Cissy Houston, a renowned soul singer and mother of pop star Whitney Houston, has passed away at 91.
She died Monday morning at her home in New Jersey, receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, through a statement.
Pat expressed the family’s grief, calling Cissy the “matriarch” and a woman of deep faith and conviction who left an indelible mark on music, family, and community.
Cissy Houston, born Emily Drinkard in Newark in 1933, began singing in church, encouraged by her father. She later became Minister of Sacred Music at New Hope Baptist Church.
Her music career took off as part of The Drinkard Singers, a gospel group she formed with her siblings, which became one of the first gospel groups to release an album on a major label in 1958.
In the early 1960s, Houston joined The Sweet Inspirations, an R&B group that included her nieces Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick. The group provided backing vocals for icons such as Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix.
In 1970, Houston launched a solo career with her debut album, “Presenting Cissy Houston,” producing hits like “I’ll Be There” and “Be My Baby.” She also recorded “Midnight Train to Georgia” in 1972, a song later made famous by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Over the years, she released several albums and won two Grammy Awards, including Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1997.
Cissy was a mother to three children, including Whitney, who followed her into music and achieved global stardom. Cissy provided backing vocals for Whitney’s debut album and remained by her side during personal struggles.
In her 2013 memoir, “Remembering Whitney,” Cissy shared stories of her efforts to help Whitney during difficult times. Whitney Houston tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 48.
Cissy Houston’s remarkable career and her legacy as both an artist and mother will remain celebrated.
