Rita Odafe
Cissy Houston, a renowned singer and the mother of the late Whitney Houston, has sadly passed away at the age of 91.
Cissy, who provided backing vocals for icons such as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, died on October 7 at her home in New Jersey, while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston. She was surrounded by her loved ones during her final moments.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston expressed in a statement, highlighting the profound impact Cissy had on music and culture.
“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.”
Beginning her career in gospel music, Houston participated in a family group before making a mark in popular music during the 1960s as a member of The Sweet Inspirations, alongside her niece Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy, providing background vocals for prominent soul artists like Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick.
Houston contributed to many hit songs, including Franklin’s classics “Think” and ”(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” as well as Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” The Sweet Inspirations also performed with Presley, who Houston fondly recalled for his love of gospel music during rehearsals.
The group achieved their own success with “Sweet Inspiration,” a top 20 hit, and worked in Memphis studios known for producing hits for artists like Franklin and Springfield, releasing four albums in the late 1960s. Additionally, they provided vocals for Jimi Hendrix on his song “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.”
Houston’s final performance with The Sweet Inspirations took place during a Las Vegas show with Presley in 1969, and she recorded their biggest R&B hit, “(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover,” shortly after. Following this, she chose to pursue a successful solo career.
Throughout her lifetime, Houston recorded over 600 songs across various genres, becoming a sought-after session artist.
