Contact: Bill Carpenter, 202-526-6322, carpenterbill@mac.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Nov. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Twenty-one year old Brandon Colar got the shock of his life this past week when six Time Grammy nominated gospel music legend Vickie Winans came to his job at Panera Bread in Chicago with a camera crew to tell him that he had won her national songwriting contest and to present him with a check for the $10,000 first prize. For the last three months, she's been running a "Special Day" songwriting contest on youtube.com and www.vickiewinans.com to make a special day for an aspiring songwriter. Each unknown songwriter composed a one-minute song about love; video taped it as a performance and posted it on youtube.com. In addition to the prize money, Winans will record the song on her next CD. The judges were Fred "Uncle Freddie" Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels of Darkchild Productions, and Winans' son, producer Marvin Winans Jr.

Photo: Vickie Winans handing 21 year old Brandon Colar a $10,000 check

Now, after 100,000 website hits and over 300 entries, the judges selected Colar, a former Chicago State University graphic arts student. The aspiring singer is currently working at Panera Bread to help his mom out finically. He's the youngest of seven kids.

"Special Day" is the first single from Winans' new and first Christmas CD "Happy Holidays" which is currently in the Top Ten on Billboard magazine's gospel album sales chart. The project is the first release on Winans' own Destiny Joy Records label. Winans burst on the gospel music scene in 1987 with her signature smash "We Shall Behold Him." Since then, she's remained done of gospel music's Top Ten artists with appearances on NBC Today, Oprah and the Grammy awards. She's appeared on the cover of Jet magazine, served as celebrity spokeswoman for Daimler-Chrysler and Quaker Oats. Other hits include #1 hits such as "As Long As I Got King Jesus", "Shake Yourself Loose", "Worked it Out", "It's Alright" and "The Rainbow."

For interviews with Winans or Colar, jpegs or other press info, contact Bill Carpenter at (202) 526-6322 or carpenterbill@mac.com