Tonight marks the debut of Maya And Marty, NBCs latest attempt to drag the rotting corpse of the televised variety show back onto this mortal coil for some singing-and-shambling fun. Starring Saturday Night Live alums Maya Rudolph and Martin Short, the series is a spiritual sequel to Rudolphs variety special from 2014, as well as the musical sketch revue the duo hosted together during SNLs big 40th anniversary show last year.
To promote the premiere, Third Man Records has released the instrumental theme song for the series, penned by company founder Jack White and featuring a number of performers signed to the label. Space-y and funky in equal parts, its a fun little piece, even if we cant help glancing nervously at the last show White appeared and performed on, and wonder how well this bodes for Maya And Martys fate.
The Windy City Blue with Maya Rudolph and Martin Short
Minnie Riperton is an American singer-songwriter, and the mother of actress and comedian Maya Rudolph. Originally from Chicago, the soul singer was the youngest of eight children in a family that loved music. She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph until her death on July 12, 1979.
Read about Ripertons personal life and career accomplishments below.
1. She Sung Backup for Etta James and Chuck Berry
Ripertons association with Chess Records enabled her to sing backup for many legendary singers, like Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters.
Stevie Wonder was also a huge fan of the singer, and co-produced her album, Perfect Angel, in 1974. In an interview with NPR in 2012, Maya Rudolph discusses what it was like growing up with such musically gifted parents. My mom was music. Music poured out of my mother, and Im sure I heard it before I even got here when I was in her belly.
2. Shes Famous for Being Able to Sing in the Whistle Register
Minnie Riperton and her children, Marc and Maya Rudolph. (Pinterest)
The whistle register is the highest possible register a person can sing; its above a modal and falsetto. So, put simply, its really, really high. According to MTV News, Minnie is famous for her ability to sing in this incredibly high register, which she does in her hit single Lovin You. My Island Sugar writes, She has also been credited for her ability to sustain notes in the sixth and seventh octave for long periods of time, as in Reasons, Could It Be Im in Love, Adventures in Paradise, and Inside My Love, and also Love Me Now with the Rotary Connection. Minnie was able to hit her highest note, an F7, on the song You Take My Breath Away.
In the aforementioned NPR interview, Maya Rudolph says, I feel like my mom was part of a generation of people who [had] incredible gifts. There was no sweetening of vocals. There was no Pro Tools then. So I feel like people like her really shone because they were just so incredibly gifted and one of a kind. She was very revered for that reason and very well-respected. My mom was a special, cool lady.
3. Shes Best Known for Her 1975 Single Lovin You
The #1 hit single Lovin You was released in 1975 as part of Ripertons gold album, Perfect Angel. As a child, the soul singer was very involved in the arts, and practiced ballet and modern dance at an early age. She was also trained in opera by Marion Jeffery at Chicagos Lincoln Center.
When Riperton graduated from Hyde Park High School, she decided to attend Loop College (now known as Harold Washington College), in Chicago, Illinois, where she was part of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. Riperton dropped out early to pursue her singing career.
4. She Died at Age 31 from Breast Cancer
Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 1976, and underwent a radical mastectomy. Unfortunately, doctors caught the cancer late, and it had already metastasized when they found it. Riperton was told she only had six months to live, but that didnt keep her from singing and recording music.
Minnie Riperton was one of the first celebrities to come forward about her breast cancer, which she disclosed on The Tonight Show on August 24, 1976.
5. She Was Presented with the American Cancer Societys Courage Award by President Jimmy Carter
In 1978, Jimmy Carter presented the singer with the American Cancer Societys Courage award at the White House. Essence writes, Indeed, Minnie Riperton was one of the first public figures who decided to speak more openly about facing the disease. Her calm, grounded candor did so much to take the fearful secrecy out of breast cancer, and cancer in general, at that time and so, most appropriately, President Carter honored her with a Courage Award from the American Cancer Society in 1978.
Maya & Marty: When Does The New Variety Show Start?
