Thursday, June 23, 2005

Musical Tribute, Celebration Services for Ronald Winans

Detroit-area readers (or those of you who can get to Detroit) may want to attend a musical tribute for Ronald Winans. Eurweb and the Detroit Free Press report that the musical tribute will be held at 7 p.m. today at Perfecting Church, 7616 E. Nevada, Detroit. This is also the place to send cards and flowers for the Winans family.

The service, also open to the public, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Detroit’s Straight Gate International Church, 1010 Grand River, Detroit.


More on Ron Winans:

He’s now singing the gospel in heaven
Artist Ronald Winans will be remembered as a sweet, gentle man who could ‘rip up a stage’
The Detroit News

NPR’s News & Notes with Ed Gordon ran a tribute to Winans. It’s nice that they did the tribute, but I couldn’t help but notice they didn’t use many clips of Ronald. That’s him at the beginning singing "I Shall Not Die But Live" from his final album, but that's Marvin on “The Question Is” and Carvin’s lead on the chorus of “Tomorrow.” There’s plenty of material available that actually includes Ronald singing (for example, the song “Uphold Me” was one of his trademarks)—so this seems rather shabbily done.

Take 6’s Alvin Chea on Winans: “Take 6 is deeply saddened by the loss of our big brother Ronald. We say our "big brother" because the Black Gospel community is truly that -- a family. We all root for each other, pray for each other, compete against one another but most importantly we love each other. Ronald was an "Ambassador of Praise," whose music, not only with his three brothers, but also with his beloved choir, transformed lives. . . . Ron will be missed; his loss is a loss for not only the Black gospel community in Detroit but the world at large, his scope and influence was as large as his smile."

From The Detroit Free Press:
“I celebrate every day I wake up. It’s a blessing every day. I’m here and whatever God has allowed to happen to me is for a purpose to bring Him glory, and for that I’m glad.”--Ronald Winans, 1956-2005

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