Minnie Riperton, an American singer-songwriter who lived from November 8, 1947, to July 12, 1979, was best known for her 1975 hit “Lovin’ You” and her four-octave D3 to F7 coloratura soprano range. She is renowned for her usage of the whistling register and has been dubbed the “Queen of the Whistle Register” by the media.

Riperton was raised in Chicago’s South Side Bronzeville neighborhood where she was born in 1947. She attended the Chicago’s Abraham Lincoln Center as a child to study ballet, drama, and music. She provided the lead vocals for the Chicago-based female group the Gems when she was a teenager. She had the chance to perform backing vocals for a number of well-known performers, including Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters, thanks to her early association with the Chicago-based Chess Records. Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul band Rotary Connection from 1967 to 1971 while he was a student at Chess.

What was the cause of Minnie Riperton’s death?

Before 1979, Riperton released six albums with Rotary Connection and a half-dozen solo recordings. At age 31, she died of breast cancer.

Rappers like A Tribe Called Quest and Mos Def have tracks that contain samples of Riperton’s music, among others. You may not even be aware that it is her voice that you are hearing on your favorite hip-hop song, on your favorite oldies station, or in the background of Stevie Wonder tunes.