Minnie Riperton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnie Riperton
Riperton in 1977
Born	Minnie Julia Riperton (1947-11-08)November 8, 1947 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 12, 1979(1979-07-12) (aged 31) Los Angeles, California
Other names	Andrea Davis
Occupation	Singer–songwriter
Years active	1962–1979
Notable work	"Lovin' You"
Spouse(s)	Richard Rudolph ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	2, including Maya Rudolph
Musical career
Genres	Soul R&B jazz psychedelic soul vocal jazz disco
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Chess GRT Epic Capitol
Associated acts	Rotary Connection Stevie Wonder Leon Ware Charles Stepney Deniece Williams Maurice White

Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph (born November 8, 1947 – died July 12, 1979) was an American singer and songwriter. She was most famous for her 1975 song "Lovin' You". Minnie was also known for her amazing singing voice. She could sing very high notes, using a special technique called the whistle register. Because of this, people often called her the "Queen of the Whistle Register."

Minnie grew up in Chicago, Illinois. As a child, she studied music, drama, and dance. When she was a teenager, she sang lead vocals for a group called The Gems. She also sang backup for famous artists like Etta James and Chuck Berry. From 1967 to 1971, Minnie was the lead singer for the psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection.

In April 1975, Minnie's song "Lovin' You" became a number one hit. It was from her 1974 album called Perfect Angel. In January 1976, Minnie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and continued to record music and tour. She was one of the first famous people to share her cancer diagnosis publicly. In 1977, she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. President Jimmy Carter gave her the American Cancer Society's Courage Award in 1978. Minnie Riperton passed away from breast cancer on July 12, 1979, when she was 31 years old.

Minnie's Early Life and Music Beginnings

Minnie Riperton was born in Chicago, Illinois. She was the youngest of eight children in a very musical family. Her parents saw her talent for singing and encouraged her. She took opera singing lessons at Chicago's Abraham Lincoln Center. Her teacher, Marion Jeffery, taught her how to use her full vocal range.

Even though she trained for opera, Minnie became interested in soul, rhythm and blues, and rock music. After high school, she went to college but soon left to focus on her music career.

Starting Her Professional Singing Career

Minnie's first professional singing job was with a group called The Gems when she was 15. A blind pianist named Raynard Miner heard her sing and became her supporter. The Gems didn't become super famous, but they helped Minnie show her talent.

The group later became a studio band called Studio Three. They sang backup vocals on the classic 1965 song "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass. Minnie also met producer Billy Davis, who wrote her first local hit, "Lonely Girl." For these songs, she used the name Andrea Davis to honor him.

Singing with Rotary Connection

In 1966, Minnie joined Rotary Connection. This was a rock-soul group created by Marshall Chess, whose father founded Chess Records. Minnie was the lead singer for Rotary Connection from 1967 to 1971. They released several albums, including their first album Rotary Connection in 1967.

Minnie's Solo Career and Hit Songs

Her First Solo Album: Come to My Garden

Minnie's first solo album was called Come to My Garden. It was released in 1970. Her bandmate Charles Stepney produced and arranged the album. Minnie also wrote some songs with Richard Rudolph, who she married in August 1970.

Even though the album wasn't a big hit when it first came out, music critics now praise Come to My Garden.

The Success of Perfect Angel and "Lovin' You"

In 1973, someone from Epic Records found Minnie. She was living in Florida as a homemaker and mother. After hearing a demo of her song "Seeing You This Way," Epic Records signed her. Minnie and her family then moved to Los Angeles.

Her next album, Perfect Angel, became one of her best-selling records. It included the hit song "Lovin' You". This song was co-produced by Stevie Wonder, who also wrote another song on the album called "Take a Little Trip."

Sales for Perfect Angel started slowly. But when "Lovin' You" was released as a single, the album became very popular. In April 1975, "Lovin' You" reached the top of the music charts in the U.S. and 24 other countries. It sold over a million copies! Minnie Riperton became known as the "lady with the high voice and flowers in her hair."

Later Albums and Collaborations

After Perfect Angel, Minnie and her husband Richard Rudolph worked on her third album, Adventures in Paradise (1975). This album had the R&B hit "Inside My Love".

Her fourth album for Epic Records was Stay in Love (1977). It included another song with Stevie Wonder called "Stick Together." In 1979, Minnie released her fifth and final album, Minnie. The song "Memory Lane" was a hit from this album.

Minnie also sang backup vocals on some of Stevie Wonder's songs, like "Creepin'" and "Ordinary Pain."

Minnie's Personal Life and Health Journey

Minnie Riperton was married to songwriter and producer Richard Rudolph from 1970 until she passed away in 1979. They had two children: Marc Rudolph (born 1968) and actress and comedian Maya Rudolph (born 1972).

The famous song "Lovin' You" was actually created to help distract Maya when she was a baby! Near the end of the song, you can hear Minnie sing "Maya, Maya, Maya."

Minnie Riperton's grave in Los Angeles.

Minnie's Fight with Cancer

In August 1976, Minnie shared on a TV show that she had breast cancer and had undergone surgery. At the time, doctors told her she had only about six months to live because the cancer had spread. Despite this, she bravely continued to tour and record music.

Minnie became a national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society in 1978. She wanted to raise awareness about breast cancer. In her final TV appearances, her right arm was affected by her illness, but she continued to perform.

Minnie Riperton passed away on July 12, 1979, at the age of 31. She died in the arms of her husband. She was buried in Los Angeles. Her gravestone has the first line of her most famous song: "Lovin' you is easy 'cause you're beautiful."

Stevie Wonder paid tribute to Minnie on the TV show Soul Train after her death. In 2009, a TV documentary called Unsung told the story of Minnie's life and career. It included interviews with her family and people who worked with her.

Music Released After Minnie's Death

After Minnie passed away, her husband Richard Rudolph created a tribute album called Love Lives Forever. Other artists like Peabo Bryson, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder added their voices to songs Minnie had recorded before her death.

Minnie's last single, "Give Me Time," was released in 1980. In the 1990s, many rap and hip-hop artists, including Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, used parts of Minnie's music in their own songs.

Minnie's Amazing Vocal Skills

Minnie Riperton had a special kind of singing voice called a coloratura soprano. She is best remembered for her incredible ability to sing very high notes, often using her whistle register. She was sometimes called "The Nightingale" or "Songbird."

What made her unique was her ability to sing words clearly even in these very high notes. You can hear this in songs like "Here We Go" and "Inside My Love." Minnie could also hold these high notes for a long time.

Her highest recorded note was an F7 in the song "You Take My Breath Away." Singer Mariah Carey has said that Minnie Riperton was an influence on her own singing.

Minnie Riperton's Albums

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Singles

Awards and Recognition

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are big music awards given out every year. Minnie Riperton was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Concert Tours

• George & Minnie Live! (1976–77)

Minnie Riperton went on a concert tour with famous jazz guitarist George Benson. They performed together across North America from 1976 to 1977.

Set list

Notes

• Sometimes during the tour, Minnie and George Benson would perform a special version of "Lovin' You" together.
• Minnie only performed "Can You Feel What I'm Saying?" at some of the concerts.

Dates

• This list does not include all the concert dates.

See also

In Spanish: Minnie Riperton para niños