One thing that really made Minnie Riperton stand out is that she never strained to hit those high notes like some other artists tend to do. So sad that her life was cut short at 31yrs of age.
I really dig their whole psychedelic type vibes n Minnie is so chill hitting them notes so effortlessly. Their debut album is a gem n one of my most favorites...
The MOMENT I first heard RC debut LP on a turntable in 1967 I was BLOWN AWAY. You all captured the 60's like no other group. Mr Barnes? May God richly bless you Sir. My only regret was never getting to see them live
The simplicity of it all. Just a big ol afro, no fancy makeup, some killer vocals n great arrangements from an amazing band. That's all Minnie needed to make this performance seem effortless.
@@ericwilson5177 i get overwhelmed thinking about how much more great music we would have had, had he lived longer...he was going to produce a Michael Jackson/The Jacksons lp, after EW&Fs "Spirit" lp...also cant help but think how much more amazing and prolific EW&F, The Emotions, and Deniece Williams would have been if the great Mr. Stepney didnt pass so young😥
@@RJNumber45 That makes me think. Maurice White was tapped to produce what would become _Off The Wall_ before Quincy ultimately did. If that had happened and Step had survived, no doubt he would've been involved. Michael's career probably would've taken a different trajectory. We'll never know. Fun to imagine though.
I saw Rotary Connecting while a freshman in college. They opened for Iron Butterfly at John Carroll University in the fall of 1969. I honestly don't remember much of their music but was impressed by Minnie Riperton. Could never figure out how such a tiny lady could have such a powerful voice. Great memories....
Rotary Connection, one of pioneering bands of 60’s, should be in R&R HOF, Songs, Caravan, 1st 3 or 4 albums, brilliant, then thx 2 Charles Stepney integrated jazz influence, Minnie, solo, “Come To My Garden”, what music!
Beautiful Minnie Riperton here with her early psych group "ROTARY CONNECTION". Beautiful voice. Awesome diversity among the members of the band! Totally the way it should always be. Acceptance and love!
I am the black gold of the sun and inside me are two amazing songs from both these artists. Minnie could have sang that startrek theme tune with her voice.
Was blessed to be able to see the original line-up in person at a local high school (Mendel) in 1968. Bass player was Mitch Aliotta who had a hit with 2 other guys called Lake Shore Drive. Minnie Riperton's daughter is Maya Rudolph. The other female voice, Judy Hauff is missing from this video.
Never heard of this band before seeing their named mentioned on a Facebook post. Had no idea Minnie Riperton was in it, only remember her name from a disco hit she had in the later half of the '70s. Good band. Reminds me a little of Renaissance.
wow .. wow .. wow.. been waiting years to see footage of this band, I was born in 69.. have all their LPs and I am a big fan of them, Minnie and Charles Stephney's production.. I wish new bands would take a leaf out of thier book
Dude, just found your mix. It is like you went back to 1969 and picked my brain. What great songs. Saw RC at West Palm Beach in 11/69. This is one great mix. Hope people listen to this cause you got it going on. Thanks.
Hi Sidney, I was fortunate enough to see you guys in concert twice; once at Queen’s Guild Hall on Western Ave, and another time at Loyola auditorium up North. I went to another concert on the South Side, but it was cancelled because they said you had all come down with strep throats. I was amazed that the Rotary Connection sounded as good live as you did on your albums. Thanks for some great memories. As far as I am concerned, you guys were the sound of Chicago.
This video has made my day. This day started out very depressing, but thanks to you posting this video, I am a happy camper. I love Minnie Riperton and I love the Rotary Connection. I never seen a live video of the group ever in my life and I'm in Awe. Thank You. I am now a Subsriber to you Channel. Thanks A Million...
Like others, I have always wanted to see footage of this group. A friend turned me onto this group in my adult life, but in reality, WDAS in Philly, used to play "Peace At Least" every holiday season, but I just never knew who sang it for years. Thanks for sharing this video, and YES, MInnie is right phyne in this video.
I believe the host is Jerry G. Bishop, aka the original Svengoolie who just passed last week. He was a DJ on Chicago's WCFL at the time. Please correct me if my memory is faulty.
