Cissy Houston
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2009) |
| Cissy Houston | |
|---|---|
 Cissy Houston in 1975 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emily Drinkard |
| Born | September 30, 1933 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, gospel |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals (Soprano) |
| Years active | 1940s – present |
| Labels | RCA, Commonwealth United, Private Stock, Motown |
| Associated acts | Whitney Houston, Sweet Inspirations, The Drinkard Singers, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Herbie Mann, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Van Morrisson, J. Geils Band, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, Kiki Dee, Dory Previn, Gregg Allman, Wishbone Ash, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Narada Michael Walden, Don McLean, Eddie Harris, Donnie Hathaway, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Clarence Wheeler, James Cotton, Wilson Pickett, Beyonce |
Emily "Cissy" Houston (born September 30, 1933) is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist. She is mother to the late singer and actress Whitney Houston and aunt of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.
Contents |
[edit] Family and childhood
[edit] Early life
Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey to Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard (née McCaskill) who had seven older children: sons William, Hansom, Nicky, and Larry, and daughters Lee, Marie and Anne. [1] Houston's father Nitcholas Drinkard was born to a part Dutch, part African-American, mother Susan Bell Drinkard (née Fuller)[2] and a Native American father John Drinkard, Jr.[1] The Drinkards owned a substantial amount of farmland in Blakely, Georgia during a time when it was unusual for blacks to own large portions of land. The asset was gradually depleted as small portions of the land was sold, over time, to resolve the continued legal troubles of a close relative. [2]
After Houston's three oldest siblings were born, the family relocated to New Jersey during the Second Great Migration. [2] Emphasis was placed on education and church while her father encouraged Houston and her sibling to sing.[2] In 1938 when Houston was 5 years old her mother, Delia, suffered a stroke and died of cerebral hemorrhage three years later. Cissy and her siblings went to live with her older sister Lee and her family. Her father later died of stomach cancer in 1951 when Houston was 18.[3][4][2]
[edit] Marriage and children
In 1955, Houston married Freddie Garland and had a son, Gary Garland.[5] The Garlands divorced soon after. In 1959, she married Army serviceman and entertainment executive John Russell Houston, Jr.[6][7] The couple had a son, Michael Houston, and a daughter, Whitney Houston.[8][9]
Houston has six grandchildren.[10] On Februrary 11, 2012, her youngest child, singer Whitney Houston, was found dead in the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
[edit] Career
[edit] The Drinkard Singers
Houston's singing career began in 1938 when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky in the gospel singing group the Drinkard Four. Lee (who would later become the mother of singers Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick), later joined the group along wtith Ann Moss and Marie Epps, and the group was renamed The Drinkard Singers. Houston and the Drinkard Singers regularly performed at New Hope Baptist Church and later recorded a live album for RCA called A Joyful Noise.[11]
[edit] Sweet Inspirations
In 1963, then about to give birth to daughter Whitney Houston, she formed the Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and niece Dee Dee Warwick. Later, under contract to Atlantic Records, Sylvia Shemwell, Estelle Brown and Myrna Smith form the line-up.
During the mid-1960s, the Sweet Inspirations provided backup vocals for a variety of artists, including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, Dusty Springfield and Houston's niece Dionne Warwick. They appeared on Van Morrison's single Brown Eyed Girl. Houston performed the operatic soprano melody on the Aretha Franklin hit, Ain't No Way.[12]
In 1967, The Sweet Inspirations sang background vocals for The Jimi Hendrix Experience on the track Burning of the Midnight Lamp.[13]
In 1969 they were hired to sing backing vocals for Elvis Presley in Las Vegas on his return to live performances during July and August 1969. Presley often introduced them at shows by saying, "They really live up to their name ladies & gentleman, The Sweet Inspirations!" [14] Many of these performances can be heard on the All Shook Up and Live In Las Vegas live records.[15]
Performing with Elvis Presley was Houston's final gig with The Sweet Inspirations. As her children were growing bigger, she decided to stop touring and focus on her career as a recording artist.[16]
[edit] Solo career
In 1969, Houston signed a recording contract with Commonwealth United Records and recorded her solo debut Presenting Cissy Houston which was released in 1970.[17] It contained several well received singles, including covers of "I'll Be There" and "Be My Baby".
