As we mourn the passing of the gospel music great who gave the world Whitney Houston, we look back at her legendary life.
By Stephanie Holland
(Source: Roots)
On Monday, we lost one of the great singers of our time, Cissy Houston. The gospel legend was a Grammy winner who inspired generations of artists, most notably her daughter, Whitney Houston. Cissy — given name Emily Drinkard — passed away at 90 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
She leaves behind a loving family and legions of fans who will never forget how she was one of the artists that made gospel accessible and mainstream. As we celebrate her legacy, we’re taking a look at the beautiful life of Cissy Houston.
The youngest of eight children, Emily Drinkard originally sang in a gospel group with her sisters. Later, she joined the girl group Sweet Inspirations, replacing her niece Dionne Warwick when she left the group in 1963. Eventually, Houston left to start her own solo singing career.
The Sweet Inspirations backed up legendary artists like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. As a solo singer, Houston also backed up Chaka Khan. This contributed to Whitney growing up surrounded by the greatest performers of all time.
Whitney wanted to be a singer like her mom, and ultimately it was Houston who introduced the world to Whitney during a memorable appearance on “The Merv Griffin Show.” They also performed together, showcasing their beautiful bond.
Houston’s daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, released a statement honoring her mother-in-law, saying, “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives,” Pat said in a statement. “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.”
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