Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning singer and mother of the late singer Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday, October 7 at 91. Her family confirmed that she died peacefully at her home in Newark, New Jersey, while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Surrounded by loved ones at her death, Houston’s passing marks the end of a life dedicated to music, faith, and family.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” said her daughter-in-law Pat Houston.
Born Emily Drinkard in 1933, Houston was raised in Newark and began her musical journey at just five years old when she joined her siblings in a gospel group called The Drinkard Four. Later renamed The Drinkard Singers, the group included future stars such as her nieces Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and they performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival.
Houston’s musical talents led her to form The Sweet Inspirations in 1963. This renowned group provided backup vocals for some of the greatest artists of the 1960s, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Dusty Springfield. The Sweet Inspirations’ work with Franklin on classics like “Ain’t No Way” cemented their place in music history, with Houston’s powerful voice at the forefront.
In addition to her success as a background vocalist, Houston had a thriving solo career, earning two Grammy Awards for her gospel albums “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me.”
Houston faced significant personal tragedy over the years, most notably the loss of her daughter, Whitney Houston in 2012. Whitney, one of the best-selling artists of all time, was found unconscious in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and later pronounced dead at 48. The coroner’s report revealed that Whitney’s death was due to accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.
Just three years later, Houston endured another heartbreak when her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, died under eerily similar circumstances. Bobbi Kristina, 22, was found unresponsive in her bathtub and died after six months in a coma.
Despite these profound losses, Houston’s faith remained strong. In 2013, she published a memoir, Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped, where she reflected on her daughter’s life and legacy. “I wrote the book to let everyone know that (Whitney) was nothing like they thought she was,” Houston said in an interview.
As the news of Cissy Houston’s passing spread, many tributes from family and friends poured in. Her niece, Dionne Warwick, expressed deep sorrow but found solace in knowing her aunt was at peace. “I’m so deeply saddened,” Warwick said in a statement. “However, knowing that my Aunt Cissy died peacefully and that she is in a much better place is a consolation and comfort to me.”
Warwick, who grew up singing alongside Houston in their family’s gospel group, recalled their bond. “She was a strong young woman then, and she is a strong, loving woman now.”
Houston’s family also released a statement through The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, describing her as woman with deep spiritual beliefs and conviction, who treasured her family, church and community. ”May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina.”
Houston had a short marriage with Freddie Garland during the 1950s, and they had a son named Gary Garland, who played as a guard for the Denver Nuggets and later performed on several of Whitney Houston’s tours. From 1959 to 1990, Cissy was married to Whitney’s father, John Russell Houston, an entertainment executive. Besides Whitney, they also had a son named Michael.
Cissy Houston’s influence will resonate for generations as a pioneering figure in gospel music and the matriarch of one of the most famous musical families in the world. Though she has passed, her legacy lives through her music, faith, and the family she guided with love and strength.