The death of Cissy Houston, Grammy winner and mother of Whitney Houston

Cissy Houston, the mother of iconic singer Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 91 at her home in New Jersey, surrounded by her family. Houston suffered from Alzheimer's and was under hospice care at the time of her death, her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, told the AP.

According to the Daily Mail, Cissy Houston was one of the most influential figures in gospel music. She won two Grammy Awards throughout her career and sang alongside legends such as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.

Houston was part of the famed vocal group Sweet Inspirations, which sang backing vocals for artists such as Otis Redding and Dionne Warwick. The group was a key player in the 1960s soul scene, according to The Guardian.

One of Cissy Houston's most memorable collaborations was her participation in Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl', as well as Aretha Franklin's song 'Ain't No Way', two music classics.

Houston left Sweet Inspirations in 1969 to pursue a solo career, which would lead her to become one of the most sought-after session singers. According to The Guardian, Houston has more than 600 recordings in multiple genres.

Throughout her career, Cissy Houston worked with renowned artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, and, of course, her daughter Whitney Houston.

In 1997, Cissy Houston won her first Grammy for the album 'Face to Face', an achievement that cemented her place in gospel music history. The following year, she won another Grammy for 'He Leadeth Me'.

According to the Daily Mail, Houston was also an active figure in her community, serving for more than 50 years at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. There, she had begun her career singing in the choir.

Despite her success, Cissy Houston experienced major family tragedies, including the death of her daughter Whitney in 2012 and that of her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina in 2015. Both were found lifeless in bathtubs.

Cissy Houston left a profound impact on the music world, not only through her own talent but also through the vocal training she provided to her daughter Whitney, who was considered one of the greatest voices of all time.

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