(May 2, 2025) There are few acts in the history of Gospel music that have had the impact of the legendary family group The Winans. Combining messages of faith with contemporary R&B sounds, The Winans of the 1980s burst open the door to urban radio, helping the subsequent crossover success of Gospel artists ranging from Yolanda Adams to Mary Mary to Kirk Franklin.
Group member Carvin Winans was a linchpin of the Winans success, both as a vocalist and as a key songwriter of some of the group’s biggest hits. He also wrote for other artists, including the chart-topping classic from Regina Belle, “Make It Like It Was.”
The Winans haven’t recorded together in years, but Carvin is still going strong, landing the hit “God’s Still Working on Me” last Fall. And now he has the follow-up single, another sneak peek from his upcoming album, You Gotta Believe.
“Shining Star” is a tasty midtempo that starts off sounding like a romantic love song, but Carvin takes it in a different lyrical direction. He tells us, “This song is my love letter to Jesus, letting Him know how much He means to me and how there are really no words to express that, and that He will always be the apple of my eye, and forever my “Shining Star”!
Produced by Carlos Battey (Boyz II Men, Charlie Wilson) and Gregg Pagani (Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan), “Shining Star” successfully gives an old school soul vibe with contemporary instrumentation that pops from the speakers. And Carvin is in fine voice, as always.
Check out “Shining Star” and welcome the legendary Carvin Winans back to SoulTracks.
By Chris Rizik
