Minnie Riperton

In addition to her musical legacy, Minnie Riperton is survived by her daughter, Maya Rudolph, a current cast member of Saturday Night Live. Chutes Too Narrow was released in 2003 with much fanfare in indie music circles. She died in 1979 at the age of only 31 and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. 2001 brought Oh, Inverted World, released to critical acclaim on the strength of Mercer's reverb drenched, Brian Wilson styled vocals on standout tracks "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang", both featured in 2004's Garden State. She became an active spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society and was awarded the Society Courage Award from President Jimmy Carter. Their album Chutes Too Narrow had slight intimations of country. Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy in 1976. Their music is typified as indie rock, but can more succinctly be described as a mixture of pop and alternative.

Stevie Wonder agreed to produce her 1974 album, Perfect Angel, featuring Lovin' You, a ballad to her two-year old daughter Maya. The group is comprised of vocalist and guitarist James Russell Mercer who was previously part of the band "Blue Roof Dinner", keyboardist Martin Crandall, bassist Dave Hernandez, and drummer Jesse Sandoval. Minnie sang lead vocals for several small, unsucessful bands before teaming up with her husband, composer Richard Rudolph, to start her solo career. They formed in 1997 (originally under the name "Flake Music") in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but are currently based in Portland, Oregon. However, her affiliation with the famous Chess Records record label soon allowed her to sing backup for Etta James, Fontella Bass, and Stevie Wonder. The Shins are a musical group. As a child, Minnie studied music, drama, and dance, and seriously considered a career in opera. Chutes Too Narrow (2003).

She scored her greatest commercial success with the memorable one-hit wonder Lovin' You, a soulful pop ballad that showcased her amazing five-octave vocal range, as well as her ability to hit an F6 note in the whistle register. Oh, Inverted World (2001). The only soul singer to rival her range is Mariah Carey. When You Land Here It's Time to Return (1997) (as Flake Music). Her highest recorded note is F#7 in You Take My Breath Away, but not only did she sing many songs going into the seventh octave, it is well rumored that she could hit a C8 (two full octaves above soprano C or C6). About fifteen percent of soprano have the ability to access the lower reaches of the whistle register, but Minnie was capable of not only accessing the seventh octave, she had the ability (sheer muscular control) to execute trills, runs, and other vocal acrobatics in the seventh octave.

Minnie Riperton (November 8, 1947 - July 12, 1979) is a soul singer from Chicago, Illinois.