Marvin Winans Jr., son of the legendary Marvin Winans Sr., is stepping into the gospel music world with the release of his new single "Never Let Me Down'' from his CD Image of a Man, to be released next month.

The single is a Caribbean-style gospel song produced by Rodney Jerkins, who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson and Beyonce.

Winans, formerly of Winans Phase 2, is also making his acting debut this week with a cameo appearance in Love Forgotten, a musical by Washington playwright Patrice Reynolds. The play is based on her book, Let Tomorrow Come, Breaking the Cycle of Bad Relationship.

Winans' mother is gospel diva Vicki Winans, who is most notably called "the hardest working woman in gospel."

Previews of the play are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Duke Ellington Theater, 35th and R streets, N.W., Washington. The play will also run Aug. 30 and Aug. 31.

Tickets are $25 to $35 and available at www.ellingtonschool.org or www.opticadais.com.