Photot Credit:Associated Press
Cissy Houston, the renowned gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday at the age of 91. Her family confirmed that Houston, who had been battling Alzheimer's disease, died peacefully in her New Jersey home while under hospice care.
Houston, a two-time Grammy Award winner, left an indelible mark on the music world with her decades-long career. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” said her daughter-in-law Pat Houston. She described Cissy as a “strong and towering figure” who greatly impacted the lives of those around her.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1933, Cissy Houston was the youngest of eight children. She discovered her passion for singing at a young age, forming a gospel group with her siblings. As her career flourished in the 1960s, she co-founded the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, which became one of the most sought-after backup vocal groups of the time. They performed alongside music legends such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding, and even lent their voices to Van Morrison’s iconic track "Brown Eyed Girl."
After her success with The Sweet Inspirations, Houston pursued a solo career, working with superstars like Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, Beyoncé, and her own daughter, Whitney Houston. She won her first Grammy for the 1997 traditional soul gospel album _Face to Face_ and another for _He Leadeth Me_ the following year.
Apart from her contributions to music, Houston was an author, with one of her most notable books being _Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped_, published after her daughter’s tragic passing in 2012.
Cissy's daughter-in-law Pat praised her immense contributions to music, noting that her more than seven-decade career would remain at the forefront of their hearts. She also expressed gratitude for the many years the family had with her.
As Cissy Houston joins her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, her family remembers her as a legend whose legacy will live on
in the hearts of her fans and loved ones.
Houston, a two-time Grammy Award winner, left an indelible mark on the music world with her decades-long career. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” said her daughter-in-law Pat Houston. She described Cissy as a “strong and towering figure” who greatly impacted the lives of those around her.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1933, Cissy Houston was the youngest of eight children. She discovered her passion for singing at a young age, forming a gospel group with her siblings. As her career flourished in the 1960s, she co-founded the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations, which became one of the most sought-after backup vocal groups of the time. They performed alongside music legends such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding, and even lent their voices to Van Morrison’s iconic track "Brown Eyed Girl."
After her success with The Sweet Inspirations, Houston pursued a solo career, working with superstars like Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, Beyoncé, and her own daughter, Whitney Houston. She won her first Grammy for the 1997 traditional soul gospel album _Face to Face_ and another for _He Leadeth Me_ the following year.
Apart from her contributions to music, Houston was an author, with one of her most notable books being _Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped_, published after her daughter’s tragic passing in 2012.
Cissy's daughter-in-law Pat praised her immense contributions to music, noting that her more than seven-decade career would remain at the forefront of their hearts. She also expressed gratitude for the many years the family had with her.
As Cissy Houston joins her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, her family remembers her as a legend whose legacy will live on
in the hearts of her fans and loved ones.
