AN open letter ... 

Hi, I’m Velvet,

If you’ve made it here, it’s because you’re interested in The Riperton Suite. Thank you for joining me on this journey—it really means a lot.I wanted to write this as an open letter rather than a formal introduction or event synopsis. I wanted you to hear directly from me—not just about what The Riperton Suite is, but about where it all started.

So, let me tell you how we got here....Around the time I was pregnant with my son, I found myself drawn to Minnie’s music. Interestingly, it wasn’t necessarily the songs everyone knows. I kept finding myself drawn to songs that were tucked a little deeper into her albums. Songs like #6 and #7. 

There was something about them. They were pure, sensual, mystical - spiritual all at the same time. And somehow, they felt familiar. They reminded me a little bit of myself. So I dug deeper.

The more I listened, the more I wanted to understand the woman, Minnie. I began researching and found that she wrote and conceptualized a lot of her music and album covers. In the midst of learning about her artistry, her life— I somewhere in the middle of all of that, found out I was pregnant.I thought I would sing a few of her songs and use them to reveal my pregnancy to friends and family. It was supposed to be this beautiful little surprise - But the event never happened.

Life moved on. My son was born. The moment passed - But the music stayed—and, apparently, so did Minnie. Years later, I found myself returning to the idea to doing a tribute, but this time for her. I started asking questions.And somewhere along the way, that little idea I once had for a pregnancy announcement began transforming into something much bigger. At first, I thought, Maybe I’ll just sing a few songs at a club.

But every time I tried to keep it simple, another thought crossed my mind. There was something else I wanted to tell the audience. I wanted to bring light to songs I knew people needed to hear.I wanted to explore not only what I imagined her songs were saying, but also some of the things she believed in. The more I researched Minnie, I learned about her decision to step away from the spotlight to spend more time focusing on the family she was building. I learned about how her husband took on odd jobs to help create the space for them to continue making music. How at a young age, at the top of her career, she received devestating news that would change her life, but never stopped her song.

There are so many artists and members of our communities who are fighting to live a life they love and create while navigating through cancer -  just like Minnie - I'm using The Riperton Suite to share her story and provide accessible resources that can help. The Riperton Suite isn't just a place to hear some of Minnie’s music. It is a place to share her story through action—by providing local resources for free cancer support and services, while also creating pathways of information for artists seeking creative opportunities, grants and community.

The Riperton Suite is my own interpretation—a way of inviting you to step beyond the high notes and spend some time with the woman behind the voice.

To Her Family, Friends, and Fans...

I can read about Minnie. I can listen to her music. I can study her work. But I cannot research her memories—or the memories of those who loved her. If you are here because you knew Minnie—are a friend, family member or someone who shared even a small part of her life—I would love to hear from you.  I want to approach this work with the care, humility, and respect that her life and legacy deserve. My contact information is below. :)

Why This Matters to Me

As the project has grown, so has the vision. I hope to eventually bring The Riperton Suite into full bloom as a fully staged theatrical work—while using the experience to create greater awareness, resources, and support for artists and individuals navigating cancer and artist adversity.

Minnie was so much more than what happened to her and she would tell you that herself.

A Note on the Work

The Riperton Suite is an original, independently created artistic interpretation inspired by Minnie Riperton’s artistry, advocacy, and legacy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or presented in partnership with the Minnie Riperton Estate or her official representatives. Information about Minnie and her life has been compiled by publicly available information and sources believed to be reliable. Music, photographs, and other third-party materials on this site remain the property of their respective owners and are for edudational and entertainment purposes only.

As I continue developing the work, I'm working towards the appropriate steps needed to expand The Riperton Suite into a fully staged theatrical production. If you would like to help us bring this vision into FULL BLOOM, your support helps us continue developing the WRK and moving towards full production.

With love and respect,

Velvet Gunn
Creator & Performer, The Riperton Suite
Produced by AGSP WRKS [ an art and wellness production project by Velvet Gunn ]