Cissy Houston, Grammy-Winning Gospel Legend, Dies at 91 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Cissy Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at 91. Houston, who collaborated with stars like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died under hospice care at her New Jersey home. Known for her deep faith and pioneering career, she leaves behind a legacy spanning over seven decades.
Cissy Houston’s Legacy: Quick Looks
- Grammy-winning soul and gospel singer, mother of Whitney Houston, passes away at 91.
- Houston was part of The Sweet Inspirations, working with legends like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.
- She had a thriving solo career, contributing to over 600 recordings with iconic artists.
- Houston’s legacy spans gospel music, pop hits, and mentoring her daughter Whitney’s career.
- The family expressed their gratitude for public support and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Deep Look:
Cissy Houston, a trailblazing Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer, has died at the age of 91, leaving behind a rich musical legacy and a family touched by both triumph and tragedy. Best known as the mother of iconic singer Whitney Houston, Cissy passed away on Monday morning in her New Jersey home under hospice care due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, confirmed the news to The Associated Press, expressing the family’s deep sorrow.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement. She described Cissy as a “strong and towering figure,” whose influence on music and culture was unparalleled. Pat Houston also highlighted Cissy’s devotion to her family, faith, and community, saying her seven-decade career would forever remain in their hearts.
Cissy Houston’s career in music began in her childhood, performing gospel with her siblings as part of the Drinkard Singers. The Newark, New Jersey native quickly became a standout figure in the 1960s when she joined the iconic backing group The Sweet Inspirations, alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The Sweet Inspirations were a pivotal part of the soul and pop music scene, providing backing vocals for stars like Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, and The Drifters. Their work also extended beyond soul, contributing to iconic recordings like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.”
The Sweet Inspirations also collaborated with Elvis Presley, touring with him in the late 1960s. In her memoir How Sweet the Sound, published in 1998, Cissy fondly recalled Presley’s deep love for gospel music and his habit of singing gospel songs during rehearsal breaks. At the end of one of their engagements, Presley gifted her a bracelet inscribed with the nickname “Squirrelly,” a gesture she cherished.
Though The Sweet Inspirations enjoyed commercial success, including their hit single “Sweet Inspiration,” Cissy Houston eventually left the group in 1969 to pursue a solo career. Her departure marked the beginning of an extraordinary solo journey, where she became an in-demand session singer, contributing her powerful vocals to over 600 recordings across various genres. She worked with a wide array of artists, including Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, and even her daughter Whitney Houston.
Cissy’s distinct voice was also featured on Burt Bacharach’s 1971 solo album, where she performed tracks like “Mexican Divorce” and “One Less Bell to Answer.” Throughout her career, Cissy recorded several solo albums, including Presenting Cissy Houston and the Grammy-winning gospel albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me. Her career success was deeply intertwined with her gospel roots, as she presided over the Youth Inspirational Choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where her daughter Whitney first began singing.
Despite her incredible career, Cissy Houston’s life was filled with moments of heartache, particularly as she witnessed the tragic trajectory of her daughter Whitney’s life. Although she initially discouraged Whitney from pursuing a career in show business, mother and daughter collaborated on various projects throughout the years. Whitney’s rise to stardom seemed inevitable, bolstered not only by her extraordinary talent but by her family’s rich musical heritage. In addition to Cissy, her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick were established singers, while family friend Aretha Franklin played a significant role in her life.
One of Cissy and Whitney’s most memorable performances came on The Merv Griffin Show, where they sang a medley of Aretha Franklin’s hits. The pair also recorded the duet “I Know Him So Well” for Whitney’s 1987 album Whitney, and they frequently performed together in concerts and other events. In the video for Whitney’s 1985 hit “Greatest Love of All,” Cissy made a memorable appearance, embracing her daughter at the end of the performance in a touching moment filmed at the Apollo Theater.
The family’s personal tragedies culminated with Whitney Houston’s death in 2012, a moment that devastated Cissy. Whitney was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub, with the official cause listed as accidental drowning. Cissy would later reflect on her daughter’s life and struggles in her memoir Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and the Night the Music Stopped.
Heartbreak struck again in 2015 when Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in a bathtub, echoing her mother’s tragic death. Bobbi Kristina spent months in a coma before passing away at age 22, adding yet another layer of grief to Cissy’s later years. The Houston family continued to grapple with public scrutiny, especially after the release of the 2018 documentary Whitney, which contained allegations that Dee Dee Warwick had molested Whitney as a child.
Cissy’s personal life was as complex as her professional one. In the 1950s, she briefly married Freddie Garland, with whom she had a son, Gary Garland. Later, she married John Russell Houston, Whitney’s father, with whom she had two children, Whitney and Michael. Cissy and John were married for over 30 years before divorcing in 1990.
Born Emily Drinkard in 1933, Cissy Houston was the youngest of eight children. Raised in a devout family, she began singing gospel at a young age, founding the Drinkard Singers with her siblings. The group performed alongside legendary figures like Mahalia Jackson and released their album A Joyful Noise in 1959. Although gospel was her first love, Cissy ventured into secular music at the encouragement of her husband, John Houston. From there, she launched a prolific career, working with some of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Cissy Houston leaves behind a towering legacy in both gospel and popular music. Her distinctive voice shaped the sound of many iconic songs, and her influence on artists, including her daughter Whitney, is undeniable. As the Houston family grieves, Pat Houston shared a message of gratitude, saying, “We are touched by your generous support and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief. We respectfully request privacy during this difficult time.”
