A soul and gospel singer, she had recorded hundreds of songs with the biggest stars of her time. She had won two Grammy Awards herself before she saw her daughter shine in the firmament.
Published on 08/10/2024 10:09
Updated on 08/10/2024 10:17
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Singer Cissy Houston and her daughter Whitney Houston at a party on February 24, 1987. (GETTY IMAGES / L. BUSACA / MICHAEL OCHS Archives)
American gospel singer Cissy Houston has died at the age of 91, her daughter-in-law announced on Monday, October 7. She was the mother of singer Whitney Houston, one of the legends of pop and soul music in the 1980s and 1990s.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our beloved Brío Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers“, wrote Pat Houston on the social network Instagram.
Real name Emily Drinkard, Cissy Houston was a soul and gospel singer. She had a career as a backing singer for Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin in the group The Sweet Inspirations. She has recorded hundreds of songs, in all genres of music, her voice can be found on tracks by Jimi Hendrix and Beyoncé.
During her solo career, she won two Grammys for her albums Face to Face et He guides Me in the late 1990s.
Cissy Houston, very demanding, also played a significant role in the musical training of her daughter Whitney by using gospel, but also creating the conditions for development in soul and pop.
Whitney Houston was one of the best singers in America. She was particularly known for her hits such as I Want To Dance With Someone (Who Loves Me)et I will always love you. The star, who had serious addiction problems, was found drowned in her bathtub in 2012, aged 48. Rich documentary by Kevin Macdonald, Whitneydedicated to him in 2018, in which Cissy Houston is present through numerous interview excerpts.
Cissy Houston was the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price.