Clifton Powell to Play ‘Pop’ Winans in Limited Series ‘Winans 100: Thankful’

Clifton Powell and son, Clifton Powell Jr., star in the new limited series 'Winans 100: Thankful,' celebrating the Winans family's legacy with a star-studded cast and a musical journey featuring over 100 artists.

Written By Moriah Davidson // EEW Magazine

David "Pop" Winans, patriarch of The Winans family gospel group (L) will be portrayed by actor Clifton Powell (R) in new limited series.

Clifton Powell, known for his roles in the Academy Award-winning film Ray, the TV series "The Family Business," and the upcoming limited series "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist," will play David "Pop" Winans, the patriarch of the renowned Winans family.

The new limited seven-part series, "Winans 100: Thankful," will showcase the Winans family's rich legacy.

Pop Winans died of a heart attack in 2009 at the age of 74. Under his 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."

Powell's son, Clifton Powell Jr., will portray the younger Pop Winans, a casting choice that Michael Winans Sr. praised, characterizing the “father and son” duo as “a perfect match."

Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty via EEW Magazine

"Winans 100: Thankful,” however, tells more than just Pop Winans’ story. The series will also explore the life of Louis Winans, the first generation in the Winans family story, portraying him as a spiritually devout and benevolent man.

Michael Winans, Jr. explained, "Many generations—and more than two hundred years ago—my great-great-great-grandfather, Louis Winans, lived on a plantation in Gloster, Mississippi. He and my great-great-great-grandmother Ruby, who had 12 children, started our family’s journey. Their son, my great-great-grandfather Antonio (who married Litta and had 10 children), their son, my great-grandfather Isaiah (who married Catherine and had 7 children), their son, my grandfather Carvin (who married Laura Glenn and had one child), and my father and mother, David and Delores (Mom and Pop, who had 10 children).”

He continued, “We are many generations of faith, each a powerful voice in the church as Bishops, Reverends, Elders, Pastors, and Deacons. God's grace has guided our forefathers through over 200 years of faith within the church, lightening the struggles of early days."

The origin story of Louis and Ruby and their five children, who made their way from the Carolinas to Gloster, Mississippi, under the ownership of Reverend Winans, anchors the family’s history. As sharecroppers, they expanded their family with eight more children, instilling faith and direction into their lives.

“Louis and his family worked hard, representing a historical legacy of perseverance and faith,” said Michael Winans, Jr. “Their struggles are depicted in a generous and stunning style, showcasing the reverence and spiritual devotion of Louis Winans, who was given his surname by his sharecropper owner, Reverend Winans. This marks the first generation in the story ‘Thankful.’"

The series features a star-studded cast, including George Wallace, Melba Moore, Ernest P. Thomas, Olivia Brown, Renn Woods, D'Atra Hicks, Shirley Murdock, Larry B. Scott, Marquita McSwain, Brandon Quintin Adams, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Clifton Powell Jr.

Inspired by the compelling stories being told, the music in the series will reflect the unique talents of the Winans family, their friends, and over 100 music artists from around the globe, creating an award-winning soundtrack. The grandeur of this musical and cinematic artistry is evident in the family's known ability to compose and record Grammy-winning hits.

The soundtrack, with 40 songs being written and produced, aims to capture the essence of the Winans' musical heritage and their true tale of resilience, faith, and divine blessings.

In a statement obtained by EEW Magazine Online, executive producer Melanie Greene of 5-0 Studios London said of the cast, "The list reads like a who's who,” adding that the team is “so honored to work with all of them. The production is truly blessed to have Clifton Powell as producer."

Michael Winans Sr., a co-producer and five-time Grammy winner, stressed the importance of the cast choices, emphasizing that “the actors fit the roles” and exemplify “greatness.”

"Winans 100: Thankful" promises to be a remarkable display of the enduring legacy and profound impact of one of the most iconic families in gospel music. As 5-0 Studios London and Michael Winans Sr. prepare to embark on this captivating journey, audiences can look forward to a series that celebrates faith, family, and the power of music.