Cissy Houston, Grammy-winning soul and gospel singer and mom of the late Whitney Houston, died in her New Jersey residence on Monday (Oct 7) on the age of 91.
Houston’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the information on Instagram.
“It saddens my coronary heart to announce the passing of my beloved Queen Cissy Houston as we speak! Please maintain the Houston household in your prayers,” Pat Houston wrote alongside an image collage of the late singer.
The gospel singer was born in Newark, New Jersey, as Emily Drinkard on Sep 30, 1933, and she or he later took the skilled identify Cissy Houston.
She started her profession as a member of a gospel group referred to as the Drinkard 4 and later turned a founding member of the R&B group the Candy Inspirations.
She sang backup for legendary artists together with Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick.
Her music defied gender and racial boundaries, and she or he collaborated with Elvis Presley, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt – a uncommon feat for a Black girl artist on the time.
Houston launched her solo profession in 1970, successful two Grammy Awards for her gospel music.
Cissy Houston’s daughter, singer Whitney Houston, died on the Beverly Hilton lodge in 2012. She was discovered submerged in her bathtub by a member of her private employees.
