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Cissy Houston, Gospel Singer & Mother of Whitney Houston, Dies At 91
GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel singer CISSY HOUSTON, mother of the late WHITNEY HOUSTON, passed away on MONDAY (10/7) at the age of 91. She had been receiving hospice care for ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE at her home in NEW JERSEY.
The HOUSTON FAMILY Spokesperson/Daughter-in-law PAT HOUSTON said, “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family. Mother CISSY was a strong, towering figure in our lives, deeply committed to family, ministry, and community.”
“Her seven-decade career in music and entertainment will forever remain in our hearts. We are blessed to have had her in our lives and will forever cherish the lessons she taught us. May she rest in peace alongside WHITNEY, BOBBI KRISTINA, and other cherished family members.”
CISSY HOUSTON was a two-time GRAMMY winner and made her mark in gospel, soul and popular music. She was a founding member of THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS, a group known for backing artists such as OTIS REDDING, LOU RAWLS, and THE DRIFTERS. The group also sang backup for DIONNE WARWICK, and performed with ELVIS PRESLEY.
Her credits included singing on ARETHA 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.”