In 1974, we spoke with Minnie Riperton about her new album 'Perfect Angel,' produced by Stevie Wonder.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images“Everybody was trying to meet Stevie,” she recalled over lunch recently, leaning back to adjust a large, foppish white hat that rested lightly on a natural of moderate length. Occasionally the hat concealed her bright eyes, but never the beaming intensity of her Rodney Allen Rippy smile framed by deeply dimpled cheeks.
“‘You’re not Minnie Riperton, are you?’ He started jumping around. ‘Oh, my God! Is this a dream? I must be in heaven. You’re an angel. Your music is fantastic. I’ve gone through three of yourMinnie’s work started when she was 15 — a three-year stint as part of the Gems, a backup vocal group on Chess Records that sang behind everyone from Johnny Nash and Fontella Bass to Billy Stewart and Etta James. “I was like Leonard Chess’s little pet,” she explained.
The band’s main thrust was Minnie’s special gift — a voice that ranges over five octaves, soaring skyward to linger on some spine-tingling note before floating feather-like to where words can again take shape. That power, as well as friends made during her eight-year stay with Chess, kept Minnie working even after she recorded a final solo album,and secured her contract with Chess.
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