Cissy Houston, the celebrated soul and gospel singer known for her collaborations with music legends such as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, has passed away at the age of 91. The two-time Grammy winner, who also had the unique experience of being the mother of the iconic Whitney Houston, died at her home in New Jersey on Monday morning. She was under hospice care due to Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.
Pat Houston expressed the family’s sorrow in a statement, stating, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family.” She highlighted Cissy’s immense contributions to music and culture, describing them as “unparalleled.” Pat further added that Cissy was “a woman of deep faith and conviction,” dedicated to her family, ministry, and community, announcing that her musical legacy would forever be cherished.
Cissy Houston’s remarkable journey in music began in her childhood, performing in a gospel group with her family. She gained prominence in the 1960s as part of the renowned backing group The Sweet Inspirations, alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group provided vocal support to notable artists including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, and Dionne Warwick, expanding their influence in the music scene.
Among her significant contributions as a backing vocalist, Houston is featured in classics such as Aretha Franklin’s “Think” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” as well as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.” She fondly recalled her experiences with Elvis Presley, noting his love for gospel during rehearsals and his endearing nickname for her: “Squirrelly.” In her memoir, “How Sweet the Sound,” she shared a cherished memory of receiving a bracelet from him inscribed with both her name and the playful nickname he had for her.
The Sweet Inspirations also achieved success with their own hit, “Sweet Inspiration,” and collaborated on several albums in the late 1960s. Their last performance with Presley took place in Las Vegas in 1969, marking a pivotal moment in Houston’s career. As she transitioned to a solo career, she became one of the most sought-after session singers, recording over 600 tracks across diverse genres alongside artists like Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, and her daughter Whitney Houston.
Cissy Houston released several albums throughout her career, including “Presenting Cissy Houston,” the disco-inspired “Think It Over,” and the acclaimed gospel albums “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me.” In 1971, her powerful voice was featured on Burt Bacharach’s solo album, which included songs like “Mexican Divorce” and “One Less Bell to Answer.” She also performed classics such as Barbra Streisand’s “Evergreen.”
Always connected to her roots, Houston served as the director of the 200-member Youth Inspirational Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Whitney also performed as a child. Despite having initially discouraged Whitney from pursuing a career in show business, the two often worked together, sharing the stage and musical moments throughout Whitney’s life. Whitney’s early television debut featured a duet with Cissy on “The Merv Griffin Show,” and the two shared vocals on the song “I Know Him So Well” from Whitney’s multi-platinum album.
Their most memorable performance together might be from the music video for Whitney’s hit “Greatest Love of All,” which showcased a touching mother-daughter moment. However, Whitney Houston faced significant challenges later in life, battling addiction, which ultimately led to her untimely death in 2012. Cissy Houston expressed her feelings of blame towards Whitney’s husband, Bobby Brown, for her struggles with drug abuse, as she wrote about in her memoir.
In addition to coping with her daughter’s passing, Cissy also experienced the heartache of losing her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, who died in 2015 after a tragic incident. Cissy was married briefly in the 1950s to Freddie Garland, with whom she had a son, Gary, who later sang on many of Whitney’s tours. She was married to Whitney’s father, John Russell Houston, from 1959 until 1990, and they had another son, Michael.
Cissy Houston, born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, was the youngest of eight children in a family deeply rooted in music. She formed the Drinkard Singers at just five years old, performing gospel alongside Mahalia Jackson and recording their first album, “A Joyful Noise,” in 1959. While she cherished her gospel origins, encouragement from her husband pushed her to explore studio work, leading to influential collaborations with artists like The Drifters.
Reflecting on her storied career, Cissy Houston often spoke on the importance of unity in music, stating, “The skin-deep barriers of race seemed to fall away as we toiled side by side creating our little pop masterpieces.” Pat Houston conveyed gratitude for the invaluable lessons learned from Cissy and expressed appreciation for the family’s supporters during this difficult time, urging respect for their privacy as they navigate their grief.
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Hillel Italie contributed to this report from New York.
