The family of Winans is a representation of the power of unity in faith and kinship to define the sound and survival of a gospel group. They were brought up in Detroit and their musical heritage was developed via the life in the church and family piety where singing in church became a unity and not a performance. Such a basis formed a natural unification - every member knew not only the music but the message in it. It is the accountability based on love that made them successful; disputes were solved through prayer and purpose and not ego. The lesson that their story teaches is that family-based ministry is what strengthens authenticity. When the growth of faith and art takes place in the same household, the outcome is a unity that is indicative of both spiritual and interpersonal prowess, which can serve as an example of how collective belief can enable creative work across the generations.
The organization and achievement of The Staple Singers was fashioned by family issues that stretched well beyond music. The group sound came about through the natural harmony and trust that existed amongst the group of people (Roebuck, Pervis, Yvonne and Mavis) and this was led by Roebuck Pops Staples. They used to rehearse in their own living room where they could resolve issues not through ego but by talking. The foundation of that family created an unusual unity--their voices harmonized easily since their relationships were founded on years of knowing each other and reading between their hearts. The most interesting fact is that they were united and thus evolved without falling apart. As the gospel audiences were resistant to their transition to socially-conscious soul music, the family bond gave them the strength to remain authentic. It educates that creative sustenance is frequently contingent on correlation. The Staples did not simply appear on the same stage; they shared values and such an emotional concord made faith audible.