After her contract was sold to Janus Records, Houston recorded several more singles in the early 1970s and another album, which included the original recording of Jim Weatherly's "Midnight Train to Georgia", later a number one hit for Gladys Knight & The Pips.[18]
In 1977, Houston was signed by Private Stock Records, working with arranger/producer Michael Zager on three albums. The second included her big disco hit "Think It Over", which climbed to #32 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1979. She represented USA at the World Popular Song Festival in 1979 with a track called "You're the Fire", landing second place and winning the "Most Outstanding Performance Award". This also appeared on her 1980 disco-flavored album, "Step Aside for a Lady", again produced by Michael Zager, but released on Columbia Records (on [[EMI] in the United Kingdom).
[edit] Session musician
Houston's cross genre singing style has kept her highly in demand as a session musician with some of the world's most successful recording artists.
She sang back-up on Bette Midler's 1972 debut album, The Divine Miss M. In 1974 she sang back-up on Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like A Wheel, an album that topped Billboards Pop and Country Album Charts in early 1975.
In 1971, Houston was featured on three tracks on Burt Bacharach's solo record: Mexican Divorce, All Kinds of People and One Less bell to Answer.
During 1975 and 1976, she worked with jazz flute-player Herbie Mann on two Atlantic albums Waterbed and Surprises featuring on three tracks "Violet Don't Be Blue", JJ Cale's "Cajun Moon" and "Easter Rising".
In addition to her work as choirmaster at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, Cissy performed frequently at clubs in NYC including Mikell's, Sweetwaters, Seventh Avenue South, and Fat Tuesday from the late 1970s through the 1980s.
Whitney Houston, her daughter and backup singer, increasingly sang solos with Cissy's band, including the Streisand hit Evergreen. They would collaborate on Ain't No Way (originally a Cissy Houston and Aretha Franklin vehicle), on which Cissy sang "Cissy" and Whitney "Aretha".
Whitney's "coming-out" performance took place at Sweetwaters,[19] whereupon she was signed by Clive Davis for Arista Records.
In 1985, the small UK independent label Glitter released a single, With You I Could Have It All and Whatcha Gonna Do About Our Love. The 12-inch single featured both a ballad and a dance version of the song.
[edit] Gospel soloist and duets
In 1996 Houston received the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for Face to Face, an album that contained a Gospel version of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)".
In 1996 she also contributed one song to the gospel soundtrack album for the film The Preacher's Wife, which starred her daughter Whitney Houston.
In 1998 she won her second Grammy for her album He Leadeth Me.
She has also continued to record infrequent secular material and in 1987, Houston and her daughter Whitney recorded a duet titled "I Know Him So Well", a cover of the original by Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige from the Broadway show, Chess. This song also became a single in early 1989 as the 6th and last single release (in selected European countries) from Whitney's album Whitney. In 1992 she teamed up with Chuck Jackson for an album of solo and duet recordings entitled I'll Take Care of You.
In 2006, she recorded the song "Family First" with niece Dionne Warwick and daughter Whitney Houston for the soundtrack to the movie Daddy's Little Girls.
In 2010 Cissy attended the third annual BET Honors on behalf of her daughter Whitney, who received the entertainment award.
[edit] New Hope Baptist Church Youth Inspirational Choir
For more than fifty years, Houston has led the 200 member Youth Inspirational Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church.[20]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo
| Year | Album Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Midnight Train To Georgia | Janus Records |
| 1970 | Presenting Cissy Houston | MajorMinor |
| 1977 | Cissy Houston | Private Stock Records |
| 1978 | Think It Over | Private Stock Records |
| 1979 | Warning - Danger | Columbia Records |
| 1980 | Step Aside For A Lady | Columbia Records |
| 1996 | Face To Face | House of Blues |
| 1997 | He Leadeth Me | A&M Records |
| 1999 | Whitney & Cissy Houston | Delta Music |
| 2001 | Love Is Holding You | Neon |
| 2005 | Cissy Houston Collection | Intersound |
[edit] Collaborations
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Waterbed | Herbie Mann, featuring Cissy Houston |
| 1976 | Surprises | Herbie Mann, featuring Cissy Houston |
| 1957 | A Joyful Noise[21] | The Drinkard Singers |
[edit] Soundtracks
| Year | Film | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | A Time to Kill | Take My Hand Precious Lord |
| 1996 | The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album | The Lord Is My Shepherd |
| 1998 | Late Show with David Letterman, Episode dated 23 December | Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) |
| 2007 | Daddy's Little Girls (Original Movie Soundtrack) | Family First |
[edit] Backing Vocalist
