans: I don't know except that the Lord gave it to me.
Manhunt: Well, amen. (Laughs)
Winans: When I go in the studio I pray and say, 'God, what do you want me to say this time? What do you want me to give to your people?' And after Throne Room, it's like where do you go after Throne Room?
Manhunt: Uhumm (both laugh), you're right.
Winans: Right? So it's like, 'Lord, what do you want me to do now?' You know worship music is just my favorite anyway. I can just get raptured up. (interviewer laughs) And it's like; you've got to be pure. There are a lot of things going on Calvin but it's not pure. And God is not accepting it if it's not pure.
Manhunt: Amen. It's just another song.
Winans: (Giggles) You know things that we label love are not love at all. So how can we love God if we don't love one another? So Purified is my prayer, the Bible tells us to purify ourselves. A lot of times we are waiting on God to do things but He has already told us what we've got to do.
Manhunt: That's right.
Winans: So Purified was just dropped in my heart and I just felt that this is what I want the whole CD to be about. I want people to think about being pure and what it means to really love one another. So that's where it came from. And I love the song Purified. The track itself is very different; it's very dreamy. But you can hear the pureness of it and what the Father's requiring.
Manhunt: You know in listening to the CD the music takes you in so many different directions to me. That's to me personally; it takes me in so many different directions. And to me I really feel like it is a project that will minister to so many different types of people. People are going through so many different things, and it connects with people in so many different ways. So I think you definitely hit something with this project with the diversity of the tracks and the way it is put together.
Winans: Great. Well that's encouraging to hear, really. You try to put a project together that will make a difference. Yes you want to sell millions of records, but you don't always do that with every record. The main thing is to remain true to the artistry and to create something that is going to be powerful. So I am glad that you feel that way.
Manhunt: I think it's a wonderful CD so I am expecting a lot of great things as usual. You always come out strong anyway. Now I know your conference just passed, the Always Sisters Girls Conference...
Winans: (Excited) It was great!
Manhunt: I wanted to find out, how was it?
Winans: (Excitedly) It was great! (Both laugh) It was really great. The Lord just really blessed us with his presence and that was my prayer. We had about 700 girls that came and just wanted them to leave changed. I didn't want to just do another conference just to do one, but I really wanted them to leave out knowing who they were and Who's they were. And the Lord just blessed us with His presence. The girls leave out with tiaras on their heads, smiling and changed. We hit a lot of different areas. Our speakers were incredible. One of those speakers was Kirk Franklin, he did a session from a brother's point of view and he took it all the way home. It was real, he was so funny but he was so powerful. I mean I was so proud of him. I was like, wow, I didn't know he had that much in him. It was really rich, it really was, and God is really doing something in his life. But the conference was great and so I look forward to doing many home. I'm just praying and asking God exactly how He wants us to do it. But it was life changing for everyone who attended.
Manhunt: Well you what I am Godly proud of you. I think that a conference like that is so important. I mean, young girls being able to come together and be ministered to in an environment that is non-threatening to them, or they don't feel bottled up in any way. It gives them a chance to open up and I think that that is awesome CeCe; I think you did an awesome job.
Winans: Yeah we were able to have a little question and answer period and there were girls there whether they were living with AIDS, you know dealing with that, or just not having a father in their life, dealing with low self-esteem, eating disorders, you name it. Or girls who are strong in the Lord and just want to be strengthened more. And for them to come together, it was so sweet that's all I can say. The spirit of holiness was released on those girls and I just know that they are changed forever and it was great.
Manhunt: Well that's what it's all about.
Winans: Yes it is.
Manhunt: Now through all of your awards and accolades that you've earned, how do you keep yourself focused and grounded as a servant of the Lord?
Winans: Oh, that's easy (both laugh). You know people ask me that all the time and its like, guys, the awards are great. I am humbled every time I get one, because whenever your peers or your fans recognize you it's a blessing. I don't take that lightly at all. But we do what we do to please God.
Manhunt: Amen.
