Whitney Houston's mother has died aged 91

Her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed Cissy's death came while she was under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease, with the singer said to be surrounded by loved ones at the end.

Pat said in a statement: "Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family."

She added her mother-in-law's contributions to music were "unparalleled", saying: "Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community.

"Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts."

Cissy's musical career saw her join vocal group the Sweet Inspirations, with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick.

They sang backup for a variety of soul singing legends including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, the Drifters and Dionne Warwick.

The group also appeared on Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl hit and sang background vocals for the Jimi Hendrix Experience - on the song 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp'.

On the same year it was released, in 1967, Cissy worked on Aretha Franklin's classic 'Ain't No Way'.

Her final performance with the Sweet Inspirations came after the group joined Elvis on stage for his famous Las Vegas show in 1969.

And her final recording session with the group turned into their biggest smash - '(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover'.

Cissy left the group to pursue a solo career, which flourished and saw her become one of the world's most in-demand session singers.

She recorded more than 600 songs in a huge variety of genres, with her vocals also heard on tracks by Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé and Paul Simon.

Her Grammys came for her albums 'Face to Face' and 'He Leadeth Me', after years of gospel singing.