For several decades BeBe and CeCe Winans have been among the most commercially successful contemporary gospel acts in the United States. Criticised by gospel traditionalists for weakening the sacred music’s message, BeBe and CeCe successfully aimed at reaching the broader and younger audience that traditional gospel had largely lost. Their unique style has won over a huge number of listeners and sent two of their albums platinum.

BeBe born Benjamin is the youngest of the seven Winans sons and CeCe real name Priscilla is the first of their three daughters. With a family whose name epitomises gospel, it was inevitable that they would make a career out of the genre. Even as teenagers, the only music BeBe and CeCe were allowed to listen to at home was gospel. However, growing up in Detroit it’s no surprise they were also heavily influenced by musicians from outside the gospel realm like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and the Temptations.

BeBe and Ce Ce were in a duo called the PTL Singers until 1987, when they released their self-titled debut album. Four albums followed during the next seven years and the duo, who recorded gospel material with R&B settings proved to be the most commercially successful of the Winans groupings, earning many top ten hits on Billboard’s R&B charts and numerous Grammy, Stellar and Dover Awards.

Although they parted ways to pursue solo careers, both of which were extremely successful, they currently present a regular slot on TBN and are launching their first album together in fifteen years.