• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Entertainment

Bebe Winans Says Remaking Luther Vandross’ ‘Power of Love’ Was ‘Therapeutic’ For Him

The gospel great said of his longtime friend, "I could feel him smiling.” 
Bebe Winans Says Remaking Luther Vandross’ ‘Power of Love’ Was ‘Therapeutic’ For Him
By Keyaira Boone · Updated October 23, 2020

From his days in gospel’s dynamic duo Bebe & CeCe Winans to his solo work on stage and screen, Bebe Winans’ music has inspired millions for nearly 35 years. But the person receiving the most solace from this moment in his career right now is himself. In an upcoming episode of ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl podcast, the Grammy Award winning gospel artist revealed why recording a cover of Luther Vandross’ iconic “Power of Love/Love Power” was healing for him.

“It was a real therapeutic thing for me,” said Winans, who also shared that another personal tragedy made it difficult processing the loss of Vandross. “Because it was, it was a double whammy for me when he passed because my brother Ronald passed right before him and so it took me some time.”

But during the recording process for “Power of Love/Love Power,” which appears on Winan’s new album, Need You, he felt Vandross’s presence. “So going into the studio and doing that was whoa. I could feel him smiling,” he said, adding “I think this is my best work ever.”

View this post on Instagram

Available now pre-orders as well available on all formats August 30th I’m excited!!! #newmusic #Needyou @malacomusicgroup #Lets #getitdone

A post shared by BeBe Winans (@bebewinans) on Aug 13, 2019 at 10:48am PDT

Many artists are reluctant reinterpreting the classics and the proud Detroit native initially wasn’t sure about taking on the challenge. “It took me awhile to even say, yes, I’ll do it,” said Winans. However, him attempting to take on the record was a way of paying tribute to the beautiful friendship between these two legends of song. Their mutual respect has even played a part in what songs we know and love from each artist.

“Oh, I’m telling you when it started out it was like a secret that Luther and I were on various albums. I would either fly into Los Angeles, or Luther would be here in New York, and we would ride around in the car and listen to each other’s album. He would suggest what single I should release. And I would suggest what single he should release,” said Winans on their shared reverence for each other’s work.

“He played such an intricate part,” said Winans. “On a lot of BeBe and CeCe records, [Vandross] arranged some of the background and he would sing on a lot of the background for us.”

Ultimately Winans’ was satisfied with his cover of “Power of Love/Love Power” and he wasn’t alone in knowing he did the song justice. After hearing the final remake, Winans said that Stevie Wonder, “called in and blessed it.”

And that’s one cosign we cannot deny.

TOPICS:  Bebe Winans Gospel
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now