The Drinkard Singers

Emily Drinkard, later known as Cissy Houston, was only five years old when she joined her sister, Anne, and brothers, Nicholas and Larry, in a family gospel group, the Drinkard Four. Another sister, Lee, who served as the group's manager, later became the mother of soulful pop vocalist, Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick. Expanding with the addition of vocalists, Ann Moss and Marie Epps, the group was renamed, the Drinkard Singers. Performing regularly at the New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, they recorded several singles for the Savoy, Chess and Verve labels and a live album, A Joy...