麻豆传媒

Skip to main content

Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother and a Grammy-winning singer, dies at 91

Cissy Houston performs during McDonald's Gospelfest 2013 on May 11, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes / Invision / AP, File) Cissy Houston performs during McDonald's Gospelfest 2013 on May 11, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes / Invision / AP, File)
Share
LOS ANGELES -

Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91.

Houston died Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told The Associated Press. The acclaimed gospel singer was surrounded by her family.

鈥淥ur hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,鈥 Pat Houston said in a statement. She said her mother-in-law's contributions to popular music and culture are "unparalleled."

鈥淢other 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.鈥

Houston was in the well-known vocal group, the Sweet Inspirations, with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warrick. The group sang backup for a variety of soul singers including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, The Drifters and Dionne Warwick.

The Sweet Inspirations appeared on Van Morrison's 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl鈥 and sang background vocals for The Jimi Hendrix Experience on the song 鈥淏urning of the Midnight Lamp" in 1967. In the same year, Houston worked on Franklin's classic 鈥淎in't No Way."

Houston's last performance with the Sweet Inspirations came after the group hit the stage with Presley in a Las Vegas show in 1969. Her final recording session with the group turned into their biggest R&B hit 鈥(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover鈥 a composition by the production team of Gamble & Huff, who appeared on the group鈥檚 fifth album, "Sweet Sweet Soul."

During that time, the group occasionally performed live concert dates with Franklin. After the group's success and four albums together, Houston left The Sweet Inspirations to pursue a solo career where she flourished.

Houston became an in-demand session singer and recorded more than 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can heard on tracks alongside a wide range of artists including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyonc茅, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and her daughter.

In 1971, Houston's signature vocals were featured on Burt Bacharach鈥檚 solo album, which includes 鈥淢exican Divorce,鈥 鈥淎ll Kinds of People鈥 and 鈥淥ne Less Bell to Answer.鈥 She performed various standards including Barbra Streisand鈥檚 hit song, 鈥淓vergreen.鈥

Houston won Grammys for her albums 鈥淔ace to Face鈥 in 1997 and 鈥淗e Leadeth Me鈥 the following year in the best traditional soul gospel album category.

Houston authored three books: 鈥淗e Leadeth Me,鈥 鈥淗ow Sweet The Sound: My Life with God and Gospel" and "Remembering Whitney: A Mother鈥檚 Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped.鈥

In 1938, Cissy Houston started her career when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group, The Drinkard Four, who recorded one album. She attended New Hope Baptist Church, where she later become Minister of Sacred Music.

Houston was the youngest of eight children.

鈥淲e are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,鈥 Houston said on behalf of the family. 鈥淲e respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.鈥 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Police say that they are investigating an apparent road rage incident in North York that may have involved gunfire.

Days after a political sign was erected outside Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.

Lawyers representing the Ontario man accused of selling hundreds of suicide kits with deadly effect around the globe have filed to intervene in a case in Canada鈥檚 highest court, arguing there is no way he can be charged with murder under Canadian law.

Local Spotlight

A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.

Bernie Hicks, known as the 鈥楤atman of Amherst,鈥 always wanted to sit in a Batmobile until a kind stranger made it happen.

Bubi鈥檚 Awesome Eats, located on University Ave West took to social media to announce the closure on Friday.

Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.

Manitobans are in cleanup mode after intense winds barreled through southern parts of the province this weekend.

Avry Wortman, 13, scored two touchdowns on Sunday during her team's win in the under 14 Greater Moncton Football Association.

A gargantuan gourd 鈥 affectionately named 鈥極rangina鈥 by the urban gardeners who grew it in the front yard of their Vancouver home 鈥 earned the massive honour of being named B.C.鈥檚 heaviest giant pumpkin Saturday.

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.