Cissy Houston Cissy Houston Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard; born September 30, 1933) is an American soul and gospel singer. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, Houston embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work. Houston is the mother of singer Whitney Houston, grandmother of Bobbi Kristina Brown, aunt of singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price. Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, to Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard (née McCaskill), she was the eighth and final child; older
Whitney (album) Whitney (album) Whitney is the second studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on June 2, 1987 by Arista Records as the follow-up to her best selling debut album, "Whitney Houston". The album catapulted her to international fame. "Whitney" was certified 9× platinum by the RIAA on November 29, 1995. The album exceeded the expectations of many people and was popular after its release. It debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200 chart the issue of June 27, 1987, becoming the first album by a female artist, and only the fifth album by a solo artist to do