Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph (1947-1979)
Minnie Riperton 認為 "Lovin' You" 仍可以在家中唱給女兒作為搖籃曲, 不過, Maya 在唱片中就没有出現過, 在流行樂壇類别為 "Adult Song 成人歌曲" 是可以理解的。 歌曲大受樂迷歡迎, 贏得電台唱片騎師熱捧之外, 卻引來流行樂壇一番漣漪。
一曲之後, Minnie 成為電視台節目常客, 1976年八月二十四日, 她在電視台的綜藝節目 "The Tonight Show" 透露, 因患上乳腺癌, 雖然已接受了乳房切除的手術, 不過, 在診斷時, 已被告知癌症已經擴散到淋巴系統, 衹能維持大約六個月的生命。
The Last Lovin' You - 1979
1979年六月中旬, 她衹能臥床休息, 至七月十日, 被送進 Los Angeles 洛杉磯 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 醫療中心。七月十二日, 星期四上午十時, 她躺在丈夫的懷裡, 聽着摯友 Stevie Wonder 為她撰寫的歌曲直至安詳離世。三天後, 五百多位親友前赴哀悼和參加葬禮, Minnie 長眠在 Los Angeles 洛杉磯 Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery 紀念公園公墓。年僅三十一歲, 樂壇一顆巨星韻落, 才華橫溢, 餘音裊裊, 令人惋惜; 墓誌銘刻上她的名曲 "Lovin' You" 一句開場白:
"Lovin' you is easy 'cause you're beautiful"
Minnie Riperton 十首被公認最佳歌曲
1. Rotary Connection
2. Les Fleurs
3. Whenever Wherever
4. Perfect Angel
5. Lovin' you
6. Reasons
7. Our Lives
8. Feelin' That Your Feelin's Right
9. Inside My Love
10. Memory Lane
"LOVE LIVES FOREVER"
Minnie Riperton 一張在生前已完成錄音的遺作, Capitol Records 唱片公司為紀念這位樂壇巨星, 把原有的音樂聲軌放棄, 再由一眾樂壇知名樂手與及幾位巨星歌手参予和唱, 當中有 Minnie 生前的偶像, 包括 Michael Jackson, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, George Benson, 當然還有 Stevie Wonder。音樂聲軌完成重錄, 專輯唱片於1980年十月十八日面世。監製 Quincy Jones 形容這項音樂工程是 "Keeping the bridge, but moving the water 改水流, 保存橋"
TRACK LIST:
Side One
1. "Here We Go" (Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph, Art Phillips)
Peabo Bryson – vocals (duet)
Roberta Flack – additional vocals
Tom Scott – tenor sax solo
2. "I'm in Love Again" (Riperton, Rudolph)
Michael Jackson – additional vocals
Hubert Laws – flute solo
3. "Strange Affair" (Riperton, Rudolph, Marlo Henderson)
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
Side Two
1. "Island in the Sun" (Riperton, Rudolph)
Tom Scott – tenor sax solo
2. "Give Me Time" (Leonard Caston, Jr., Lila Hurtado)
Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo
Gerry Vinci – violin solo
3. "You Take My Breath Away" (Riperton, Rudolph, Randy Waldman)
George Benson – additional vocals
4. "The Song of Life (La-La-La)" (Riperton, Rudolph, Caston, Weider)
Patrice Rushen – vocals, electric piano
MINNIE RIPERTON - Highest Notes - Whistle Register Live (Part 1 of 2)
MINNIE RIPERTON - Highest Notes - Whistle Register Live (Part 2 of 2)
Whistle Notes - Famous Female Singers
Who Sang The Legendary "Lovin' You" WHISTLE The Best?
2013: Leah McFall sings 'Loving You' at the live final | The Voice UK - BBC