Cissy Houston, the esteemed Grammy Award-winning vocalist celebrated for her roles as a backup singer and gospel artist, passed away on October 7 at her home in New Jersey. She was 91. Her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston, informed the Associated Press that Cissy had been grappling with Alzheimer’s disease, although the precise location of her death was not specified.

Cissy’s musical odyssey began in her formative years, performing in church and with a group alongside her siblings. Over time, she evolved into the matriarch of a remarkable musical dynasty, which included illustrious figures like opera singer Leontyne Price and her nieces, Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick. Her daughter, Whitney Houston, soared to unparalleled fame, becoming one of the most successful pop icons of her generation before her tragic passing in 2012 at the age of 48.

At the time of Whitney’s birth, Cissy was singing with the Sweet Inspirations, a renowned backup ensemble that collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis Presley. This group is notably remembered for adding the signature “sha-la-las” to Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and the catchy “chain chain chains” in Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” In a reflection on her groundbreaking contributions, Ms. Houston shared with the Daily Record of Morristown, N.J., “I think the Sweet Inspirations changed the whole business of background singing because it was unique, and I made up all the backgrounds. Other backup vocalists just sang what they were told to.”

Cissy Houston later ventured into a solo career, achieving acclaim with hits such as “Be My Baby.” Throughout the decades, she earned multiple accolades, including two Grammy Awards for her traditional soul gospel albums, “Face to Face” (1996) and “He Leadeth Me” (1997).

In an open conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Ms. Houston conveyed her initial hesitance regarding Whitney’s entry into the entertainment world, having witnessed its potential hazards: “I’ve seen what it could do to you, how people are ready to hurt you.” Yet, she played an instrumental role in propelling Whitney’s career forward, encouraging her to perform at their Baptist church in Newark and at various nightclubs.

Whitney Houston emerged as a global sensation, with timeless hits like “I Will Always Love You,” featured on the soundtrack of the 1992 film “The Bodyguard,” alongside Kevin Costner, and “Greatest Love of All.” The mother-daughter duo also produced memorable tracks such as “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” and “I Know Him So Well.”

Despite her extraordinary accomplishments, Whitney Houston faced significant personal struggles, including battles with substance abuse and a turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown. Tragically, she was found deceased in her hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2012. A coroner later ruled her death as an accidental drowning, with cocaine use and heart disease identified as contributing factors.