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

['Gail Mitchell', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Billboard 2025-09-23 23:29:05

Before gifted singers-songwriters such as Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, SZA and Lalah Hathaway were murmurs in anyone’s ears, there was Minnie Riperton. 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. “Minnie was my dear friend,” said Wonder in an earlier announcement about the Hollywood Bowl tribute. 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.