The hell? I must have been sleeping on this...how did I never seen this??? I love Minnie and I love hippy culture, first time I seen this...perhaps my love for 'Hair' has been replaced
Some commenters here don't seem to realize that both the host and Minnie were putting each other on a bit, standard for that time. He wasn't being rude and Minnie wasn't stoned out of her mind.
mayena : Awe,Minnie Riperton and Mitch ....great musicians and nice people, in Chicago. No, that's Mitch and not her "old man."just a a great guy with a wild sense of humor.
she was pretty as hell. I love the way sisters looked in those days. no weaves, make up, tats everywhere, fake injections. now they look like grafted devils.
You neglected to mention Botox. Every woman over 40 I see on TV is Botox'd to the max. A recent photo of Uma Thurman looked like her forehead was made of Kevlar®.
Does anybody remember the Kinetic Playground? I saw the Rotary Connection there in 1969 I think. If I remember correctly the Moody Blues were also there that night. I swear to God! I was there! I remember!
They lip synched to Lady Jane from the debut for some reason. The dominant lead vocal heard is the by then Judy Hauff. Def can hear Minnie, and that is no one else but but her trilling over the top of everything. She isn't especially heard on The Weight, either! But that's some fine stuff.
Jeez.. what a horrid "host" treating Minnie like she's stupid (?) I suppose I could laugh but here we are, what, approx 55 years later and this is still the mind set of so many. Minute Ripperton is a legend and like most, that guy was surely intimidated by her and the brilliance of The Rotary Connection.
Thanks Sidney!! Was Minnie really singing in the beginning. When I actually hear her, the camera is not on her. Was this because she was female and black? Just curious.
I don't think she was able to get out her answer with the emcee interrupting her. Then he interrupted her again as she began to answer his question about what songs were on the album . . . or, "ablum" as he calls it. Great singer, poor interview.
On the album they kind of look like a rotary dial on a old phone. They way their picture forms in the top left hand corner. So maybe it had something to do with them connecting to make music and sounds. The host was rude, so we will never know.
Was that Minnie's husband the guitarist who replied to the host If you called me pretty you will be in trouble'?. He was very defensive he didn't understood the humor.
Also he said "if you thought I was pretty, you might be in trouble." As to say that he might want to get his eyes checked out because he is not a pretty man. He was being funny back
I'm seeing the host differently from everybody else, I guess. I don't see him as rude, but just corny. The jokes don't work, but his biggest problem is that Minnie is either super shy, or stoned out of her mind. It is apparent to the host immediately that she cannot answer the simplest of questions, so he has to make it work somehow to avoid complete dead air. Cool song, though.
He kinda reminds me of Dick Clark style, I never cared for his style either, he spoke to you like you were stupid or something, it's just their style that's all but hey it worked for Dick but just wasn't my type of hosting like Do you know what that is while holding the album, yes duh it's a freaking album, my album then before she can even read the damn title songs he's over here telling her the songs are written right here like she doesn't know duh, something Dick would do. Don C from Soul Train was cool, Ed Sullivan was cool, those host I liked, not those two characters I mentioned.
One thing that really made Minnie Riperton stand out is that she never strained to hit those high notes like some other artists tend to do. So sad that her life was cut short at 31yrs of age.
Effortlessly!!!!!! Still one of the top vocalists of all time…
Never !!!!! R.I.P. Legend Minnie 😢
Minnie Riperton’s voice is absolutely ethereal.
RIP Minnie taken far too soon.
❤️
Minnie voice as Songbird, beautiful.
I really dig their whole psychedelic type vibes n Minnie is so chill hitting them notes so effortlessly. Their debut album is a gem n one of my most favorites...
🎯🔭
Minnie Riperton.........one of the greatest voices ive ever heard. What a loss. Love you Minnie. RIP.
💯
If you are from Chicago...
This band is LEGENDARY!!!
🎸🎼🎶🎹🎤🥁🎷🎺👀
Were they especially big there
We miss you Minnie. You rocked my world while you were here, and to this day your artistry is un-matched!
