Cissy Houston, the esteemed soul and gospel singer, and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. Houston, a two-time Grammy winner known for her powerful vocals, died at her home in New Jersey on Monday morning, surrounded by family. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, revealed that Cissy had been under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.
In a heartfelt statement, Pat Houston expressed the family’s grief, saying, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community.”
Cissy Houston’s illustrious career spanned over seven decades, during which she sang backup for legends such as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley. The family acknowledged her remarkable contributions to music and culture, stating, “Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us.”
The family takes comfort in knowing that Cissy is now at peace, reunited with her beloved daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, along with other cherished family members.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Cissy Houston began her illustrious career in entertainment as a member of the gospel group Drinkard Four. She later went on to form the Sweet Inspirations with Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy, gaining recognition for her powerful vocals as they provided backup for legendary artists like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick. Notably, she lent her voice to Van Morrison’s iconic track “Brown Eyed Girl” and the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.”
The Sweet Inspirations performed their final show in 1969 alongside Elvis Presley in Las Vegas. As a solo artist, Cissy released her debut album, Presenting Cissy Houston, in 1970, followed by a string of albums, with her most recent being Walk on By Faith in 2012. Throughout her career, she provided backup vocals on countless recordings, including Bette Midler’s 1972 debut, The Divine Miss M, and Aretha Franklin’s hit “Ain’t No Way.” Her remarkable talent can also be heard on tracks by Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Beyoncé, Donny Hathaway, Wilson Pickett, and many more.
Houston won her first Grammy in 1997 for Face to Face, awarded for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, and two years later, she received another Grammy in the same category for He Leadeth Me.
Coming from a family rich in musical talent, Cissy Houston was the mother of Whitney Houston, aunt to Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and cousin to renowned opera singer Leontyne Price. She was the youngest of eight children.
In a statement from the Houston family, they expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time, saying, “On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief. We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”
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