Cissy Houston, the renowned Grammy-winning gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, has passed away at the age of 91. She died on Monday morning at her home in New Jersey while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” said Pat Houston in a statement, highlighting Cissy’s profound impact on music and culture. “Mother Cissy was a woman of deep faith and conviction, whose legacy in music and entertainment spanned over seven decades.”
Cissy Houston began her illustrious career as part of the celebrated vocal group The Sweet Inspirations, alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group provided backing vocals for legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, and The Drifters. They also contributed to Van Morrison’s hit “Brown Eyed Girl” and performed background vocals on Jimi Hendrix’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” in 1967. Additionally, Houston collaborated on Aretha Franklin’s classic track “Ain’t No Way.”
After achieving success with The Sweet Inspirations, including performances with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas in 1969, Houston launched a solo career. Her departure from the group led to greater recognition as an in-demand session singer, recording over 600 songs across various genres. Her powerful voice can be heard alongside artists such as Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack, and Beyoncé.
Houston’s signature vocals were featured on Burt Bacharach’s 1971 solo album, which included songs like “Mexican Divorce” and “One Less Bell to Answer.” She also lent her voice to standards like Barbra Streisand’s hit “Evergreen.” Houston won Grammy Awards for her gospel albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me in the Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album category.
Her career in music began with her siblings in the gospel group, The Drinkard Four, laying the foundation for her eventual legacy in music and ministry.
Cissy Houston’s remarkable contributions to the world of music and her influence on generations of artists, including her daughter Whitney Houston, will forever be remembered.