The MOMENT I first heard RC debut LP on a turntable in 1967 I was BLOWN AWAY. You all captured the 60's like no other group. Mr Barnes? May God richly bless you Sir. My only regret was never getting to see them live
Man, I miss MInnie!!! The Rotary Connection was such a great group
The simplicity of it all. Just a big ol afro, no fancy makeup, some killer vocals n great arrangements from an amazing band. That's all Minnie needed to make this performance seem effortless.
The most beautiful voice forever :)
I totally agree!
Unlike no other. Just simply angelic...
Yes minnie has a very mystical and enchanting voice..
No school like the old school...🎤🎸🎵🎶🎼
Incredible arrangment by Charles Stepney
So much magical music from Charles Stepney. Gone way, way too soon.
@@ericwilson5177 i get overwhelmed thinking about how much more great music we would have had, had he lived longer...he was going to produce a Michael Jackson/The Jacksons lp, after EW&Fs "Spirit" lp...also cant help but think how much more amazing and prolific EW&F, The Emotions, and Deniece Williams would have been if the great Mr. Stepney didnt pass so young😥
@@RJNumber45 That makes me think. Maurice White was tapped to produce what would become _Off The Wall_ before Quincy ultimately did. If that had happened and Step had survived, no doubt he would've been involved. Michael's career probably would've taken a different trajectory. We'll never know. Fun to imagine though.
What amazing voice...like fr another galaxy come here to grace our planet.
I saw Rotary Connecting while a freshman in college. They opened for Iron Butterfly at John Carroll University in the fall of 1969. I honestly don't remember much of their music but was impressed by Minnie Riperton. Could never figure out how such a tiny lady could have such a powerful voice. Great memories....
How old are you? that must have been an amazing experience
@@noriwilliams4637 I'm currently 72 and was 18 at the time of the concert. It was an amazing experience. Thanks so much for asking.
What I wouldn't give for a time machine. I turned 6 in 1969. This music is unmatched. ✨️💛
Minnie's voice is so powerful...wow
Glad to see this clip because why is it so hard to find clips of Minnie Riperton during the Come To My Garden era!
Rotary Connection, one of pioneering bands of 60’s, should be in R&R HOF, Songs, Caravan, 1st 3 or 4 albums, brilliant, then thx 2 Charles Stepney integrated jazz influence, Minnie, solo, “Come To My Garden”, what music!
Probably the coolest band in history....
Damn, they were all fucked up!! I wish I was singing with them, I was born in 69!!!
Beautiful Minnie Riperton here with her early psych group "ROTARY CONNECTION". Beautiful voice. Awesome diversity among the members of the band! Totally the way it should always be. Acceptance and love!
Rotary Connection. Minnie Riperton. 'Nuff said. Thanks for the upload, Sidney Barnes. RIP, Minnie Riperton. Songbird. Blessings
I am the black gold of the sun and inside me are two amazing songs from both these artists.
Minnie could have sang that startrek theme tune with her voice.
Was blessed to be able to see the original line-up in person at a local high school (Mendel) in 1968. Bass player was Mitch Aliotta who had a hit with 2 other guys called Lake Shore Drive. Minnie Riperton's daughter is Maya Rudolph. The other female voice, Judy Hauff is missing from this video.
I was blessed to play 2 nights a week with Mitch Aliotta for about a year in Las Vegas. An amazing bassist and a great man. RIP Mitchell.
My uncle was the guitar player for Rotary Connection…Bob Simms (Siemiaszko).
Thank you for posting this!
I know you will never forget it.
That voice.
UHKAAY !!!
Thank you so much for uploading this. I just LOVE Minnie Riperton. Peace from Brazil!!!
Thank you.
her voice!
Peace to Charles Stepney and Minnie Ripperton
she was so beautifull..
5 : 14 . Minnieeeeee . Not the eyeroll 🤦♀️😂😅🤣 . Just love her
It always dawned upon me where the name Rotary Connection came from
Fascinating - in my ignorance I never knew that Minnie started here - and what a lineup
She started in a girl group called The Gems
Eternal peace
Fantastic! And that voice...
she wasn't actually singing lead
I lived in Chicago and hung out with the people in Rotary Connection , they were really funny , too .
