Cissy Houston Video | Celebrity Interview and Paparazzi

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. 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. Houston's father... MORE

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. 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. Houston's father Nitcholas Drinkard was born to a part Dutch, part African-American, mother Susan Bell Drinkard (née Fuller) and a Native American father John Drinkard, Jr. 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 were sold, over time, to resolve the continued legal troubles of a close relative. After Houston's three oldest siblings were born, the family relocated to New Jersey during the Second Great Migration. Emphasis was placed on education and LESS