Chicago, Illinois (November 8, 1947 -July 12, 1979) age 31 yrs

Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph was an African American singer-songwriter. She was best known for her 1975 single “Loving You.” She also had a five-octave coloratura soprano range. She is also known for her use of the whistle register. The media has referred to her as the “queen of the whistle register.” Riperton, daughter of Thelma Inez and Daniel Webster Riperton, a Pullman porter. The youngest of eight children in a musical family, she embraced the arts early. Although she began with ballet and modern dance, her parents recognized her vocal and musical abilities. They encouraged her to pursue music and voice. In January 1976, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was one of the first celebrities to go public with a breast cancer diagnosis. In 1977, she received the American Cancer Society’s Courage Award.