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Cissy Houston, herself an acclaimed singer and mother of Whitney Houston, has died. She was 91. Cissy died Oct. 7 at home in New Jersey, where she was receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told the newspaper. Associated press. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sorrow,” Pat said, calling Cissy’s cultural impact “unparalleled.” Born Emily Drinkard, Cissy began singing professionally at the age of five, when her father, Nitcholas Drinkard, formed a gospel group of his children in 1938. The Drinkard Singers eventually performed at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957, which led to them releasing one of the two. the first gospel albums from major labels, A cheerful soundon RCA in 1958.

In 1963, Cissy joined another family group, the Sweet Inspirations, to replace her rising niece Dionne Warwick. With a rotating lineup that also featured her niece Dee Dee Warwick, the Sweet Inspirations sang backup on some of the 1960s’ most enduring recordings: Aretha Franklin hits like “Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools” , Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’. ”, “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield. Cissy was particularly notable for her operatic backing vocals on Franklin’s song “Ain’t No Way.” The Sweet Inspirations began backing Elvis Presley in 1969 on his live album Elvis in person at the International Hotel.

Cissy left the Sweet Inspirations later in 1969 to pursue a solo career, releasing her debut album Presentation by Cissy Houston in 1970. She also continued to support others and sang on Linda Ronstadt’s album Heart like a wheel and Chaka Khan’s song “I’m Every Woman”, later covered by her daughter. Whitney soon began joining Cissy on sessions, and the pair sang backup on Khan’s 1980 album Naughty when Whitney was only 16. When her daughter became a successful solo artist, Cissy dueted with her on a 1987 recording of “I Know Him So Well.”

Throughout her career, Cissy also served as a pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. A return to recording gospel music in the 1990s brought her success late in her career, when she earned two Grammys for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. After Whitney’s death in 2012, Cissy honored her daughter with a tribute to ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.