Minnie Riperton

Artist Of The Month | December 2007 | 0 Comments




minnie

Born in Chicago on 8 November 1947, Minnie Julia Riperton was the youngest of eight children. Showing early talent as a vocalist she initially trained in opera, although by 15 was singing soul and R&B with the Gems (later ‘Studio Three’), an all-girl group signed to Chess Records. Solo singles followed, released under the pseudonym “Andrea Davis”, and soon after she began singing with Rotary Connection, a psychedelic funk rock group that included composer/producer Charles Stepney and guitarist Phil Upchurch among its ranks, and with whom she recorded the classic song I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun.

In 1971 Minnie released her debut solo album, “Come Into My Garden”, followed in ’74 by her biggest seller, “Perfect Angel”, which was produced by Stevie Wonder and featured her most well known song, Lovin’ You. Further albums followed, although tragically she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and died in 1979 aged just 31. One of the few singers with a seven octave vocal range, Minnie Riperton will always be missed and remembered as one of the sweetest soul singers of all time. The select discography listed below includes tunes sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac Shakur, Black Star, Kenny Dope, Intelligent Hoodlum (Tragedy Khadafi), and Jaguar Skills, among many others.

SELECT DISCOGRAPHY
I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (with Rotary Connection)
Reasons
Baby This Love I Have
Inside My Love
Les Fleur
Memory Lane
Light My Fire
Here We Go

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • email

Leave a Comment