A HEAVENLY MOTOWN SOUND : Despite Pop Influences, The Winans Remain Committed to Music With a Mission

For the past 10 years, the Winans have been working under the assumption that an ancient message can have special immediacy when it comes across in a very modern way.

The Gospel-singing brothers--Marvin, Carvin, Ronald and Michael Winans--grew up in Detroit at a time when the Motown sound not only was dominating the city’s musical output, but reshaping pop music.

But Motown wasn’t allowed in the devout Winans home. Nor was any other pop music, Marvin Winans recalled in a recent interview. By the time Marvin, 33, and his brothers came along, there already had been three generations of preaching Winanses. Gospel was the natural musical path, and it is one they have kept to ever since they were youngsters singing in church. (Today, Marvin Winans is the pastor of a church in Detroit, and Ronald Winans also preaches there.)

Still, the sounds of Motown and subsequent soul and R&B; styles have found their way into the Winans’ music. If the group decided to write secular lyrics instead of focusing on spiritual themes, its music would be at home on the contemporary R&B; charts. In fact, the Winans have had hits on the charts, in collaboration with some prominent pop-R&B; figures.

“Ain’t No Need to Worry,” a 1987 duet with Anita Baker, and last year’s rap-inflected “It’s Time,” featuring production and rapping by Teddy Riley, both made the Top 15 on the R&B; charts. The Winans’ ability to invest their best material with an encompassing humanity that transcends religious boundaries certainly has been a key in helping them reach a mass audience.

The brothers began singing as a group in 1975. Andrae Crouch, a pioneer of gospel-soul music, was an early mentor, co-producing their 1981 debut album “Introducing the Winans.” In 1985, the Winans signed to Quincy Jones’ Qwest label, where they have released four albums, including the current “Return.” Since 1985, the group has won four Grammy Awards for best soul-gospel recording. More recently, the brothers’ younger siblings, BeBe and CeCe Winans, have had successes of their own as a pop-gospel duo.

While there is a long tradition of gospel singers crossing over to secular musical careers, Marvin Winans says that isn’t in the cards for the Winans.

“Our music is a mission and a message,” he said. “Once we lose our focus, then we lose our reason, and we’re just another group.”

Who: The Winans.

When: Friday, March 29, at 8 p.m.

Where: Celebrity Theatre, 201 E. Broadway, Anaheim.

Whereabouts: Take Harbor Boulevard south from the Riverside Freeway or north from the Santa Ana Freeway and head east on Broadway. The Celebrity is on the left, just past Anaheim Boulevard.

Wherewithal: $19.50.

Where to call: (714) 999-9536.