Never heard of this band before seeing their named mentioned on a Facebook post. Had no idea Minnie Riperton was in it, only remember her name from a disco hit she had in the later half of the '70s. Good band. Reminds me a little of Renaissance.
One of my go to Groups in the late 60,s
boy Minnie was A BABE.
Minnie was stoned, lol!
wow .. wow .. wow.. been waiting years to see footage of this band, I was born in 69.. have all their LPs and I am a big fan of them, Minnie and Charles Stephney's production.. I wish new bands would take a leaf out of thier book
Dude, just found your mix. It is like you went back to 1969 and picked my brain. What great songs. Saw RC at West Palm Beach in 11/69. This is one great mix. Hope people listen to this cause you got it going on. Thanks.
just looked and realized its Sidney Barnes who posted this :) legend!
This is throw-wayback Thursday.
Hi Sidney, I was fortunate enough to see you guys in concert twice; once at Queen’s Guild Hall on Western Ave, and another time at Loyola auditorium up North. I went to another concert on the South Side, but it was cancelled because they said you had all come down with strep throats. I was amazed that the Rotary Connection sounded as good live as you did on your albums. Thanks for some great memories. As far as I am concerned, you guys were the sound of Chicago.
OMG...immediately transported back in time....thank you...
This video has made my day. This day started out very depressing, but thanks to you posting this video, I am a happy camper. I love Minnie Riperton and I love the Rotary Connection. I never seen a live video of the group ever in my life and I'm in Awe. Thank You. I am now a Subsriber to you Channel. Thanks A Million...
Here's a reminder to watch again
Like others, I have always wanted to see footage of this group. A friend turned me onto this group in my adult life, but in reality, WDAS in Philly, used to play "Peace At Least" every holiday season, but I just never knew who sang it for years. Thanks for sharing this video, and YES, MInnie is right phyne in this video.
WDAS...one is my favorite stations ....aong with WKDU...WRTI and WXPN...
Incredible Minnie Riperton and the incredible Charles Stepney!
i just listened to this this morning, I had no idea. Very sad.
This video is absolutely wonderful. :) Minnie looks perfect!
Thank you for posting this,superb stuff,so haunting❤
Hey Sidney thanks so much for posting this truly historic footage of the group. You guys were ahead of your time!
The host is Jerry G. Bishop, who very soon became the original Svengoolie.
I believe the host is Jerry G. Bishop, aka the original Svengoolie who just passed last week. He was a DJ on Chicago's WCFL at the time. Please correct me if my memory is faulty.
The hell? I must have been sleeping on this...how did I never seen this??? I love Minnie and I love hippy culture, first time I seen this...perhaps my love for 'Hair' has been replaced
somebody was hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
very cool!
Go Sydney! Was just listening to you guys today. Hope you are well & that you visit the UK again :-)
Some commenters here don't seem to realize that both the host and Minnie were putting each other on a bit, standard for that time. He wasn't being rude and Minnie wasn't stoned out of her mind.
mayena : Awe,Minnie Riperton and Mitch ....great musicians and nice people, in Chicago. No, that's Mitch and not her "old man."just a a great guy with a wild sense of humor.
Hey! How's my other favorite nephew?
Yeah, Minnie was pretty and Mitch was funny. Old Town was the hip place where everybody met everybody else.
Much Appreciation.
Much Gratitude
she was pretty as hell. I love the way sisters looked in those days. no weaves, make up, tats everywhere, fake injections. now they look like grafted devils.
I'm witchu on that brotha
oh how I agree.
Yeah ya right!!
I agree with you brother
You neglected to mention Botox. Every woman over 40 I see on TV is Botox'd to the max.
A recent photo of Uma Thurman looked like her forehead was made of Kevlar®.
Does anybody remember the Kinetic Playground? I saw the Rotary Connection there in 1969 I think. If I remember correctly the Moody Blues were also there that night. I swear to God! I was there! I remember!
This Town - yes yes yes !
I do have theiir albums.
wow
Special.. T-G.
Minnie higher than Manhattan rent, bless her. lol
♥
They lip synched to Lady Jane from the debut for some reason. The dominant lead vocal heard is the by then Judy Hauff. Def can hear Minnie, and that is no one else but but her trilling over the top of everything. She isn't especially heard on The Weight, either! But that's some fine stuff.
