Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy Houston dies aged 91

Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy Houston has died aged 91, her family has confirmed.

Houston died today in her New Jersey home where she was under hospice care surrounded by family.

Her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told The Associated Press her cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease.

Houston’s death comes 12 years after her daughter died from accidental drowning caused partly by the effects of heart disease and cocaine abuse.

Pat remembered Houston as ‘a strong and towering figure’ and ‘a woman of deep faith and conviction.’

‘Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family’ she said.

‘Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community.

‘Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.’

In the 50s, Houston joined vocal group The Sweet Inspirations, with Doris Troy and her nieces Dee Dee Warwick and Dionne Warwick.

They sang backup for a variety of soul legends including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and the Drifters and Dusty Springfield.

The group also appeared on Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl hit and sang background vocals for the Jimi Hendrix Experience – on the song ‘Burning of the Midnight Lamp’.

The same year it was released, in 1967, Houston worked on Aretha Franklin’s classic Ain’t No Way.

Her final performance with The Sweet Inspirations came after the group joined Elvis Presley on stage for his famous Las Vegas show in 1969. 

And her final recording session with the group turned into their biggest smash – (Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover.

Houston left the group to pursue a solo career, which flourished and saw her become one of the world’s most in-demand session singers.

She recorded more than 600 songs in a huge variety of genres, with her vocals also heard on tracks by Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé and Paul Simon.

Houston won two Grammy Awards for albums Face to Face and He Leadeth Me after years of gospel singing.

More to follow.