Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton it was a American R&B/Soul singer, songwriter and recording artist.
Born: 8 November 1947 in Chicago, IL - died: 12 July 1979 (aged 31) in Los Angeles, CA.
Possessed a five-octave vocal range, enabling her to sing in 'whistle register', famously demonstrated on her 1974 hit 'Lovin' You'.
She was married to [a=Richard Rudolph] and is the mother of actress and comedienne [a=Maya Rudolph], and thus the mother-in-law to film director [a=Paul Thomas Anderson].