Early life

Born Mario Brown, he is the son of gospel recording artist Vickie Winans (née Bowman) and her first husband, Bishop Ronald Brown. He is also the stepson of his mother's second husband, gospel singer, Pastor Marvin Winans whom she married in 1978. Marvin and Vickie Winans had twos sons, Josiah Winans, and Marvin Winans Jr. Vickie and Marvin Winans divorced in 1995 and she has since remarried.

Mario Winans began learning piano, keyboards, and drums while still in grade school in Detroit and learned how to work in a recording studio at an early age. He began producing gospel music professionally after graduating high school, eventually working with gospel music artists Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters and various members of the Winans gospel music family. But unlike the rest of his family who stuck with gospel, Mario also delved into secular music.

Musical career

Story of My Heart: (1995-97)

In the mid-1990s, Mario was signed to a production deal with Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records thru producers Tim & Bob. He lived with the duo at their house studio until his breakthrough came as a Christian songwriter, musician and co-producer on R. Kelly's "I Can't Sleep Baby" and "You Remind Me Of Something" (plus three more songs) from the R. Kelly album in 1995. He also worked with Pebbles and 98 Degrees.

Winans eventually released his debut album Story of my Heart on Motown in 1997. While the song "Don't Know" reached the US R&B top 50, the album failed to chart.

Soon after, Winans teamed up with P. Diddy and his Bad Boy roster, playing drums on "Come With Me" by Diddy and Jimmy Page, based on the classic Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir" from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.

Over the next several years Winans amassed a sizeable list of production credits for Bad Boy artists including Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, Loon, Black Rob, and 112. He has also worked with notable artists outside Bad Boy including Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Tamia, Eminem and Brian McKnight.

Winans co-wrote the 2-part song "I Need a Girl" with P. Diddy and appeared on the "Pt. 2" version with Loon, Ginuwine, and Diddy, which became a hit recording in 2002. He also produced the Bad Boy remix compilation We Invented The Remix in 2002.

Hurt No More: (2001-05)

Winans recorded his second album Hurt No More in 2001, 2002, and 2003 in between his busy schedule working with other artists. The album is based on stories of love and betrayal.

The first single "I Don't Wanna Know" was based on a sample of the Fugees' 1996 hit single "Ready Or Not", which itself was based on a slowed-down sample of the instrumental track "Boadicea" by Enya from her 1987 self-titled album. Enya and her representatives became angry since Winans did not seek her approval for the sample, as he was unaware that the Fugees sample he had used had itself been a sample. So, a compromise was reached to credit the single as "Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy and Enya". The song features a rap by P. Diddy and radio programmers and club DJs started playing the track when it started appearing on mixtapes. The song was released as the single in early 2004 and became a worldwide hit going to #1 in Germany and the United Kingdom and on the rhythmic top 40 radio chart in the United States; to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the US R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart, and on the world internet download charts; and to #3 on a composite world R&B chart (based on the R&B charts in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Australia) and on both the Australian and Norwegian singles charts. It also reached the top ten on a composite European singles chart.

Hurt No More was released on April 20, 2004 in the US and, by early June 2004, had reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #2 on the Billboard 200, and #3 on the UK's album chart.

The album's second single, "Never Really Was", used a sample of the orchestrated beginning of Madonna's 1986 hit, "Papa Don't Preach", as its background music. However, the song failed to chart in America. A remix version was released as a single featuring rapper Lil Flip.

The song "This is the Thanks I Get" began to chart on billboard and was stated to be the album's third and final single but no official release was set. The song went on to peak on Billboards R&B Chart at #112.

My Purpose: (2006)

Winans appeared on Diddy's album, Press Play producing, writing and singing on "Through The Pain (She Told Me)" and the hit single "Last Night" with Keyshia Cole. "Last Night" was originally intended for his own album, which he had apparently been recording for release in 2007, this never occurred.

Present

In 2010, Winans also executive produced Diddy's new Dirty Money album "Last Train To Paris" and Trey Songz' 2010 single "Can't Be Friends" which topped the American R&B charts for over 10 weeks.

In 2014, Mario Winans will executive produce Diddy's album, as well as new music for Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole, French Montana, Mr. Cheeks and Fabolous. Currently working on his own solo album, his label Love Legacy, overseas collaborations, Mario Winans continues to prove his power as an industry veteran.

