New York (AFP) – Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning mother of the late Whitney Houston, has died, her daughter-in-law said in a statement Monday. She was 91 years old.
“It saddens my heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston today! Please keep the Houston family in your prayers,” Pat Houston wrote on Instagram.
Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy Houston sang soul and gospel, boasting a successful backup career for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick, including as part of the popular group the Sweet Inspirations. Along with being Whitney Houston’s mother, she was the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin to famed opera singer Leontyne Price.
A popular session singer, Cissy Houston recorded hundreds of songs across the genres, with her vocals included on tracks by stars from Jimi Hendrix to Beyonce. As a gospel soloist, she nabbed Grammys for the albums “Face to Face” and “He Leadeth Me” in the late 1990s.
Her daughter Whitney is one of the best-selling US musical artists of all time, with classic hits showcasing her remarkable vocals including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney Houston died in a shock drowning the day before the Grammy awards in 2012, at age 48.
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