Winans was nominated for a Grammy for his solo CD Uncensored in 1999
Winans, 74, died of a heart attack on Wednesday with his wife, Delores, at his side, a spokesman said. He had suffered a heart attack and stroke last year.
Under Winans' guiding hand as manager of the children, The Winans became the biggest male gospel quartet of the 1980s with such songs as "It's Time" and "Ain't No Need to Worry."
The Winans, nicknamed "Mom" and "Pop," had 10 children in all.
The four performing as The Winans were Michael, Marvin, Carvin and Ronald, though other family members occasionally joined the group. Two children, BeBe and CeCe Winans, formed a duo and turned out R&B/gospel hits such as "Addictive Love" and "I'll Take You There."
The parents recorded a Grammy-nominated debut, "Mom & Pop Winans," in 1989 followed by "The Rest of My Life," which featured a rocking rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain."
Another solo album, "Uncensored," was nominated for a Grammy and was described by Billboard magazine as "some of the most compelling music this century has spawned."
A statement from the Winans family said that memorial services are planned for next week at Perfection Church in Detroit where Marvin Winans is senior pastor.
