OS ANGELES (AP) — Cissy Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel singer who worked alongside stars like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, and experienced both triumph and tragedy as the mother of Whitney Houston, has passed away at 91.
Cissy Houston died Monday morning at her home in New Jersey while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed to The Associated Press. Surrounded by family, the gospel legend’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary life in music.
“Our hearts are heavy with pain and sorrow. We have lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement. She acknowledged her mother-in-law's profound impact on music and culture, calling her contributions “unparalleled.”
“Mother Cissy was a pillar of strength and faith, deeply devoted to family, ministry, and community. Her more than 70-year career in music will forever be cherished in our hearts.”
Cissy Houston’s journey in music began in the church, where she performed as part of a family gospel group before rising to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the famed backing group The Sweet Inspirations, alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group supported legendary soul artists such as Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, and The Drifters, and frequently sang backup for Dionne Warwick.
Some of her most notable contributions include backing vocals on 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 also shared the stage with Elvis Presley, who affectionately nicknamed her “Squirrelly” for her vibrant personality.
Houston left The Sweet Inspirations in the late 1960s to pursue a solo career, during which she became a sought-after session singer, recording more than 600 songs across various genres. Her voice graced tracks with a diverse range of artists, including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Paul Simon, and her daughter Whitney Houston.
Throughout her solo career, Cissy Houston released numerous records, including the disco hit “Think It Over” and Grammy-winning gospel albums like “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me.” She also remained connected to her gospel roots, leading the Youth Inspirational Choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where a young Whitney Houston also sang.
Although she had initially discouraged Whitney from entering show business, Cissy and her daughter often collaborated in music, from church performances to studio recordings. One of their most memorable moments came during a medley of Aretha Franklin hits on “The Merv Griffin Show,” which marked Whitney’s national television debut. The pair also sang together on the 1987 hit “I Know Him So Well” and in the 1996 film “The Preacher’s Wife.”
However, Whitney Houston’s life and career were marked by struggles with drug addiction, which ultimately led to her tragic death in 2012. Cissy Houston publicly expressed her sorrow over her daughter’s descent into addiction, which she partly blamed on Whitney’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown.
The family endured further heartache in 2015 when Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, died after being found unresponsive in a bathtub, echoing her mother’s fate.
Cissy Houston’s personal life was as complex as her professional one. She was briefly married to Freddie Garland in the 1950s and later wed entertainment executive John Russell Houston, Whitney’s father, with whom she had two children, Whitney and Michael.
Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, Houston was the youngest of eight children. She started her career in gospel with her siblings in the Drinkard Singers, performing alongside gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson and releasing the 1959 album A Joyful Noise. Though she initially preferred to stay within the gospel genre, her husband encouraged her to venture into studio work, which eventually led to collaborations with stars across multiple music genres.
In a statement, Pat Houston thanked fans for their support during the family’s time of grief. “We feel blessed that God gave us so many years with Cissy,” she said, adding that the family requests privacy during this difficult time.
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন