Cissy Houston, renowned gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, died on Monday morning at the age of 91. The singer passed away at her home in New Jersey while in hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her family confirmed in a statement. Houston’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, described the loss as deeply painful, saying, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family.”
Cissy Houston’s death marks the end of a legendary career in music, spanning over seven decades. A two-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Houston was a key figure in both gospel and popular music, performing alongside some of the greatest artists of her time, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and her own daughter, Whitney Houston.
A Storied Career in Music
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1933, Cissy Houston was the youngest of eight children. She began her musical journey as a young girl, singing gospel music with her siblings. Her passion for music would later blossom into a professional career when she formed the R&B group The Sweet Inspirations in the 1960s. The group gained fame for providing backup vocals for some of the biggest stars of the era, including Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and her niece, Dionne Warwick.
The Sweet Inspirations were also the backing group for Elvis Presley during his Las Vegas performances, and they lent their harmonies to Van Morrison’s iconic hit, “Brown Eyed Girl.” This early success set the stage for Cissy Houston to pursue a solo career, where she worked with a wide range of artists including Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, and later, her daughter, Whitney Houston.
Grammy Success and Gospel Legacy
In the 1990s, Cissy Houston cemented her legacy in gospel music. She won her first Grammy Award in 1997 for her traditional soul gospel album, Face to Face, followed by a second Grammy the next year for her album He Leadeth Me. These accolades reflected her deep roots in gospel, a genre she was passionate about throughout her life.
Even as she found success in R&B and pop, Cissy Houston remained devoted to her gospel background. Her powerful voice and enduring faith inspired not only her audiences but also future generations of musicians, including Whitney Houston, who would go on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Personal Life and Family Tragedies
Though Cissy Houston’s musical career was filled with triumphs, her personal life was marked by profound loss. In 2012, she lost her daughter Whitney Houston at the age of 48. Three years later, her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, passed away at just 22. These tragedies deeply affected Houston, and she later wrote a memoir, Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped, which recounted her experience as Whitney’s mother and her enduring grief.
Despite the hardships, Cissy Houston remained a figure of strength in her family. Pat Houston, Whitney’s former manager and Cissy’s daughter-in-law, praised her as a “strong and towering figure” whose influence would forever remain in their hearts. “We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us,” she added.
A Life of Music and Faith
Throughout her long and illustrious career, Cissy Houston’s contributions to music and entertainment were vast. She performed with a diverse array of artists, spanning genres from gospel to R&B and soul. In 2013, at the age of 80, she joined her longtime friend Aretha Franklin on stage for a memorable performance of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” on The Late Show with David Letterman, proving that her voice had lost none of its power.
Her influence in the world of gospel music will be remembered not only through her Grammy-winning albums but also through the generations of musicians she inspired. Cissy Houston’s death at 91 marks the end of a remarkable career that touched the lives of many.
Final Rest and Legacy
As the Houston family mourns their loss, they take solace in knowing that Cissy Houston will now rest alongside her beloved daughter, Whitney, and granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina. In her tribute, Pat Houston stated, “May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney, and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, and other cherished family members.”
The death of Cissy Houston at 91 is a significant loss to the music world, but her legacy will continue through her timeless music, her family, and the countless lives she touched.
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