He grew up in a family of gospel singers…now BeBe Winans is a Grammy-winning artist, starring on Broadway as the character Harpo in the musical The Color Purple. Gayle talks with BeBe about singing, songwriting and taking on the rigorous schedule of a Broadway star.
BeBe says he was approached several years ago to possibly write some of the music for the musical The Color Purple. While he ended up in the show rather than writing for it, BeBe says songwriting is still his first love as an artist. "You could take away the singing and I am fine," BeBe says. "But don't take away my gift of writing. It is the best way I can relate and express what I am feeling and what I am going through."
Performing eight shows a week for six months is a new experience for BeBe, but he says being a part of The Color Purple is worth the effort. "If it wasn't such a dear story … it would be more difficult—because eight shows [a week] is eight shows," he says. "But when it is such a great story and such a great cast—I am having a great time."
When he isn't performing, BeBe says he's spending time with his two children and making music—especially love songs. "Love is so unconditional, love liberates, love is the reason why I do what I do, and so I think it is the greatest gift we have," he says. "That is why I get caught up in love songs … it is such a powerful gift, yet still it is a free gift."
