Mario Winans scores big with R&B hit 'I Don't Wanna Know'

Jet, August 9, 2004

When you hear the name Winans, you automatically think gospel. Well, listen again, because Mario Winans is not singing gospel, but straight-up R&B with a hip-hop twist.

Mario, the son of gospel singer Vickie Winans and the stepson of her former husband Marvin Winans of the famed Winans gospel family group, is making a name for himself in the R&B world.

He's riding the charts with the hit I Don't Wanna Know featuring Enya and P. Diddy, a song about a man dealing with his girlfriend's infidelity. The song is on his new CD Hurt No More, for which he produced and co-wrote all of the songs.

He explains why he sings R&B instead of gospel.

"I have always liked R&B," he tells JET. "I listened to it while I was growing up and one thing led to another. I've had the experience of working with gospel music but wanted to do something different than what everybody expected me to do."

And, has his mother heard the popular parental advisory album? "My mother is supportive of me and my choices. She listened to the album before it was released and was fine with it."

In I Don't Wanna Know, Mario goes to a place where few R&B singers have gone before-the decision to face a woman's cheating by choosing to ignore it. "I like music that makes your stomach tight. That kind of music that hits that spot that makes you forget everything except your feelings at that moment. I'm singing this for everybody. Women need to know that men have the same hearts they do. We still have to be men about it, because you can take our kindness for weakness. But I did that song for all of us. Once and for all, yes, men hurt too."

A talented producer, he worked on projects for Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, R. Kelly, Brian McKnight and others, before signing with P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records as a recording artist.

Looking ahead, the talented singer-songwriter-producer is planning to tour with superstar Janet Jackson. "That is a dream come true," he exclaims. He's also winning new fans with the video, Never Really Was with Lil' Flip and working on Toni Braxton's upcoming CD. "It's going to be hot," he promises.