| Year | Track | Record | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert | Elvis Presley[22] | |
| 2003 | Dangerously In Love 2 | Dangerously In Love | Beyoncé |
| 1995 | This Is Christmas | Dangerously In Love | Luther Vandross |
| 1991 | All tracks | Power of Love | Luther Vandross |
| 1985 | Whitney Houston | Whitney Houston | |
| 1985 | The Night I Fell In Love | Luther Vandross | |
| 1982 | Silk Electric | Diana Ross | |
| 1982 | Diana's Duets | Diana Ross | |
| 1980 | Aretha | Aretha Franklin | |
| 1980 | Clouds | Naughty | Chaka Khan[23] |
| 1982 | All tracks | Luther Vandross | Luther Vandross |
| 1981 | Freeze Frame | J. Geils Band | |
| 1980 | Papillion (Hot Butterfly) | Naughty | Chaka Khan[24] |
| 1978 | I'm Every Woman | Chaka | Chaka Khan |
| 1976 | Boys in the Trees | Carly Simon | |
| 1977 | Garden of Love Light | Narada Michael Walden | |
| 1977 | Monkey Island | J.Geils Band | |
| 1976 | Locked In | Wishbone Ash | |
| 1976 | We're Children of Coincidence and Harpo Marx | Dory Previn | |
| 1974 | Technological Homosapien[25] | The Doctor Is In...And Out | Yusuf Lateef |
| 1974 | All Tracks | Heart Like a Wheel | Linda Ronstadt |
| 1974 | I've Got Music in Me | Kiki Dee | |
| 1974 | Young Americans | Young Americans | David Bowie |
| 1971 | T.B.Sheets | Van Morrison | |
| 1971 | Homeless Brother | Don McLean | |
| 1973 | Laid Back | Gregg Allman | |
| 1972 | Do You Wanna Dance | The Divine Miss M | Bette Midler |
| 1971 | Paul Simon | Paul Simon | |
| 1971 | Quiet Fire | Roberta Flack | |
| 1971 | Donnie Hathaway | Donnie Hathaway | |
| 1971 | Second Movement | Eddie Harris | |
| 1971 | Blacknuss | Rahsaan Roland Kirk | |
| 1970 | Doin' What We Wanna | Clarence Wheeler | |
| 1970 | Moondance | Van Morrison | |
| 1970 | This Girl's In Love with You | Aretha Franklin | |
| 1970 | Turning Around | Dee Dee Warwick | |
| 1970 | Taking Care of Business | James Cotton | |
| 1968 | Ain't No Way | (Sweet, Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone | Aretha Franklin |
| 1968 | Lady Soul | Aretha Franklin | |
| 1967 | Burning of the Midnight Lamp | Electric Ladyland | The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| 1965 | In The Midnight Hour | Wilson Pickett |
[edit] Musical Arrangements
| Year | Track | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Angels | Cissy Houston |
| 1996 | The Lord Is My Shepherd | The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album |
[edit] Musical Compositions
| Year | Title | Collaborator |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Count Your Blessings | |
| 1996 | Deep River/Campground | Donny Harper |
| 1976 | Endless Waters | David Forman |
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Movies
- The Wiz (1978) (voice) (uncredited) .... The Wiz Singers Adult Choir
- Taking My Turn (1984) (TV)
- The Vernon Johns Story (1994) (TV) .... Rose
- aka Freedom Road: The Vernon Johns Story (UK)
- aka The Road to Freedom: The Vernon Johns Story (USA: alternative title)
- The Preacher's Wife (1996) .... Mrs. Havergal
[edit] Shows
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson .... Herself (3 episodes, 1970)
- aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
- Episode dated 24 March 1970 (1970) TV episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 20 March 1970 (1970) TV episode .... Herself
- Episode dated 13 March 1970 (1970) TV episode .... Herself
- Gangsters (1979) .... Herself
- aka Hoodlums (USA: video title)
- Late Night with David Letterman .... Herself (1 episode, 1985)
- Episode dated 28 August 1985 (1985) TV episode .... Herself
- Ebony/Jet Showcase .... Herself (1 episode, 1986)
- Episode dated 10 October 1986 (1986) TV episode .... Herself
- The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1987) (TV) .... Herself
- The 15th Annual American Music Awards (1988) (TV) .... Herself/Performer
- Late Show with David Letterman .... Herself (1 episode, 1998)
- aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
- aka Letterman (Australia)
- aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
- Episode dated 23 December 1998 (1998) TV episode .... Herself
- Intimate Portrait .... Herself (1 episode, 2004)
- Dionne Warwick (2004) TV episode .... Herself
- This Time (2008) .... Herself
[edit] External links
- Cissy Houston at the Internet Movie Database
- Cissy Houston @ Artist Direct
- Cissy Houston's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- The New Hope Baptist Church
- Young Americans Live Performance with David Bowie
