Gospel Legend Cissy Houston Dies at 91: A Legacy Spanning Seven Decades

October 8, 2024
Gospel Legend Cissy Houston Dies at 91: A Legacy Spanning Seven Decades
  • Throughout her career, Houston recorded over 600 songs across various genres, collaborating with notable artists such as Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, and her daughter Whitney.

  • Her illustrious career spanned over seven decades, during which she won Grammy Awards for her albums 'Face to Face' in 1997 and 'He Leadeth Me' in 1998.

  • The Houston family has requested privacy during this difficult time and expressed gratitude for the support and love they have received from the public.

  • Whitney Houston, Cissy's daughter, was a celebrated singer known for iconic hits like 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and 'I Will Always Love You,' who tragically died at the age of 48.

  • Cissy Houston, the legendary gospel musician and mother of Whitney Houston, passed away at the age of 91 on October 7, 2024, in New Jersey while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease.

  • Cissy died at her home surrounded by family, and her daughter-in-law Pat Houston referred to her as the 'matriarch of our family,' highlighting her significant contributions to music and culture.

  • Her personal life was marked by tragedy, including the deaths of her daughter Whitney in 2012 and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in 2015, both found unresponsive in bathtubs.

  • Cissy authored three books detailing her life experiences, including 'Remembering Whitney: A Mother's Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped,' published on the first anniversary of her daughter's death.

  • Cissy's family includes notable entertainers, such as her daughter Whitney Houston and nieces Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.

  • Tributes have poured in from the music community, including a heartfelt message from Chaka Khan, who highlighted Cissy's legacy and impact.

  • In 1963, while pregnant with Whitney, Cissy formed 'The Sweet Inspirations,' which provided backing vocals for notable soul artists like Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick.

  • Cissy served as the choir director at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where she remained active in the music community throughout her life.

Summary based on 18 sources


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