Discography

Albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B
Story of My Heart	Released: June 24, 1997 Label: Motown Formats: CD, LP, cassette	—	—
Hurt No More	Released: April 20, 2004 Label: Bad Boy Formats: CD	2	1
My Purpose	Released: TBA	To be released

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Year	Title	Peak chart positions			Certifications	Album
		U.S.	US R&B	UK Singles
1997	"Don't Know"	108	48	—		Story of My Heart
2004	"I Don't Wanna Know"	2	2	1		Hurt No More
	"Never Really Was"	—	90	44
2005	"This Is the Thanks I Get"	—	112	—
2010	"Mine"	—	—	—

As featured performer

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Year	Title	Peak chart positions					Certifications	Album
		US	US R&B	US Rap	US Rhy	UK
1999	"Best Friends"	59	3	9	—	2		Forever
2002	"I Need a Girl (Part Two)"	4	2	2	1	4		We Invented the Remix Vol. 1
2003	"Down 4 Me"	103	28	19	—	—		Loon
	"Crush on You"	—	52	—	—	—		Back Again!
2005	"You're the One"	77	43	24	23	—		Guerilla City
2007	"Through the Pain (She Told Me)"	—	107	—	—	50		Press Play
	"Hey Baby (After the Club)"	—	87	—	40	—		The Declaration
2008	"Forever"	—	—	—	—	—		The Boss, SWAGG
2009	"Dream"	—	—	—	—	—		Meine Zeit
2012	"I Need A Girl (Part Three)"	—	—	—	—	—		Prince of Belvedair

