Cissy Houston, Grammy-winning vocalist and mother of Whitney Houston, passes away at 91
Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning vocalist and mother of the legendary Whitney Houston, has passed away at 91. Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative for The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, confirmed her demise. A family statement revealed that the singer departed this life on Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET, surrounded by loved ones in hospice care. Houston had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
"Our hearts are heavy with sorrow," expressed Pat Houston, Cissy's daughter-in-law. "We have lost the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy was a formidable and monumental presence within our lives. A woman of profound faith and conviction, deeply invested in her family, ministry, and community. Her extraordinary seven-decade tenure in the music and entertainment sphere will forever hold a place in our hearts." Pat Houston further remarked on her unparalleled contributions to popular music and culture.
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy was the youngest of eight siblings. Her parents, Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard, raised her in Newark. She was educated through the local public school system and became an integral part of New Hope Baptist Church, where she eventually served as Minister of Sacred Music.
Cissy's musical journey began at the tender age of five in 1938. She joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky in forming The Drinkard Four, a gospel group. As the group evolved, sisters Lee and Marie joined, and it became known as The Drinkard Singers. Anne departed, making way for Lee's adopted daughter, Judy Clay. The group boasted future luminaries like Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick, Cissy's nieces, within its ranks.
The Drinkard Singers graced the prestigious stages of Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957. They recorded their inaugural live gospel album, "A Joyful Noise," at New York City's Webster Hall, released in 1959 on RCA Records. It stood as one of the pioneering gospel albums on a major label.
In 1963, amidst shifting group dynamics, Cissy Houston formed The Sweet Inspirations. This ensemble provided backing vocals for iconic artists throughout the '60s, including Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, and Wilson Pickett. Her solo career took flight in 1969 with the release of "Presenting Cissy Houston."
A two-time Grammy Award recipient, Cissy enjoyed a flourishing career both as a solo artist and a background vocalist. She recorded ten solo albums, numerous compilations, and collaborations. Her vocal prowess graced the works of legends such as Franklin, Bette Midler, Beyoncé, and her late daughter, Whitney Houston, among many others.
Whitney Houston tragically passed in 2012 at 48. A year later, Cissy Houston penned her memoir, "Remember Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped." During a 2013 appearance on "The View," she aimed to shed light on her daughter's true nature, emphasizing Whitney's generous and loving spirit.
Cissy was also the devoted mother to sons Gary and Michael and cherished grandmother to several grandchildren. Her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, sadly died three years after Whitney at 22.
"We are truly blessed and grateful for the precious years we shared with her," Pat Houston remarked. "Her invaluable life lessons will remain with us. May she find eternal peace, reunited with her beloved Whitney, Bobbi Kristina, and other treasured family members.
