Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother and a Grammy-winning singer, dies at 91
Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91.
Houston died Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston told The Associated Press. The acclaimed gospel singer was surrounded by her family.
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.
Houston's many credits included Franklin鈥檚 鈥淭hink鈥 and 鈥(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,鈥 Van Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl鈥 and Dusty Springfield鈥檚 鈥淪on of a Preacher Man.鈥 The Sweet Inspirations also sang on stage with Presley, whom Houston would remember fondly for singing gospel during rehearsal breaks and telling her that she was 鈥渟quirrelly.鈥
鈥淎t the end of our engagement with him, he gave me a bracelet inscribed with my name on the outside,鈥 she wrote in her memoir 鈥淗ow Sweet the Sound,鈥 published in 1998. 鈥淥n the inside of the bracelet he had inscribed his nickname for me: Squirrelly.鈥
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. The group appeared on Van Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl鈥 and sang background vocals for The Jimi Hendrix Experience on the song 鈥淏urning of the Midnight Lamp鈥 in 1967.
Houston's last performance with the Sweet Inspirations came after the group hit the stage with Presley in a Las Vegas show in 1969. Her final recording session with the group turned into their biggest R&B hit 鈥(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover鈥 a composition by the production team of Gamble & Huff, who appeared on the group鈥檚 fifth album, "Sweet Sweet Soul."
During that time, the group occasionally performed live concert dates with Franklin. After the group's success and four albums together, Houston left The Sweet Inspirations to pursue a solo career where she flourished.
Houston became an in-demand session singer and recorded more than 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can 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 her daughter.
In 1971, Houston's signature vocals were featured on Burt Bacharach鈥檚 solo album, which includes 鈥淢exican Divorce,鈥 鈥淎ll Kinds of People鈥 and 鈥淥ne Less Bell to Answer.鈥 She performed various standards including Barbra Streisand鈥檚 hit song, 鈥淓vergreen.鈥
Houston won Grammys for her albums 鈥淔ace to Face鈥 in 1997 and 鈥淗e Leadeth Me鈥 the following year in the best traditional soul gospel album category.
Houston authored three books: 鈥淗e Leadeth Me,鈥 鈥淗ow Sweet The Sound: My Life with God and Gospel" and "Remembering Whitney: A Mother鈥檚 Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped.鈥
In 1938, Cissy Houston started her career when she joined her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group, The Drinkard Four, who recorded one album. She attended New Hope Baptist Church, where she later become Minister of Sacred Music.
Houston was the youngest of eight children.
鈥淲e are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,鈥 Houston said on behalf of the family. 鈥淲e respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.鈥
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man charged after attempting to force his way into the House of Commons: police
On the tenth anniversary of the shooting on Parliament Hill, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing as he attempted to push past security guards into the House of Commons.
'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout
Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.
At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.
Are Listeria recalls on the rise or are we just hearing more about them?
Consumers in Canada are being told to check their freezers after hundreds of frozen waffle products were recalled for fears of a possible Listeria contamination. The voluntary recall was just the latest in a string of listeria-related recalls in North America.
One dead in multistate E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Tuesday regarding an E. coli outbreak that it says is linked with McDonald's Quarter Pounders.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.
PM Trudeau doesn't think his leadership is in danger, as ministers voice confidence in him a day before key Liberal meeting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think his leadership is in danger, one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future at the helm of the Liberal party is expected to be up for discussion.
Local Spotlight
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.
The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.
A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.
A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