Minnie Riperton
Rhythm and blues, Musical Artist
1947 – 1979
Who was Minnie Riperton?
Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph, known professionally as Minnie Riperton, was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You". She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in 1979. They had two children: music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph.
Riperton grew up on Chicago's South Side. As a child, she studied music, drama, and dance at Chicago's Lincoln Center. In her teen years, she sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group, The Gems. Her early affiliation with the legendary Chicago-based Chess Records afforded her the opportunity to sing backup for various established artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. In 1969 Riperton, along with Rotary Connection, played in the first Catholic Rock Mass at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI, produced by James F. Colaianni. On April 4, 1975, Riperton reached the apex of her career with her #1 single, "Lovin' You". The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album entitled Perfect Angel.
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- Born
- Nov 8, 1947
Chicago - Also known as
- Minnie Ripperton
- Minne Ripperton
- Minne Riperton
- Minnie Julia Riperton
- M. Riperton
- Andrea Davis
- Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouses
- Richard Rudolph
(1972 - 1979/07/12)
- Richard Rudolph
- Children
- Ethnicity
- African American
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Harold Washington College
- Hyde Park Academy High School
- Lived in
- California
- Died
- Jul 12, 1979
Los Angeles
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"Minnie Riperton." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/minnie_riperton>.
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