If you make a list of women at the forefront of Gospel, CeCe Winans would most likely take the number one spot. How many years has she been in Gospel?
“Too many to count!” she laughs. At 46, she’s spent nearly 30 years ascending to the pinnacle of success as a wife, mother, artist, CEO of her own label; and now, minister of the Gospel and mentor to young men and women (through her annual conferences). CeCe Winans is an icon.
Over the years, “I’ve seen the industry ex- pand,” she says. “[Gospel] has more listeners. When BeBe and I first came out [in the 80s], to hear a Gospel artist on a mainstream radio station was something that wasn’t nearly as common as it is these days. We’re reaching more people with the Good News.”
CeCe has also found favor with corporate America. “Companies have realized that Gospel music sells and that it’s marketable, even to people who aren’t believers. We have more styles of Gospel as well. It’s being pack- aged in different ways, which is good.
Part of that marketability is being capitalized upon by Verizon Wireless. For the third year, the mobile phone giant is presenting the “How Sweet the Sound” program in cities across the country. This time around, CeCe will step into the role of co-host (along with Donald Lawrence).
“I think that what Verizon is doing is awesome!” she says. “They’re helping to bring our community together. Choirs come out and they sing old songs as well as new songs, and they win money; they actually leave with something tangible.
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SOURCE: Gospel Today
