Cissy Houston’s glam past revealed as she was in a girl group, sang with Elvis and Dusty, and was pals with Oprah… as Whitney Houston’s mom dies at 91
As I delve into the captivating life story of Cissy Houston, I am deeply moved by her resilience and unwavering spirit that resonate through the decades. Born Emily Drinkard, she transformed herself into Cissy, a powerhouse vocalist who not only made her family proud but left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Cissy Houston, who died this week at 91, was the mother to massive superstar Whitney Houston.
Prior to Whitney’s birth, Cissy had already achieved stardom as a solo artist, gracing large stages and walking prestigious red carpets alongside other top performers.
Cissy – who was born Emily Drinkard in 1933 – was a successful soul and gospel singer in the 1960s and 1970s.
Houston was an original band member of the R&B girl group, The Sweet Inspirations, who were known for their series of popular tunes.
The singer worked with Elvis Presley, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt and partied with Aretha Franklin.
She sang backup for Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick and Chaka Khan, and won two Grammy Awards. And she worked with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, and Dusty Springfield.
Apart from that, she was related to renowned singers such as Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick (who were her nieces), as well as the esteemed opera singer Leontyne Price (her cousin).
Here is a look back at her successes.
She was born in New Jersey and started singing gospel at a young age in the band the Drinkard Four which was later renamed The Drinkard Singers.
Initially, they showcased their talent at New Hope Baptist Church. Later, they recorded a live album titled “A Joyful Noise” for RCA. Subsequently, they played at Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival.
In the early 1960s, she formed The Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and niece Dee Dee Warwick.
Subsequently, they were assembled as a group when Sylvia Shemwell, Estelle Brown, and Myrna Smith signed with Atlantic Records.
In the mid-60s, The Sweet Inspirations served as backing vocalists for artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, Dusty Springfield, and Dionne Warwick, who was related to Houston at that time.
They appeared on Van Morrison’s single Brown Eyed Girl.
Houston performed the descant on the Aretha Franklin hit Ain’t No Way.
1967 saw The Sweet Inspirations lending their harmonious backup vocals to The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s song “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.
1969 saw them being recruited as backup singers for the renowned American artist Elvis Presley, during his comeback to live shows in Las Vegas, from July through August of that year.
They can be heard on the All Shook Up and Live In Las Vegas live records.
Cissy had a thriving solo career that included the hit songs I’ll Be There and Be My Baby.
In the 1970s, she had more hits with Midnight Train to Georgia in 1972.
Back in 1971, I had the privilege of gracing three tracks on Burt Bacharach’s self-titled solo album. The songs were “Mexican Divorce,” “All Kinds of People,” and “One Less Bell to Answer.
She was backing vocalist on jazz flautist Herbie Mann’s funky disco single Hijack (1975), album Discotheque (1975), and album Surprise (1976).
She then had a big disco hit with Think It Over. Next came You’re the Fire.
The singer then worked with two huge female singers.
1972 saw Houston contributing as a backup singer on Bette Midler’s first album, “The Divine Miss M”. Similarly, in the year 1974, Houston lent her vocals as a backup singer on Linda Ronstadt’s “Heart Like A Wheel” album.
She also worked with jazz flutist Herbie Mann.
As a lifestyle expert, I might rephrase it as: Over time, I found myself stepping out from the backup role in my mother’s band more often to take on solo performances. One of our most memorable collaborations was on the song “Ain’t No Way,” which originally featured Cissy Houston and Aretha Franklin. In our version, I took on the role that Aretha had in the original, while my mother sang the part that Cissy had. It was a unique experience to interpret such a classic song with my mother by my side.
She contributed one song to the gospel soundtrack album for the film The Preacher’s Wife, which starred her daughter Whitney.
Houston and her daughter Whitney recorded a duet titled I Know Him So Well in 1989.
2006 saw Bobby (Houston’s stage name) collaborating on the track “Family First” with his niece Dionne Warwick and daughter Whitney, which was part of the soundtrack for the film Daddy’s Little Girls.
2012 saw Cissy singing “Bridge over Troubled Water” as a tribute to her daughter during the BET Music Awards.
In 2014, on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cissy joined forces with Aretha Franklin to perform renditions of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.
In 2012, Whitney died at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Meanwhile, Houston’s family is ‘devastated’ by her death at 91.
The Grammy-winning matriarch passed away on Monday morning in New Jersey home.
Her passing came after a battle with Alzheimer’s led to her being placed under hospice care.
wording suggestion: The family has been deeply affected by her passing; they are managing, but it is an extremely challenging time for them at the moment.
The source mentioned that Cissy, formerly known as Emily Drinkard, enjoyed a ‘prosperous, grace-filled lifespan.’
Besides having the renowned tragic singer Whitney as her daughter, who passed away at age 48 in 2012 due to a drowning incident in a hotel bath after years of drug struggles, Cissy was also the aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.
In 1938, she launched her singing career by teaming up with her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form a vocal quartet known as the Drinkard Four.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Cissy had passed away. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, shared the news in a statement, expressing deep sorrow and sadness. We have lost the family’s matriarch.
In my life’s journey, I’ve been graced with the constant presence of Mother Cissy – a formidable pillar of strength. She stands tall as a beacon of deep-rooted faith and unwavering convictions, always guiding us through life’s complexities. Her heart is profoundly touched by her family, her ministry, and our community – making her an invaluable part of each one of these realms.
Her illustrious career spanning over seven decades in music and entertainment will continue to hold a special place in our hearts.
Cissy’s musical journey included becoming a member of the Sweet Inspirations vocal group alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee.
They provided backing vocals for several legendary soul singers such as Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, and Dionne Warwick.
The team was featured in Van Morrison’s iconic song “Brown Eyed Girl” and provided backing vocals for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, specifically on the track “Burning of the Midnight Sun.
The last time she performed with the Sweet Inspirations was following their joint appearance on stage during Elvis’ renowned Las Vegas concert in 1969.
Cissy won two Grammy Awards, which were given for her albums ‘Face to Face’ and ‘He Leadeth Me’, following many years spent in gospel music.
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2024-10-08 18:04