Gilbert Vandine “Cisco” Houston, born August 18, 1918 in Wilmington, Delaware, was an American folk guitarist and songwriter whose career was closely linked to Woody Guthrie. After moving to California as a child, Houston learned guitar and began traveling with his brother, ultimately adopting the name “Cisco” after passing through Cisco, California. He recorded with Moses Asch’s studio and performing with Lead Belly, Sonny Terry, the Almanac Singers, and others. Houston’s output included the studio albums More Songs by Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston (1955), Cisco Sings (1958), and Sings Songs of the Open Road (1960). He toured the United States, traveled to India in 1959 with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and appeared at the 1960 Newport Folk Festival. He passed away on April 29, 1961 after being diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer.
