Minnie Riperton would have been 73 today.
The singer provided her 5 octave voice with the high pitched “scifi sounds” that became her signature to a genre-unifying, crossover, and, then quite futuristic, music. She first sang with Rotary Connection, then published her own albums, and occasionally joined musicians like Stevie Wonder and classical ensembles.
She lost the battle with cancer and died young, but left a body of work that was surprising, bold and luminous.
Here is a loving tribute on WordPress to her:
https://minnieriperton.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/minnie-riperton-voice/
Hear her sing at:
Nanda Jurela 