MAYA RUDOLPH SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM FULL

Although she began with ballet and modern dance, her parents recognized her vocal and musical abilities and encouraged her to pursue music and voice. The youngest of eight children in a musical family, she embraced the arts early. Riperton was born in Chicago to Thelma and Daniel Riperton, a Pullman porter. In 1978, she received the American Cancer Society’s Courage Award which was presented to her at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. In 1977, she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. She was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, but did not disclose she was terminally ill. Despite the grim prognosis, she continued recording and touring. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had metastasized and she was given about six months to live. In January 1976, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a radical mastectomy. The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album entitled Perfect Angel. On April 5, 1975, Riperton reached the apex of her career with her #1 single, “Lovin’ You”.

In 1969 Riperton, along with Rotary Connection, played in the first Catholic Rock Mass at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI, produced by James F. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971. Her early affiliation with the legendary Chicago-based Chess Records afforded her the opportunity to sing backup for various established artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters. In her teen years, she sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group, The Gems. As a child, she studied music, drama, and dance at Chicago’s Lincoln Center. Riperton grew up on Chicago’s South Side. They had two children: music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya Rudolph. She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in 1979. “Since we are in the Superdome, would you mind rising one more time for The National Anthem? Come on, it’s my turn,” Rudolph said before launching into a dramatic – and hilarious – performance.Minnie Julia Riperton-Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979), known professionally as Minnie Riperton, was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single “Lovin’ You”. “Look under your seats because you are all leaving here tonight with a college diplomaaaaa! You get a diploma, you get a diploma, you get a diploma…we’re all getting diplomaaaaas!” she said, doing her best ‘Oraph at graduation.’īut the highlight of Rudolph’s funny speech was her epic conclusion: a rendition of The National Anthem with a little bit of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and “Drunk In Love” mixed in. Rudolph also brought out a few of her fan favorite Saturday Night Live impressions to deliver her inspirational advice to the graduating class of 2015, including Oprah and Beyoncé. ‘I’m sorry, I hope you win the lottery?’ I don’t know what to tell you about that,” she said. “This is a great day for you – except for those of you leaving college with any student loan debt.

MAYA RUDOLPH SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM FULL

While Rudolph’s speech was full of funny quips, she also took a break from her comedic persona to give out a few life lessons and say deliver some tough truths.

Maya rudolph singing national anthem