Question,,,who were the band members at this point .Love your vocals on `This Town`. Thanks again for sharing
They were also the backing band for Muddy Waters Electric Mud LP and the Howlin Wolf Album. Makes no sense, does it?
wow - thanks for sharing that! Personally I loved Rotary Connection. My guitar teacher turned me on to them
Eric the sense it makes was Charles Stepney the mastermind behind it all, who also produced for Muddy & Howling Wolf
And Earth Wind & Fire..
Saw Rotary Connection in '69 at Aaron Russo's Kinetic Playground with Muddy Waters and VANILLA FUDGE.
Never heard of the host or show. Was the show nationwide?
What is the name of the song they did?
LSD is a helluva drug.
Hell Yeah it is. It is a travesty that our government doesn't open up access to this wonderful freeing of the mind and soul.
fck that shit, drugs are wack
Facts! But truth be told, people made a lot of great music on drugs like LSD lol
Jeez.. what a horrid "host" treating Minnie like she's stupid (?)
I suppose I could laugh but here we are, what, approx 55 years later and this is still the mind set of so many.
Minute Ripperton is a legend and like most, that guy was surely intimidated by her and the brilliance of The Rotary Connection.
I have naturally loved Mrs Ripperton since birth, even though she passed away shortly before I was even born..
the tiniest roto-tom had the best mic though
Thanks Sidney!! Was Minnie really singing in the beginning. When I actually hear her, the camera is not on her. Was this because she was female and black? Just curious.
the volume is really low
What song is this?
+Timothy Walsh "Lady Jane", originally a Rolling Stones song.
can someone please explain to me how she explained the name of the band? I really dont get it at all. thanks
I don't think she was able to get out her answer with the emcee interrupting her. Then he interrupted her again as she began to answer his question about what songs were on the album . . . or, "ablum" as he calls it. Great singer, poor interview.
On the album they kind of look like a rotary dial on a old phone. They way their picture forms in the top left hand corner. So maybe it had something to do with them connecting to make music and sounds. The host was rude, so we will never know.
Minnie was tore up 😂😂😂
This guy is the worst host it is hilarious.
Lol, i know right... The Band was acting as if they didnt want a thing to do with him too, lmao
Was that Minnie's husband the guitarist who replied to the host If you called me pretty you will be in trouble'?. He was very defensive he didn't understood the humor.
No. Her husband was Richard Rudolph.
Also he said "if you thought I was pretty, you might be in trouble." As to say that he might want to get his eyes checked out because he is not a pretty man. He was being funny back
Maybe he thought we was offended as the presenter did not think he was good looking.
She was stoned stoned
Minnie Riperton is lip-synching to the recorded lead of Judy Hauff, who was long gone by the time of this tv performance
ah.
I'm seeing the host differently from everybody else, I guess. I don't see him as rude, but just corny. The jokes don't work, but his biggest problem is that Minnie is either super shy, or stoned out of her mind. It is apparent to the host immediately that she cannot answer the simplest of questions, so he has to make it work somehow to avoid complete dead air. Cool song, though.
+Mike Morgan Agreed. The host is Gerry G. Bishop who had been a Top 40 disk jockey in Chicago. He also became TV horror movie host Svengoolie.
He kinda reminds me of Dick Clark style, I never cared for his style either, he spoke to you like you were stupid or something, it's just their style that's all but hey it worked for Dick but just wasn't my type of hosting like Do you know what that is while holding the album, yes duh it's a freaking album, my album then before she can even read the damn title songs he's over here telling her the songs are written right here like she doesn't know duh, something Dick would do. Don C from Soul Train was cool, Ed Sullivan was cool, those host I liked, not those two characters I mentioned.
the interviewer was awful
The announcer was such a jerk 😡
The host is a DISRESPECTFUL S.O.B
Sorry but that was a boring song....
You must have a boring mind
He doesn't get it, he just have a boring mind, nuff said
Love everything the Rotary Connection did. It's a Rolling Stone song, by the way
She really wanted to be white
Wow, thank you Sydney for this awesome trip back into time. I love hearing this, it made my day! Love ya ♡