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Richard Rudolph
Richard Rudolph
Composer, guitarist, musician, songwriter, producer
1
Charles Stepney
Charles Stepney
American record producer
2
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright
American singer-songwriter
3
Trina Broussard
Trina Broussard
American musician
4
Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection
American psychedelic soul band
5
Teena Marie
Teena Marie
American singer
6
Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
American singer
7
Shanice
Shanice
American singer-songwriter, actress and dancer
8
Betty Wright
Betty Wright
American singer
9
Leon Ware
Leon Ware
American recording artist, songwriter and composer
10
Rufus
Rufus
American funk band
11
Janet Kay
Janet Kay
English Lovers rock singer
12
Angela Winbush
Angela Winbush
American R&B/soul singer-songwriter
13
Maurice White
Maurice White
American musician, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire
14
Judy Cheeks
Judy Cheeks
American singer
15
Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis
English recording artist; vocalist, songwriter and guitarist
16
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
American singer and songwriter, member of Fleetwood Mac
17
Odell Brown
Odell Brown
American jazz organist, songwriter
18
Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass
American singer
19
Rachelle Ferrell
Rachelle Ferrell
American jazz singer
20
Alice Russell
Alice Russell
British soul singer
21
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer
22
Amel Larrieux
Amel Larrieux
American singer-songwriter and keyboardist
23
Candi Staton
Candi Staton
American soul and gospel singer
24
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
English singer and record producer
25
Evie Sands
Evie Sands
American singer, songwriter and musician
26
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
American singer-songwriter
27
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
English pop singer
28
Etta James
Etta James
American recording artist; singer
29
Phil Upchurch
Phil Upchurch
American jazz and R&B guitarist and bassist
30
Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey
American musician
31
Swing Out Sister
Swing Out Sister
British band
32
Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
American singer-songwriter and musician
33
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
American musical group
34
Leela James
Leela James
American musician
35
Alyson Williams
Alyson Williams
American singer
36
Lari White
Lari White
American singer-songwriter (1965-2018)
37
Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
American singer and songwriter
38
Sy Smith
Sy Smith
American singer
39
Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett
American singer-songwriter
40
Beverley Craven
Beverley Craven
British singer-songwriter
41
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
American singer, songwriter, actress
42
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
English-born Australian singer, songwriter and actress
43
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
American singing duo
44
P. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold
American soul singer, songwriter, actress
45
Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw
American singer
Intro
American singer-songwriter
News

Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You" and her four octave D3 to F#7 coloratura soprano range. She is also widely known for her use of the whistle register and has been referred to by the media as the "queen of the whistle register."

Born in 1947, Riperton grew up in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side. As a child, she studied music, drama and dance at Chicago's Lincoln Center. In her teen years, she sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group the Gems. Her early affiliation with the Chicago-based Chess Records afforded her the opportunity to sing backing vocals for various established artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971.

On April 5, 1975, Riperton reached the apex of her career with her No. 1 single "Lovin' You". The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album titled Perfect Angel. In January 1976, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in April, she underwent a radical mastectomy. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had metastasized and she was given about six months to live. Despite the grim prognosis, she continued recording and touring. She was one of the first celebrities to go public with a breast cancer diagnosis, but she did not disclose that she was terminally ill. In 1977, she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. In 1978, she received the American Cancer Society's Courage Award, which was presented to her at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. Riperton died of cancer on July 12, 1979 at the age of 31.