Cissy Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars and knew triumph and heartbreak as the mother of Whitney Houston, has died. She was 91.
Cissy Houston died Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told The Associated Press. The acclaimed gospel singer was surrounded by her family.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement. She said her mother-in-law’s contributions to popular music and culture are “unparalleled.”
“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. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
Cissy Houston grew up in a large, musically inclined family, and her journey into the world of music began at an early age. She was the youngest of eight children in the Drinkard family, a deeply religious household where gospel music was a way of life. Cissy’s early musical education was rooted in the church, singing in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, a place that would become central to her personal and professional identity.
Her professional career began in the 1950s when she joined the family group, The Drinkard Singers, one of the first gospel acts to sign with a major record label. The group achieved moderate success, recording albums and performing with gospel greats. However, Cissy’s path would soon shift toward secular music as she began to perform backing vocals for mainstream artists, a decision that would shape the next few decades of her career.
Cissy Houston became a sought-after session singer, contributing her powerful and soulful voice to some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and 1970s. She worked with an astonishing array of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Wilson Pickett, and Luther Vandross. Her voice can be heard on numerous chart-topping hits, including Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way,” where her high background notes are an iconic part of the song’s texture. Houston’s versatility, professionalism, and talent made her a respected figure in the music world, even if she remained somewhat behind the scenes.
In the early 1970s, Cissy launched her solo career, signing with Janus Records and releasing her debut album Presenting Cissy Houston in 1970. Although she didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as some of her contemporaries, her solo work earned her critical acclaim. Over the years, she continued to record and perform, eventually winning two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1996 and 1998.
Of course, Cissy Houston’s legacy is forever intertwined with that of her daughter, Whitney Houston. Cissy nurtured Whitney’s vocal talents from a young age, ensuring that she received the best musical training and experience possible. Whitney’s rise to superstardom in the 1980s and 1990s is often seen as a continuation of the Houston family’s musical tradition, with Cissy’s influence evident in Whitney’s powerful vocal style.
In her later years, Cissy Houston remained active in the church and gospel communities, continuing to perform and release gospel albums. Despite the personal tragedies she has faced, including the untimely deaths of both Whitney and her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, Cissy remains a pillar of strength and grace, a testament to her deep faith and enduring love of music.
Cissy Houston’s career, though often overshadowed by her daughter’s fame, stands as a remarkable achievement in its own right. Her contributions to both gospel and popular music are lasting, and her influence on the music industry is undeniable. Through her powerful voice, unwavering spirit, and dedication to her craft, Cissy Houston has earned her place as a true icon.
