Mia Paylor weighs in on the Wanna Be Winans mixtape from Claude Deuce…
I really do love music. And, like many of you, several different songs and artists appear on the soundtrack of my life…reminding me of times past and affirming the lessons I’ve learned along my (almost) 30 year journey. Growing up, I attended church with strict Seventh-Day Adventist relatives who allowed very little worldly gospel music to play in their house. But, praise Jesus, The Winans were allowed! That Winans’ tape carried us through many a Sabbaths. So, I was tickled when I stumbled upon a free mixtape called, Wanna Be Winans, by Claude Deuce. It immediately brought EJ’s editorial, “I’m An Alternate Background Vocalist For Kirk Franklin”, to mind. Clearly, the GospelPundit family is not the only group of wanna be’s out there. 
Unbeknownst to me, I was already familiar with Claude Deuce’s work. Born Claude Harris, Jr., this Augusta, GA native has written and produced songs for Deitrick Haddon, the artist formerly known as Tonex, Canton Jones, and other well-known artists. Claude is also a part of the PJ Morton Band and played for PJ Morton’s Walk Alone Tour (*cough* and I actually attended one of the concerts *cough*). He apparently released a slept-on debut project back in 2009, The Young Elder, which features another slept-on singer, Josiah “JoJo” Martin [to check out the album review of The Young Elder, click here]. And, to top that all off, Claude has the BEST birthday in the world, June 15th! We are exactly one year apart!
Wanna Be Winans is a collection of all The Winans’ best hits revived and refreshed for 2011. This fun journey begins as you simply look at the album cover. It’s strangely reminiscent of The Winans’ Long Time Comin’ cover, lol. Claude wisely decided against tampering with the integrity of the music or the lyrics. The feel and spirit that you’d expect to hear and tap into as you listen to each song is present and intact. In addition to that, Claude’s tenor vocals are very complimentary to the Winans’ sound.
As you listen and sing along to “Restoration”, “Uphold Me”, “Question Is”, “Wherever I Go”, “Everything You Touch (Interlude)”, “Trust In God”, “Song of Consecration”, “Millions”, “Ain’t No Need to Worry” feat. Danielle Harris (lemme go ‘head and give his sister the nickname, Anita Baker, Jr.), and “Just Don’t Wanna Know/Over It Now”, you are reminded of the impact The Winans’ ministry has had on gospel music lovers and how timeless, as well as scripturally accurate, their music is…which reminds me of another EJ editorial, “Is It Just Me: Great Theology In Winans Music”.
Based on the passion and conviction that exudes from this project, it’s safe to assume that The Winans’ music is on the soundtrack of Claude’s life. It’s on the soundtrack of my life as well. And, I’m sure we’re not alone. So, go on…grab that mouse, click the link below, and take a spirit-filled trip down memory lane with Claude Deuce and the Wanna Be Winans mixtape. Then, thank me for encouraging you to do so in the comments section below. 
Check out the Wanna Be Winans mixtape from Claude Deuce right here– http://claudedeuce.bandcamp.com/album/wanna-be-winans. And download it for FREE!
In addition to offering BGV’s for PJ Morton and Fred Hammond, Jojo is currently producing an album for Stephanie Mills, as well as writing and providing vocals for the long-awaited album from Dalon Collins (former member of Kirk Franklin & The Family). You’ll also find his work on the latest releases from James Fortune & FIYA and, soon, on the newest album from VaShawn Mitchell.
The vibe is like a good ol’ church service or midnight musical someplace. And that’s refreshing to me. In this musical season, where so much music seems almost created for the sake of crossover or mainstream appeal, it’s cool that artists are still filling the need for a choir that is gonna KILL the vocals and leave folks slain in the aisles.
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