ASCAP member Ronald Winans passed away on June 17, 2005. He was 48.

The second eldest of ten siblings, Ronald, along with his brothers Marvin, Carvin, and Michael were part of the quartet, The Winans, who were discovered by contemporary gospel pioneer, singer, songwriter and producer Andraé Crouch. They released their first album in 1981 entitled, Introducing The Winans. It was with this release that the world would become familiar with the name, Winans, which is now synonymous with gospel.

In January 2005, Winans released his final CD, Ron Winans Family & Friends V: A Celebration, which was recorded live at Greater Grace in Detroit, MI.

The Winans family made a huge impact in the music world racking up a myriad of awards and accolades. Often referred to as the first family of gospel, their achievements include 31 Grammy Awards, over 20 Stellar and Dove Awards, and six NAACP Image Awards. The innovative and contemporary sound of brother and sister dynamic duo Bebe & CeCe Winans propelled gospel music to new heights. Their mega-hit, "Addictive Love" stayed at the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B Charts for several weeks.