Maya Rudolph and Martin Short will try to revive the variety show genre for NBC tonight.
Maya Rudolph Is Teaching Her Kids Classic Film Lingo - CONAN on TBS
Paul Thomas Anderson is the husband of SNL comedian, Maya Rudolph. (Getty)
Paul Thomas Anderson, also known as P.T. Anderson, is a notable film director, and the husband of comedian and actress Maya Rudolph. Anderson comes from an artistic family, and has written and directed several cult films, for which he has received a lot of attention and many awards. Want to find out more about his accomplishments and his relationship with Rudolph?
Read on.
1. He Has Been Nominated for Six Academy Awards
Paul Thomas Anderson has received critical acclaim for his work on multiple films. (Getty)
Born in Studio City, California, Anderson developed his passion for film at a young age. His father, Ernie Anderson, was a voice actor, and encouraged him to take a shot at writing and directing. As a kid, he attended the Buckley School in California, but was kicked out for his grades. He attended Emerson College and New York University for brief periods of time, but dropped out of both before graduating.
A fun fact about the director? He shaves his head before he begins shooting all his films. And if youve seen the production photos from Magnolia, dont worry were not lying.According to Phactual, Though he has hair in the Magnolia production diary, it is clearly growing out from recently being shaved.
2. He Has Four Children with Maya Rudolph
Anderson has four children with his wife, Maya Rudolph. (Getty)
Anderson began his relationship with SNL comedian Maya Rudolph in 2001. Together, the couple has four children, Pearl Bailey, Lucille, Minnie Ida, and Jack. In a 2013 interview, a very pregnant Rudolph discussed her relationship with Anderson, and the games the two play together in their downtime. The Los Angeles Times writes, they play a game in which she will name a movie she saw in Los Angeles during her youth and Anderson will guess the theater where she saw it. And he never loses, she said.
In 2014, Anderson came out with his film Inherent Vice, in which Rudolph makes a brief but memorable appearance. Rudolph spoke with Variety about the experience. It was so exciting. Pauls an incredible director, probably my favorite. I love watching him work. Its so exciting to see someone whos so clearly their own and has so much confidence about their own vision. Its beautiful to watch.
Earlier this year, the couple were seen enjoying a relaxing vacation in the blue waters of Kailua Beach, Hawaii.
3. He Directed The Critically-Acclaimed Film, Boogie Nights
Early on in his career, Anderson wrote and directed the hit-film Boogie Nights, for which he received critical acclaim. Anderson, who was only 26 at the time he directed the film, rode his wave of success by making his next movie, Magnolia, in 1999, which was awarded three Oscar nominations, including one for Best Original Screenplay. Many people dont know that the film is actually based off a short Anderson made at the ripe age of 17.
4. Burt Reynolds Didnt Enjoy Working With Him
Anderson has directed many critically acclaimed films, including Punch-Drunk Love, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights. (Getty)
In late 2015, actor Burt Reynolds, who starred in Boogie Nights, opened up about his experience working on the film with Anderson. When GQ asked him if he would want to work again with the director, he responded by saying, I dont think so. Personality-wise, we didnt fit. He continued by describing the director as being young and full of himself. When speaking to The Guardian, Reynolds reportedly went so far as to say that he hated working with him.
Its possible, however, that Reynolds just had something against Anderson. In Grantlands feature article on the film, first director Josh Windermuth remembers an incident where Reynolds screamed in Andersons ear because he was paying too much attention to the other actors.
5. He Dated and Collaborated With Fiona Apple
Anderson was born in Studio City, California, in 1970. (Getty)
Anderson dated Fiona Apple for many years between the late 1990s and the early 2000s. The two also collaborated artistically, and he directed many of the singers music videos, including the ones for Across the Universe, Fast as You Can, Limp, Paper Bag, and Hot Knife. Grantland described the couple as being the coolest, dorkiest, sexiest, and most indelible celebrity power couple of the 90s.
