Minnie (album)

Minnie (album)

Minnie is the fifth and final studio album (not counting a posthumous release the following year) by Minnie Riperton. She died of cancer two months after its release. It was also her first album for Capitol Records.

With a new record deal under her belt and a guarantee from the label of priority marketing/promotion, Minnie went right to work on what would be her final album. With husband Richard Rudolph, Keni St. Lewis, Gene Dozier, Randy Waldman, Marlo Henderson & Bill Thedford contributing songs, the album served as Minnie’s final statement to the music world and fans.

Minnie brought son, Marc and daughter Maya Rudolph into the studio to sing background on “Dancin’ & Actin’ Crazy,” while the tender “Lover & Friend” (featuring a reunion with Stevie Wonder, once again under the pseudonym of El Toro Nego) was the perfect ode to her relationship with Richard. Minnie was at her most playful self on her remake of the Doors’ “Light My Fire”, a duet with José Feliciano (who had a hit with his own version of this rock classic in 1968). It's been said that the reason we don't hear José until the second half of the song, is because he had just happened to be at the studio when it was being recorded and popped in.

When not recording, Minnie was busy as the national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, lobbying the cause for early breast cancer detection. As a result of her efforts, she was presented with the A.C.S. Courage Award at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. While promoting this album, TV appearances kept her busy – The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show. Despite her radiant and expressive face, the cameras could not hide how the cancer was ravaging her body. During her last appearance on The Mike Douglas Show, her right arm was in a fixed position from the cancer's progression.