Cissy Houston, the celebrated Grammy Award-winning vocalist, passed away on October 7 at her residence in New Jersey at the age of 91. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, disclosed that she had been battling Alzheimer’s disease, although details regarding the specific location of her death were not reported by the Associated Press.

Cissy’s musical journey commenced in her early childhood, where she showcased her vocal talents in her local church and in a musical group alongside her siblings. Over the years, she evolved into a matriarch of a remarkable musical lineage, which included her cousin, the illustrious opera singer Leontyne Price, as well as her nieces, Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. Most notably, her daughter Whitney Houston rose to become one of the most successful pop icons of her generation before her untimely death in 2012 at the age of 48.

At the time of Whitney’s birth, Cissy was performing with the Sweet Inspirations, a renowned backup group that collaborated with legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis Presley. They lent their distinct harmonies to Van Morrison’s classic “Brown Eyed Girl” and contributed the memorable “chain chain chains” in Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.”

Reflecting on her experience, Ms. Houston remarked to the Daily Record of Morristown, New Jersey, “I think the Sweet Inspirations changed the whole business of background singing because it was unique, and I made up all the backgrounds.” She emphasized that while other backup singers merely followed directions, she believed in infusing her creativity into the process. “I considered that my work — in the background business,” she stated.

As a solo artist, Cissy Houston achieved considerable success, scoring hits such as “Be My Baby.” Over the decades, she garnered two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, recognizing her outstanding albums Face to Face (1996) and He Leadeth Me (1997).

Despite her initial reluctance for Whitney to enter the entertainment industry — citing concerns about its perils and the potential for harm — Ms. Houston ultimately played a pivotal role in launching her daughter’s illustrious career, introducing her to the stage at their Baptist church in Newark and in various nightclubs.

Whitney Houston soared to superstardom with monumental hits like “I Will Always Love You,” featured in the soundtrack for the 1992 film The Bodyguard, alongside Kevin Costner, and “Greatest Love of All.” The mother-daughter duo also collaborated on popular tracks such as “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” and “I Know Him So Well.”

Whitney’s life was marked by personal challenges, including battles with substance abuse and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown. Tragically, she was found deceased in her Beverly Hills hotel room on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2012. A coroner later concluded that her death resulted from accidental drowning, exacerbated by cocaine use and underlying heart disease.

In the wake of her daughter’s passing, Cissy Houston penned Remembering Whitney (2013) in collaboration with co-author Lisa Dickey. The book offers a poignant reflection on Whitney’s remarkable talents, her struggles, and the profound grief Cissy experienced as a mother mourning the loss of the daughter she lovingly referred to as “Nippy.”