Cissy Houston, mother of Grammy Award winner Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 91 trendy blogger

Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston A two-time Grammy Award winner who has performed alongside such star musicians as Elvis Presley and… Aretha FranklinCBS News confirmed that she had died. She was 91 years old.

Houston died Monday morning at her home in New Jersey while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, said in a statement. The famous gospel singer was surrounded by her family.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness,” Pat Houston said in the statement, describing her mother-in-law as “the matriarch of our family.” Cissy Houston’s contributions to music and popular culture are “unparalleled,” she said.

“Mother Sissy was a strong, towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared deeply about family, service and community. Her career spanning more than seven decades in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”

Houston was a member of the popular vocal group Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warrick. The group sang backup for a variety of soul singers including Otis Redding, Lou RawlsThe Drifters and Dionne Warwick.

The Sweet Inspirations appeared on Van Morrison’s song “Brown Eyed Girl” and sang background vocals for Jimi Hendrix’s take on “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” in 1967. That same year, Houston worked on Franklin’s classic song “Ain’t No Way.” . “.

Houston’s last performance with the Sweet Inspirations came after the group hit the stage with Presley at a 1969 Las Vegas show. Her final recording session with the group turned into R&B’s biggest hit “(Gotta Find) a Brand New Lover,” a cut Musical. by production team Gamble & Huff, which appeared on the group’s fifth studio album, “Sweet Sweet Soul.”

During that period, the group occasionally performed live concerts with Franklin. After the group’s success and the release of four albums together, Houston left The Sweet Inspirations to pursue a solo career, where she flourished.

Houston became a sought-after session singer and recorded over 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can be heard on tracks alongside a wide range of artists including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and her daughter.

In 1971, Houston’s distinctive vocals debuted Burt BacharachThe single album includes “Mexican Divorce”, “All Kinds of People” and “One Less Bell to Answer”. She has performed various standards including Barbra Streisand’s hit song “Evergreen”.

Houston won a Grammy Award for her albums “Face to Face” in 1997 and “He Leadeth Me” the following year in the category of Best Traditional Gospel Album.

Houston has authored three books: He Leads Me, What a Beautiful Sound: My Life with God and the Gospel, and Remembering Whitney: The Story of a Mother’s Life, Loss and the Night the Music Stopped.

In 1938, Cissy Houston began her career when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group The Drinkard Four, which recorded one album. She attended New Hope Baptist Church, where she later became the Sacred Music Minister.

Houston was the youngest of eight children.

“We are touched by your generous support and outpouring of love during our time of profound grief,” Houston said on behalf of the family. “We respectfully request your privacy during this difficult time.”