Cissy Houston, renowned gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother, dies at 91

Cissy Houston, renowned soul and gospel singer and mother to Whitney Houston, died at the age of 91.

Houston, a two-time Grammy winner who sang backup for Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, passed away at her home Monday morning in New Jersey, according to her daughter-in-law Pat Houston. Houston, who was surrounded by her family, was under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” shared Pat Houston in a statement. “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community.”

“Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts,” the statement said. “Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston got her start in entertainment as a member of the gospel group Drinkard Four. She later formed the Sweet Inspirations alongside Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy, singing backup for Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. As part of the group, she sang backup on Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.”

The group’s final show occurred in Las Vegas in 1969 alongside Presley. As a solo musician, she released her debut album “Presenting Cissy Houston” in 1970, followed by a string of records over the years including her latest, 2012’s “Walk on By Faith.” She sang backup on hundreds of recordings including Bette Middler’s 1972 debut “The Divine Miss M.” and Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way,” and throughout her career, her vocals could be heard on records from Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Beyoncé, Donny Hathaway, Wilson Pickett and many more.

Houston won her first Grammy in 1997 for “Face to Face,” which triumphed in the best traditional soul gospel album category. Two years later, she won the Grammy in the same category for her album “He Leadeth Me.”

Houston came from a family of entertainers, including her daughter Whitney Houston; nieces Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick; and cousin to Leontyne Price, an opera singer. She was the youngest of eight children.