Production Credits

• 2015- MMM - Puff Daddy Production
• 2015- All Day - Kanye West Production
• 2015-Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses Jamie Foxx Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2014-The Essential R. Kelly R. Kelly Drum Programming
• 2013-A Place Called Love Land Raheem DeVaughn Composer, Producer
• 2012 -Two Eleven Brandy Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2011 -Conquer Carl Thomas Composer, Producer
• 2011 - Lullaby Tribute To Cece Winans Composer
• 2010 - Last Train to Paris Diddy Composer, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Musician, Producer
• 2010 - Passion, Pain & Pleasure Trey Songz Composer, Producer
• 2009 - Still BeBe & CeCe Winans Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2009 -The Rose Experience Case Audio Production, Composer, Producer
• 2008 - Day26 Day26 Composer, Musician, Producer
• 2008 - Got Me Going Day26 Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2008 - In and Out of Love Cheri Dennis Audio Production, Composer
• 2008 - Just a Rolling Stone Donnie Klang Audio Production, Composer, Instrumentation, Main Personnel, Mixing, Producer, Various Instruments
• 2008 - Let's Get Physical Elephant Man Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Producer
• 2008 - Praise & Worship Vickie Winans Composer
• 2008 - The Message L.J. Reynolds Drums
• 2008 - Welcome to the Dollhouse Danity Kane Arranger, Composer, Producer
• 2007 - American Gangster Jay-Z Drums, Producer, Strings
• 2007 - Do or Dare Triniti Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2007 - Don't Talk, Just Listen B5 Audio Production, Composer, Producer
• 2007 - Happy Holidays Vickie Winans Mixing, Vocals (Background)
• 2007 - Hey Baby (After the Club) - Ashanti Composer
• 2007 - Just Like You - Keyshia Cole Composer, Instrumentation, Producer, Vocal Producer
• 2007 - Last Night Diddy Composer, Producer
• 2007 - Ridin' High - 8Ball and MJG Audio Production, Composer
• 2007 - Street Beef Shitake Monkey Loops
• 2007 - The Pain - Mario Winans Primary Artist
• 2007 - The Revolution Belly Primary Artist
• 2007 - Through the Pain (She Told Me) - Diddy Composer, Guest Artist, Instrumentation, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocal Producer
• 2006 - Come to Me - P. Diddy Keyboards, Overdubs
• 2006 - Come to Me, Pt. 1 - Diddy Keyboards, Overdubs
• 2006 - Danity Kane - Danity Kane Composer, Producer
• 2006 - Do or Dare - Ms. Triniti Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2006 - Play - Jennifer Lopez Producer
• 2006 - Port of Miami - Rick Ross Audio Production, Composer, Engineer, Guest Artist, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
• 2006 - Press Play - Diddy Additional Music, Composer, Drums, Instrumentation, Keyboards, Main Personnel, Overdubs, Primary Artist, Producer, String Arrangements, Vocal Producer
• 2006 - Time Is Money - Styles P Main Personnel, Primary Artist
• 2006 - Woman to Woman: Songs of Life - Vickie Winans Composer, Instrumentation, Mixing, Primary Artist, Producer, Spoken Word
• 2005 - Brings the Heat, Vol. 1 - Wendy Williams Primary Artist, Producer
• 2005 - Duets: The Final Chapter - The Notorious B.I.G. Composer, Producer
• 2005 - Neva Get Enuff - 3LW Composer
• 2005 - Pleasure & Pain - 112 Audio Production, Composer, Producer
• 2005 - Purified - CeCe Winans Audio Production, Instrumentation, Main Personnel, Producer, Various Instruments
• 2005 - The First Lady - Faith Evans Bass, Composer, Guest Artist, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
• 2005 - The One - Frankie J Audio Production, Instrumentation, Main Personnel, Multi Instruments, Producer, Various Instruments
• 2004 - An Intimate Evening With Mary J. Blige: Live From the House of Blues Mary J. Blige Composer
• 2004 - Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary: The Hits Composer, Primary Artist
• 2004 - Destiny Fulfilled - Destiny's Child Audio Production, Composer, Producer
• 2004 - Guerilla City - Guerilla Black Audio Production, Composer, Featured Artist, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Producer
• 2004 - Hurt No More - Mario Winans Composer, Instrumentation, Mixing, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
• 2004 - I Don't Wanna Know - Mario Winans Composer, Primary Artist
• 2004 - I Don't Wanna Know, Pt. 2 0 Mario Winans Primary Artist
• 2004 - Let's Talk About It - Carl Thomas Composer, Producer
• 2004 - Live from Los Angeles - Mary J. Blige Composer
• 2004 - More - Tamia Composer, Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Primary Artist
• 2004 - Never Really Was - Mario Winans Composer, Primary Artist
• 2004 - On the 6/J.Lo - Jennifer Lopez Composer
• 2004 - One Love - New Edition Composer, Producer
• 2003 - Back Again! - Mr. Cheeks Composer, Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Primary Artist, Producer
• 2003 - Bad Boys II Composer, Instrumentation, Musician, Primary Artist, Producer, Programming, Vocals
• 2003 - Bringing Down the House Composer, Primary Artist
• 2003 - Bringing It All Together - Vickie Winans Mixing, Performer, Producer
• 2003 - Crazy in Love - Beyoncé Knowles Composer
• 2003 - Hot & Wet - 112 Composer
• 2003 - Loon - Loon Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (Background)
• 2003 - Love & Life - Mary J. Blige Composer, Guest Artist, Instrumentation, Musician, Producer
• 2003 - Love @ 1st Sight - Mary J. Blige Composer, Producer
• 2003 - Malibu's Most Wanted Composer, Primary Artist, Producer
• 2003 - Shake Ya Tailfeather - Diddy Composer, Primary Artist
• 2003 - Star - 702 Composer, Producer
• 2003 - The Fighting Temptations Composer
• 2003 - The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 - R. Kelly Drum Programming
• 2003 - The Reel Me - Jennifer Lopez Producer
• 2002 - A Girl Can Mack - 3LW Instrumentation, Producer
• 2002 - From There to Here: 1989-2002 - Brian McKnight Composer, Producer, Unknown Contributor Role
• 2002 - I'm Gonna Be Alright - Jennifer Lopez Composer
• 2002 - J to Tha L-O!: The Remixes - Jennifer Lopez Composer, Producer, Remix Producer
• 2002 - Redemption - Benzino Composer, Executive Producer, Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (Background)
• 2002 - Transporter Composer, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Producer
• 2002 - We Invented the Remix - Diddy Composer, Performer, Primary Artist
• 2002 - Whatchulookinat - Whitney Houston Musician, Remix Producer
• 2001 - Child of the Ghetto - G. Dep Instrumentation, Producer, Programming
• 2001 - Faithfully - Faith Evans Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
• 2001 - J.Lo - Jennifer Lopez Composer, Instrumentation, Multi-Track Mix, Musician, Producer, Vocals (Background)
• 2001 - No More Drama - Mary J. Blige Programming, Remixing
• 2001 - Part III - 112 Composer
• 2001 - The Benzino Project - Benzino Composer
• 2001 - The Saga Continues - Diddy Composer, Multi Instruments, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer
• 2000 - Bad Boy's R&B Hits Composer, Instrumentation, Overdubs, Producer, Vocals (Background)
• 2000 - Emotional - Carl Thomas Composer, Guest Artist, Producer, Vocals
• 2000 - Greatest Hits - Pebbles Composer
• 2000 - Shyne - Shyne Composer
• 2000 - The Notorious K.I.M. - Lil' Kim Performer, Producer
• 2000 - War & Peace, Vol. 2: The Peace Disc - Ice Cube Producer
• 1999 - All Night Long - Faith Evans Overdubs
• 1999 - Best Friend - Diddy Guest Artist
• 1999 - Born Again - The Notorious B.I.G. Producer, Programming
• 1999 - Double Up - Mase Composer
• 1999 - Forever - Diddy Composer, Featured Artist, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer, Programming, Vocals
• 1999 - Heat It Up - 98° Composer, Producer
• 1999 - Life Story - Black Rob Drums, Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist, Producer, Programming
• 1999 - Live in Detroit, Vol. 2 - Vickie Winans Remixing
• 1998 - Come with Me- Diddy Drums
• 1998 - Godzilla: The Album Drums
• 1998 - Keep the Faith - Faith Evans Overdubs
• 1998 - Kima, Keisha & Pam - Total Composer, Producer
• 1998 - Mo'hogany - Monifah Composer, Producer
• 1998 - Room 112 - 112 Composer, Overdubs
• 1998 - Tamia - Tamia Composer, Multi Instruments, Producer, Programming, Vocals (Background)
• 1998 - The Other Woman - Miss Jones Composer, Guest Artist, Producer, Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals (Background)
• 1998 - The Professional - DJ Clue? Composer, Primary Artist
• 1997 - 98° - 98° Composer, Guest Artist, Multi Instruments, Producer
• 1997 - Bold - Angie & Debbie Winans Composer
• 1997 - Booty Call Drum Programming
• 1997 - Don't Know - Mario Winans Composer, Executive Producer, Multi Instruments, Primary Artist, Producer, Remixing, Vocals
• 1997 - Good News Groove Arranger, Composer, Producer
• 1997 - Story of My Heart - Mario Winans Composer, Executive Producer, Multi Instruments, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals

