Cissy Houston
A soul singer who is known primarily as Whitney Houston's mother rather than for her own considerable talents, Cissy Houston was born Emily Drinkard and began her career as a member of her family's gospel group, the Drinkards. In the early '60s, she joined forces with a floating group of singers known simply as the Group (including at various points Doris Troy and Dee Dee Warwick) to provide backup vocals on numerous soul, pop, and rock sessions. They contributed to many Atlantic sessions in particular, and Atlantic executive Jerry Wexler signed the act to the label in 1967. Named the Sweet Inspirations, they recorded some excellent gospel-flavored soul in the late '60s, managing a few hits (as well as continuing to back up other artists, most notably Aretha Franklin) before Houston left to go solo at the end of 1969. She recorded an impressive album for Commonwealth United in 1970, Presenting Cissy Houston, which yielded a couple of small R&B/pop hits: "I'll Be There" and "Be My Baby." Much in the manner of the Sweet Inspirations, although the material consisted of fairly well-worn soul, rock, and pop tunes, the state-of-the-art arrangements and gospel-ish vocals made them sound fresh. Her contract was sold to Janus Records later in the year, and while she issued a few singles there until the middle of the '70s, she never received the support and promotion she deserved. A case in point was her little-known original version of "Midnight Train to Georgia," taken to the top of the charts about a year later by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Houston recorded several albums for Private Stock beginning in the late '70s, as well as continuing her regular work on sessions and commercial jingles. She recorded a duet with daughter Whitney ("I Know Him So Well") in 1987, and cut a duet album with veteran soul singer Chuck Jackson in 1992.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Cissy and Whitney Together
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston
R&B - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 1 Oct 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Original: Cissy Houston
R&B - Released by HHO on 19 Jul 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Cissy Houston (Digitally Remastered) (Remastered)
Soul - Released by Essential Media Group on 1 Jan 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Pop Masters: Didn't We
Pop - Released by Carinco AG on 14 Dec 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Janus Singles
Soul - Released by Essential Media Group on 29 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cissy & Whitney Together
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston
R&B - Released by Supreme Media on 2 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Midnight Train To Georgia
Soul - Released by Jukebox Entertainment on 12 May 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CISSY HOUSTON COLLECTION
Gospel - Released by Intersound on 20 Sep 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cissy Houston: Studio 102 Essentials
Pop - Released by Countdown Media US on 22 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
American Portraits: Cissy Houston
Pop - Released by Dockland Music on 3 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cissy Houston
Soul - Released by Private Stock Records on 29 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pop Masters: Midnight Train To Georgia
Pop - Released by Carinco AG on 14 Dec 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Too Right to Be Wrong
Soul - Released by Chrome & Nickel on 22 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Just Want To Be With You
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston
Soul - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Only Time You Say You Love Me (Is When We're Making Love) / I'm So Glad I Can Love Again
Soul - Released by Janus Records on 21 Dec 1973
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pop Masters: Midnight Train To Georgia
Pop - Released by Carinco AG on 16 Dec 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -