January 18, 1975 – Minnie Riperton releases “Lovin’ You”
She was a perfectly angelic singer who left the earth far too soon, but on this day in 1975, the incredible Minnie Riperton displayed her five-octave soprano voice on what would become her signature song, the lovely “Lovin’ You.”
Written by Riperton and her husband, producer Richard Rudolph, in part as a lullaby for their baby daughter Maya (who grew into SNL comedian Maya Rudolph), and co-produced by Stevie Wonder (working under a pseudonym), “Lovin’ You” was created as a gentle love song with light accompaniment behind Riperton’s soaring voice.
Riperton and Rudolph believed in the song more than Epic Records did, and it was issued as the fourth single from her Perfect Angel album. The song took off on radio, sparked in large part by the alluring nature of Riperton’s whistle register on the refrain, which was unlike anything else on the dial at the time.
Sadly, Riperton died of cancer on July 12, 1979, leaving behind a legacy of great music. And while she had a number of other great hits, particularly on R&B radio, “Lovin’ You” remains her most famous song, and one that continues to resonate decades after it was first released.
By Chris Rizik
