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Ron Winans, one of ten siblings of the legendary Winans family and brother to BeBe and CeCe Winans, died June 17 from complications resulting from accumulation of fluids in the lungs. He was 48. He will be remembered in a musical tribute and in services later this week. Winans and his brothers Marvin, Carvin, and Michael made up the classic quartet The Winans, and together they recorded eleven albums.

In other Winans news, CeCe Winans is ready to make her pop debut with Purified (Puresprings Gospel/Epic), due September 13. The first two singles off the outing are the jam "Pray"—sent to Gospel and Urban AC stations—and the more subdued "All That I Need"—making a splash at Christian and mainstream AC outlets. Both singles can be purchased at most online music sites.

Strait-laced '60s crooner Pat Boone is retiring, and the likes of U2's Bono, Larry King and LeAnn Rimes are helping with the commemorations. Boone is capping off 50 years of music-making with five farewell projects: one of patriotic and military songs, one of country tunes, one of love ballads, one of R&B, and one of gospel music. The gospel recording, titled Glory Train, due August 9, contains a star-studded tribute to a famous evangelist: "Thank You, Billy Graham" features an introduction by Bono, a spoken-word segment from TV personality Larry King, plus artists like Leann Rimes, Michael McDonald, and Kenny Rogers taking turns at the microphone.

NewSong 's 2001 seasonal tearjerker, "The Christmas Shoes," topped The Guardian's Most Depressing Songs list. Other notables in the countdown include Bruce Springsteen's "The River," Evanescence's "My Immortal," Ben Folds Five's "Brick," and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." To view the entire downer list, go here

Casting Crowns may soon have competition from a similarly-named band. The new Inpop Records group is Casting Pearls, a Nebraska-bred rock group fronted by newsboys guitarist Bryan Olesen. Their self-titled debut, due August 16, features the production talents of Jason Burkum and Nathan Dantzler, plus songwriting help from Mark Heimermann and Tim Hughes.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved.

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