Whitney Houston 2, 2003), and gospel singer Emily "Cissy" (Drinkard) Houston. Her elder brother Michael is a singer, and her elder half-brother is former basketball player Gary Garland. Her parents were both African American. Through her mother, Houston was a first cousin of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick. Her godmother was Darlene Love and her honorary aunt was Aretha Franklin, whom she met at age 8 or 9 when her mother took her to a recording studio. Houston was raised a Baptist, but was also exposed to the Pentecostal church. After the 1967 Newark riots, the family moved to a
Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass & Whitney Houston song) Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass & Whitney Houston song) "Hold Me" is a ballad duet performed by American singers Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston. It was written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed for Pendergrass's eighth studio album "Love Language" (1984). Production was overseen by Masser who used one of his earlier arrangements that he had produced for "In Your Arms", a song recorded by singer Diana Ross for her 1982 album "Silk Electric", on the duet. "Hold Me" was among the singles released from Pendergrass's album and was later included in Houston's 1985 self-titled debut album, serving as the debut