Cissy Houston

In the music business, backup singers often fade into the background. Few achieve much fame on their own. One who did was Cissy Houston.

After a successful career backing up the likes of Elvis Preslet, Dionne Warick, and Aretha Franklin, Houston struck out on her own -- and won two Grammies.

I met Cissy Houston in the spring of 1998, after she'd written her memoir.