Cissy Houston

Bio:
Cissy Houston (born Emily Houston in Newark, New Jersey on September 30, 1933) is a two-time Grammy Award winning gospel singer who has sung backup for artists such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.Cissy Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey to parents Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard. Cissy was their eighth child and began her singing career at the tender age of five when she joined her sibling gospel group, “Drinkard Four” in 1938. In 1969 Cissy embarked on a solo career and was signed to Commonwealth United Records. She has sung with famous singers including, Bette Midler, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Barbara Streisand. In 1996 Cissy won her first Grammy Award for “Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album” for Face to Face. Two years later at the 1998 Grammy’s she took home her second Grammy for her album He Leadeth Me.

Best Known For:
Cissy Brown is best known for being Whitney Houston’s mother and for her incredible gospel albums. Cissy has won two Grammy Awards for her albums He Leadeth Me and Face to Face. Cissy is the aunt of fellow gospel singers, Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick.

Personal Life:
Cissy is the mother of the late Whitney Houston and grandmother of Bobbi Kristina Brown. On February 11, 2012, her daughter, Whitney Houston, passed away at the Beverly Hill Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina, passed away on July 26, 2015.