I want to dedicate this page to the late great Minnie Riperton Whom I' am a big fan of. I want to post some things you may not now about her that you will find out on this page.Minnie Julia Riperton (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American singer and songwriter noted for her five-and-a-half octave vocal range, with her 1975 single "Lovin' You."Aside from her various hits, Riperton is perhaps best remembered today for her ability to sing in the whistle register, in which she had rare facility.As a child, Riperton studied music, drama, and dance at Chicago's Lincoln Center. As a teen, Riperton sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group the Gems. Her early affiliation with the legendary Chess record label afforded her the opportunity to sing backup for such acts as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters. While with Chess, Riperton also sang for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection from 1967 to 1971. In 1969 Riperton and the Rotary Connection played in the first Catholic Rock Mass at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI. produced by James F. Colaianni. Riperton reached the apex of her short career with her number one hit single,"Lovin' You," in the spring of 1975. The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album "Perfect Angel."In 1976, at the age of twenty-eight, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a radical mastectomy. In 1977 Riperton became the first black female to serve as spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and to receive the Society's Courage Award from then-President Jimmy Carter. On Thursday July 12, 1979, at the age of 31, Riperton lost her valiant struggle with cancer. She died peacefully in her husband's arms while listening to a recording of a song Stevie Wonder had written for her. On Sunday July 15, 1979, Riperton was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.Albums:Perfect Angel (Epic 1974)Come To My Garden - recorded in 1969 (Janus 1974)Adventures In Paradise (Epic 1975)Stay In Love (Epic 1977)Minnie (Capitol 1979)Love Lives Forever (Capitol 1980),
