NEWARK, N.J. (AP) 鈥 Dionne Warwick, BeBe Winans, Darlene Love and a massive choir helped celebrate the life of gospel icon Cissy Houston during a music-filled memorial Thursday in the Duchess of Gospelsa国际传媒 hometown of Newark.
The ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church 鈥 where Houston was a congregant and choir leader for decades 鈥 was decorated with framed photos of Houston and her coffin was placed in front of the pulpit. The church also held funeral more than a decade ago.
鈥淪he gave so much. She gave me the right to be me,鈥 said Warwick, 83, the 91-year-old Houstonsa国际传媒 niece. 鈥淐issy, I鈥檓 going to miss you.鈥
Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, died Oct. 7. In her honor, her oldest son, Gary, sang 鈥淔reedom鈥 and Love sang 鈥淚t Is Well with My Soul.鈥
A portrait emerged from the speakers of a woman of great faith and deep love but also one who suffered fools poorly. 鈥淣o one else could cut you in Jesus鈥 name,鈥 Winans joked as the mourners roared. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 have to say words. She could cut you with her eyes.鈥
He also told a story of her compassion: When Whitney Houston died, Winans got a call from Cissy. 鈥淚鈥檓 just calling to check on you,鈥 she told him. 鈥滱t that moment, her strength became my strength.鈥
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka read a proclamation created in her honor and Gov. Phil Murphy called Houston a 鈥渕usical legend鈥 who 鈥渆mbodied the very soul of New Jersey.鈥
鈥淲hile each one of us are born with a voice, only a select few of us are endowed with a voice that is powerful enough to reach into the hearts of millions and millions of listeners around the world, a voice that is powerful enough to soothe the pain of heartbreak or to carry the euphoria of falling in love,鈥 the governor said.
A church performer from an early age, Houston was part of a family gospel act before breaking through in popular music in the 1960s as a member of the prominent backing group The Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group sang backup for a variety of soul singers including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and The Drifters. They also sang backup for Dionne Warwick.
Houstonsa国际传媒 many credits included Franklinsa国际传媒 鈥淭hink鈥 and 鈥(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,鈥 Van Morrisonsa国际传媒 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl鈥 and Dusty Springfieldsa国际传媒 鈥淪on of a Preacher Man.鈥 The Sweet Inspirations also sang on stage with Presley.
The Sweet Inspirations had their own top 20 single with the soul-rock 鈥淪weet Inspiration,鈥 made in the Memphis studio where Franklin and Springfield among others recorded hits and released four albums just in the late 鈥60s.
Houston became an in-demand session singer and recorded more than 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can be heard on tracks alongside a wide range of artists including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyonc茅, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and Whitney Houston.
