Mario Winans

Mario Mendell Winans, born Mario Mendell Brown on August 29, 1974, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, established himself as a distinguished figure in the music industry. Growing up within the renowned Winans musical family, he developed an early aptitude for percussion and piano. This foundation led him to begin his career producing gospel records for artists such as The Clark Sisters and Fred Hammond, as well as for his family members. During the mid-1990s, Winans secured a production deal with Dallas Austin’s Rowdy Records, where he served as an in-house producer. His early notable credits include work on R. Kelly’s self-titled second album in 1995 and Pebbles’ “Straight from My Heart,” also in 1995. Transitioning to a recording artist, Winans signed with Motown and released his debut studio album, “Story of My Heart,” in 1997.

Following his debut, Winans expanded his profile through collaborations and an in-house role with Bad Boy Records. He contributed to Diddy’s 1998 single “Come with Me” and subsequently became an integral part of Diddy’s production team, The Hitmen. This period saw him gain broader recognition through his guest performance on Diddy’s 2000 single “Best Friend” and his 2002 single “I Need a Girl (Part Two),” both of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. “I Need a Girl (Part Two)” peaked at number four, solidifying his presence. He then signed as a solo act with Bad Boy, an imprint of Universal Records. His second studio album, “Hurt No More,” released in 2004, featured the lead single “I Don’t Wanna Know.” This single, featuring Enya and P. Diddy, reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in the UK and Germany. The album itself peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, achieving Gold certification by the RIAA and Platinum by the BPI.

Winans’ career also includes significant achievements in songwriting and production for a diverse range of artists. In 2005, he co-wrote CeCe Winans’ song “Pray,” which earned a Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. His production and songwriting credits span across artists such as The Weeknd, Kanye West, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim, Destiny’s Child, Jennifer Lopez, Pusha T, Busta Rhymes, and Trey Songz. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for Best Rap Song for his work as a writer and co-producer on “All Day.” In 2021, Winans founded Artime.io, a technology platform and institution focused on promoting music mentoring, scholarship, and cultural preservation, reflecting his continued dedication to the music community.