Happy birthday to Minnie Riperton, born on this day in 1947!
A soul and R&B vocal marvel from Chicago, Illinois, she honed her five-octave range in the city’s vibrant gospel and opera scenes, singing with the Gems and Rotary Connection as a teen.
Her ethereal albums like Perfect Angel (1974), featuring the whistle-register classic “Lovin’ You,” fused lush orchestration with intimate emotion, earning a gold record and inspiring generations of vocalists with her otherworldly tone.