Stevie Wonder Joins All-Star Cast for ‘Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute’

Before gifted singers-songwriters such as Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, SZA and Lalah Hathaway were murmurs in anyone’s ears, there was Minnie Riperton.

Graced with an extraordinary five-and-a-half-octave vocal range, including the whistle register — the highest for a human voice — the Chicago native and her musical legacy are the focus of a special tribute taking place at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday evening (Sept. 24) that now boasts the just-announced addition of Stevie Wonder.

“Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute” salutes the 50th anniversary of Riperton’s same-titled 1974 major-label album debut as well as encompass the expansive, multi-genre scope of a colorful career tragically cut short when she died of breast cancer at age 31 in 1979. Aside from Wonder, the performers  reimagining memorable songs from her deep-rooted repertoire of soul, pop, rock and points in between — including her iconic Hot 100 No. 1 “Lovin’ You,” which spotlights her mesmerizing whistle tone — will be Wonder (just announced Tuesday), George Benson, Chanté Moore, Alex Isley, Aloe Blacc, säje and Lizz Wright, among other surprise guests.

“The artists I’ve assembled for Minnie’s tribute represent a hybrid of artistry that speaks to the diversity of who her music touched,” says tribute producer Robin Burgess. “They’re a troupe of her admirers, collaborators and enthusiasts like myself who view her talent as a champion of multiple genres. From a cappella groups to chanteuses as well as instrumentalists from folk, jazz and R&B, I tried to assemble an ensemble that would come to Minnie’s music offering honest reflections as well as some surprise interpretations laced in between.” Burgess also notes the performances will be interwoven with stunning images of Riperton created by sculptor and immersive artist Andrew F. Scott.

Proof of Riperton’s enduring appeal and influence 50 years later can be heard on covers of Perfect Angel’s gold-certified single “Lovin’ You” done by Grande, SZA, Shanice and Chloe. Her work has also been sampled by hip-hop acts such as The Roots, Q-Tip and Arrested Development. Additional Riperton stand-outs from her catalog of six studio albums include “Inside My Love,” “Memory Lane,” “Lover and Friend” and “Here We Go.” Prior to releasing her first solo album, 1970’s Come to My Garden, Riperton sang in girl group The Gems, worked with Chess Records doing backing vocals for  the likes of Etta James, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters and then became lead singer for psychedelic-soul band Rotary Connection. From there, Riperton signed with Epic Records and released 1974’s gold-certified Perfect Angel.

Wonder, an early co-signer of Riperton’s talent, co-produced Perfect Angel (under the pseudonym El Toro Negro) and penned the title track. And Riperton would later sing background on two classic Wonder albums: Fulfillingness’ First Finale (“Creepin’,” “It Ain’t No Use”) and Songs in the Key of Life (“Ordinary Pain”).

“Minnie was my dear friend,” said Wonder in an earlier announcement about the Hollywood Bowl tribute. “She was an extraordinary, vibrant person with an extra-special voice.  I was a big fan of hers before we met and it was my honor to produce the album … Minnie had a positive energy that radiated throughout these sessions and throughout the rest of her life.  When Minnie lived, she lived.”

Also a co-producer on Perfect Angel alongside Wonder was Riperton’s husband, songwriter-producer Richard Rudolph — who’s also the father of their daughter, actress-comedian Maya Rudolph. During a recent phone interview ahead of “Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute,” Richard shared some insightful takeaways with Billboard about Riperton’s music and enduring legacy:

The creative rapport between him and Riperton — “I don’t know if I can put it in words, but we certainly could put it in song. Minnie was just such an incredible artist; she  was like from another planet. Our dear friend writer-producer Freddie Perren [Jackson 5, Gloria Gaynor] called her ‘bird’ because she would just open her mouth, and these beautiful melodies would come out. I’d start playing guitar, coming up with ideas and she’d just riff on them. It’s hard to remember anything coming out of her that didn’t sound beautiful.

Songs that spotlight the essence of Riperton’s artistry — “’Lovin’ You,’ of course, which we always thought was special. But I think we were in Seattle on tour when we saw something so tangible happening as we started playing that song. People were putting their arms around each other; it was almost mystical the way the song was touching people in a very special way. So we came running back to the record company and said you have to put this song out.

“There’s also ‘Memory Lane.’ And ‘Les Fleur,’ which Norah Jones has covered. It’s also been used in commercials for Microsoft, Nike Jordan and H&M. Another is ‘Inside My Love,’ which was banned by some radio stations in 1975 because of its [suggestive] lyrics. We were amazed to see the hypocrisy of people who were willing to turn something into something else. Minnie would tell a story during her concerts about getting a letter from a nun who told her ‘Inside’ was one of the most spiritual and beautiful songs she’d ever heard. It certainly pales in comparison to what we’re used to hearing today [laughs]. We wrote ‘Inside’ with another special friend, writer-producer Leon Ware [Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye].

“Then there’s the Come to My Garden album, which is how she and I got started, working with songwriter-producer Charles Stepney [Earth, Wind & Fire]. We also got the chance to work with people like producer Stewart Levine, pianist-keyboardist Joe Sample and guitarist Larry Carlton [all on Riperton’s Adventures in Paradise album]. Being able to work with people like that is what Minnie did: she attracted the best of the best.”

A trivia note — Riperton’s melodic riff of Maya’s name at the end of “Lovin’ You” was, says Richard, a soothing balm for then-baby Maya, “so we could sneak away, and she would think her mama was still there.”

Why Riperton’s music still resonates today — “Minnie’s music still touches people in the same way it always did. It’s real, not manufactured or pitch-corrected. It’s the real thing from her heart and soul. She was an original. And now I’m going to cry. But real can endure and live forever. It really warms my heart that these next generations want to keep her flame alive. That’s very touching, very moving — and I thank them all.”