Newark Declares ‘Cissy Houston Day’ In Honor Of Music Icon

NEWARK, NJ — Saturday will be “Cissy Houston Day” in Newark.

Newark officials plan to present double-Grammy winning singer and gospel music legend Cissy Houston with the key to the city and rename a street in her honor during a ceremony on Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. at 106 Sussex Avenue.

Houston, a Newark native, is the mother of Whitney Houston.

“Cissy Houston is one of Newark’s greatest native daughters,” Mayor Ras Baraka said. “Her singing talent expresses our highest values, inspires and empowers audiences both around the world and here in our neighborhoods. She is a pioneer, an advocate for the arts, and one of the greatest legends in musical and Newark history.”

According to a Newark city news release:

“Born in 1933 in Newark, Ms. Houston was the last of eight children of Nicholas and Delia Mae Drinkard. She grew up here and began her singing career at the age of five, joining her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nickey in the gospel singing group The Drinkard Four, performing at the New Hope Baptist Church… Ms. Houston formed the Sweet Inspirations in 1963, and cut her first solo “This is My Vow” that same year, which launched her legendary career, and earned her two Grammy Awards. She has performed in such diverse settings as New York clubs, McDonald’s Gospelfests, the David Letterman Show, and BET Music Awards… Her marriage to John Russell Houston, Jr. a Newark City administrator and entertainer, resulted in both the name that gave her fame and her legendary daughter, singer and actress Whitney Houston, with whom she has performed. For more than 50 years, Ms. Houston has led the 200-member Youth Inspiration Choir at the New Hope Baptist Church and been a driving force behind the McDonald’s Gospelfests.”

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Photo: YouTube / Disko Heaven