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Geni.com: Emily Houston (Drinkard)". April 13, 2011. http://www.geni.com/people/Cissy-Houston/6000000012244034206. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Houston, Cissy (September 2, 2009). "Visionary Project Video - Cissy Houston: My Family". http://www.visionaryproject.org/houstoncissy/. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ "Geni.com: Delia Drinkard (McCaskill)". April 13, 2011. http://www.geni.com/people/Delia-Drinkard/6000000012243928382. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ "Geni.com: Nitcholas Drinkard". April 13, 2011. http://www.geni.com/people/Nitcholas-Drinkard/6000000012243550047. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ "Cissy Houston: National Visionary". Oral History Videos. http://www.visionaryproject.org. http://www.visionaryproject.org/houstoncissy/. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Walters, Judy (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston News: Life and Times of the American Singing Snesation Who Died at 48". Belle News. http://www.bellenews.com/2012/02/12/arts-culture/whitney-houston-news-life-and-times-of-the-american-singing-sensation-who-died-at-48/. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ "Cissy Houston: National Visionary". Oral History Videos. http://www.visionaryproject.org. http://www.visionaryproject.org/houstoncissy/. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Silverman, Stephen M.. "Whitney Houston's Brother Arrested". www.people.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,622428,00.html. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ Merriman, Rebecca. "Michael Houston 'Devastated' At Death of Sister". New. www.entertainmentwise.com. http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/69412/Michael-Houston-Devastated-At-Death-Of-Sister. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Cissy Houston: National Visionary". Oral History Videos. http://www.visionaryproject.org. http://www.visionaryproject.org/houstoncissy/. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ McCall, Tris. "The Star Ledger". Song of the Day: Lift Him Up, The Drinkard Singers. www.nj.com. http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/02/song_of_the_day_lift_him_up_th.html. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ Utenberger, Richie. "All Music Guide". The Sweet Inspirations: Biography. Yahoo! Music. http://music.yahoo.com/sweet-inspirations/biography/. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ Jimi Hendrix Experience, The. "Discography". Electric Ladyland. discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Jimi-Hendrix-Experience-Electric-Ladyland/release/1715314. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2012.
- ^ Houston, Cissy. "Cissy Houston Remembers Elvis Presley". The Sweet Inspirations (Video). www.elvis.com.au. http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/video_cissy_houston_remembers_elvis_presley.shtml. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ Houston, Cissy. "Cissy Houston Remembers Elvis Presley". The Sweet Inspirations (Video). www.elvis.com.au. http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/video_cissy_houston_remembers_elvis_presley.shtml. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ Houston, Cissy. "Cissy Houston Remembers Elvis Presley". The Sweet Inspirations (Video). www.elvis.com.au. http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/video_cissy_houston_remembers_elvis_presley.shtml. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ Houston, Cissy. "Cissy Houston Remembers Elvis Presley". The Sweet Inspirations (Video). www.elvis.com.au. http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/video_cissy_houston_remembers_elvis_presley.shtml. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ "Cissy Houston @ Artist Direct". Cissy Houston @ Artist Direct. www.artistdirect.com. http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/cissy-houston/415062. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ Adam White (March 9, 1985). "Talent in Action: Whitney Houston, Sweetwaters in New York". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 97 (10). ISSN 0006-2510. http://books.google.co.kr/books?id=riQEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&lr&hl=en&rview=1&pg=PT18#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ "Cissy Houston: National Visionary". Oral History Videos. http://www.visionaryproject.org. http://www.visionaryproject.org/houstoncissy/. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ "Drinkard Singers". Biography. Artist Direct. http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,566926,00.html. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ "Cissy Houston Credits". Cissy Houston Credits. Artist Direct. http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/credits/cissy-houston/415062. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ "Chaka Khan - Clouds". Clouds. JazzFunkster444. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xADrCKYUEcc. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ "Chaka Khan - Papillion (Hot Butterfly)". Papillion (Hot Butterfly). p4soul. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJEIQX9d4kY. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ "MUSICA DESDE LAS ANTIPODAS". The Doctor Is In...And Out. brownweb. http://musicadesdelasantipodas.blogspot.com/2008/10/yusef-lateef-1974-doctor-is-in-and-out.html. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- 1933 births
- Living people
- Whitney Houston
- American people of Native American descent
- American people of Dutch descent
- African American singers
- American female singers
- American gospel singers
- American soul singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Musicians from New Jersey
- People from Newark, New Jersey
- Grammy Award winners
