 The driving inspiration behind the Drinkard Singers was factory worker Nicholas "Nitch" Drinkard, who encouraged his children to form a gospel singing group in Savannah, Georgia, around 1938.The original group comprised Emily Drinkard (later known as Cissy Houston), her sister Anne Drinkard-Moss, and her brothers Nick and Larry.Another sister, Lee Drinkard Warrick, the mother of Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick, served as the group's manager.