Non-singles

• "Put Ya Arm Around Me"
• "Thanks I Get"
• "Mr Cool"
• "Get Away"
• "Ridin'"
• "Rock the Party"
• "Save Your Love"
• "Ever Wonder"
• "This One That One"

Videos

• "Don't Know"
• "Don't Know (Remix)"
• "I Don't Wanna Know"
• "Never Really Was"
• "I Need a Girl Part.II"
• "You're the One"
• "Down 4 Me"
• "Best Friend"
• "Rock the Party"
• "Through the Pain (She Told Me)"
• "Tell Me"
• "Ridin"
• "Forever"
• "Dream"
• "Mine"
• "I Need A Girl (Part Three)"
• "These Girls"

Awards and nominations

• Grammy Awards
  • 2005, Best Contemporary R&B Album: Hurt No More (Nominated)
• Grammy Awards
  • 2006, Best Gospel Performance: "Pray" (Winner; as writer/producer)
• Grammy Awards
  • 2016, Best Rap Song: "All Day" (Nominated; as writer/co-producer)
• Image Awards
  • 2005, Outstanding New Artist: Hurt No More (Nominated)
• MOBO Awards
  • 2004, Best Song: "I Don't Wanna Know" (Nominated)
  • 2004, Best Ringtone: "I Don't Wanna Know" (Winner)
• Vibe Awards
  • 2004, R&B Song of the Year: "I Don't Wanna Know" (Nominated)

Film

• Mike Jones - American Dream (2007)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]