Winans: And God in His Word He lets you know that if you let pride sneak in, your going down.
Manhunt: Amen. He's very clear about that.
Winans: Yes, He is very clear about that. And when I stand before Him, He's not going to say, 'CeCe, how many Grammy's did you get?' He's got to see Himself in me in order to say 'Well done.'
Manhunt: Right.
Winans: And I'm not going to hell over nobody; over press, over awards. I realize that Him I am absolutely nothing. And the only way you stay that way is by having an on-going relationship with the Father. You have to stay in the Word, you have to pray, you have to go to church and be poured into. You have to do those things like everybody else. I and Think a lot of people, whether we're on stage or have a platform or a title by our name, we forget that the same requirements God is looking to get that out of us as well as anybody else. So that's the way you just do what God has called you to do and you just stay with it.
Manhunt: Amen. Amen. Now you're from Detroit, Michigan and I have to ask you this, why is Detroit such a breeding ground for such world renowned singers?
Winans: (laughing) I don't know.
Manhunt: Please tell me.
Winans: I have no idea.
Manhunt: Ya'll are doin' it (laughs).
Winans: I have no idea. It's just amazing. You know growing up in Detroit, and that's another thing when people ask how do I stay humble, I have to stay humble. I grew up with so many people that can sing five times better. Its like, are you kidding? You know, you're around the Clark Sisters all of your life, or Vanessa Bell Armstrong, or Fred Hammond. And it's just like, please! I don't know why there are so many singers there. I don't know if it's because Motown was there years ago and so many singers came from that, you know Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin. I don't know why. There are other cities that a lot of singers that come out of it too, like Houston, and you hear about other places but Detroit everybody can sing.
Manhunt: It's something special.
Winans: I'm serious. I mean you can go to anybody's church and somebody is going to come out of that choir and you're going to be like, 'Uh-uh, they're going to be selling records everywhere.' I mean a lot of them can really, really sing and I am just be glad to be named among them.
Manhunt: (Playfully) Awwh.
Winans: But I don't know why but we have a lot of great talent there.
Alright. Well ya'll have to bottle that up 'cause that is...oh my goodness. (Both laugh).
Manhunt: The final question I wanted to ask you today is what advice would you give to an aspiring artist?
Winans: Just advice that I have to live by. A lot of times people say, 'well you're CeCe Winans and you don't have to worry about that.' Oh no, no, it's an on-going thing. And the thing I live by is you have to have God first in your life. You have to put Him first because when everything else seems shaky you have to know that He's got your back.
Manhunt: Amen.
Winans: You know what I'm saying. There are times when even now I'm say, 'Ok God are you calling me to do this now or do you have something else for me to do? What's going on?' And the only thing that keeps me grounded is in having my relationship with Him. So you have to love God with all of your heart, soul and mind, that's first. Then you walk in excellence. Continue to be skillful in your gift and give God your best. Whether it's your choir in church, give Him your best. He said that if you are faithful over a few things I will make you faithful over many.
Manhunt: Amen.
Winans: And God is not a man that He should lie. So if you love God first, and you do your best then everything really will be Ok. Because God will direct you and He will let you know if He's really called you to go out and to be an artist full time. Maybe He's called to minister to your church. The thing is we want to be in the center of His will.
Manhunt: That's right.
Winans: We don't want to do something because somebody else is doing something. No matter how great it might look. It's like, 'Lord, have you called me to do this?' If He hadn't called me to do this, I wouldn't be here still. But because He called me, He takes care of the call.
Manhunt: Well Amen. And He will let you know. You're right about that.
Winans: Yeah. And a lot of times we will deny it because we want something, but you really want God's perfect will for your life.
Manhunt: Amen, Amen. (In a young, excited fan's voice) CeCe thank you. (Both laugh)
Winans: You're welcome. You're a nice young man. Have a blessed day, ok?
Manhunt: You do the same. God bless you.
Winans: All right. Bye-bye.
Manhunt: Bye.
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