Spinner

Fontella Bass Dead: 'Rescue Me' Singer Dies at 72

Fontella Bass, who sang Michael Ochs Archives

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Fontella Bass, a St. Louis-born soul singer who hit the top of the R&B charts with "Rescue Me" in 1965, has died.

Bass died Wednesday night at a St. Louis hospice of complications from a heart attack suffered three weeks ago, her daughter, Neuka Mitchell, said. Bass had also suffered a series of strokes over the past seven years.

"She was an outgoing person," Mitchell said of her mother. "She had a very big personality. Any room she entered she just lit the room up, whether she was on stage or just going out to eat."

Bass was born into a family with deep musical roots. Her mother was gospel singer Martha Bass, one of the Clara Ward Singers. Her younger brother, David Peaston, had a string of R&B hits in the 1980s and 1990s. Peaston died in February at age 54.

Bass' began performing at a young age, singing in her church's choir at age 6. She was surrounded by music, often traveling on national tours with her mother and her gospel group.

Her interest turned from gospel to R&B when she was a teenager and she began her professional career at the Showboat Club in north St. Louis at age 17. She eventually auditioned for Chess Records and landed a recording contract, first as a duet artist. Her duet with Bobby McClure, "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing," reached No. 5 on the R&B charts and No. 33 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1965.

She co-wrote and later that year recorded "Rescue Me," reaching No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 4 on the Billboard pop singles chart. Bass's powerful voice bore a striking resemblance to that of Aretha Franklin, who is often misidentified as the singer of that chart-topping hit.

Bass had a few other modest hits but by her own accounts developed a reputation as a troublemaker because she demanded more artistic control, and more money for her songs. She haggled over royalty rights to "Rescue Me" for years before reaching a settle ment in the late 1980s, Mitchell said. She sued American Express over the use of "Rescue Me" in a commercial, settling for an undisclosed amount in 1993.

"Rescue Me" has been covered by many top artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Melissa Manchester and Pat Benatar. Franklin eventually sang a form of it too - as "Deliver Me" in a Pizza Hut TV ad in 1991.

Bass lived briefly in Europe before returning to St. Louis in the early 1970s, where she and husband Lester Bowie raised their family. She recorded occasionally, including a 1995 gospel album, "No Ways Tired," that earned a Grammy nomination.

Bass was inducted into the St. Louis Hall of Fame in 2000.

Funeral arrangements for Bass were incomplete. She is survived by four children. Bowie died in 1999.



Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

66 Comments

Filter by:
jorczak9

Godspeed Fontella! We will never forget you. Thanks for "Rescue Me".

December 29 2012 at 6:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dbrockskk1

great voice RIP

December 28 2012 at 8:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dbrockskk1

great voice RIP

December 28 2012 at 8:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Francisco Tricoche

My sincere condolences to the family with my prayers. Another angel called to sing in the Heavenly Choir.

December 28 2012 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sylvia

Bye, Fontella. Love "Rescue Me."

December 28 2012 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bmitche

She had an excellent voice. Peace to the family.

December 28 2012 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Wise One

For the life of me I always believed that 'Rescue Me' was an Aretha Franklin original song. Now we know that it was the unique talent of Fontella Bass that brought us that great song. Rest In Peace Fontella!

December 28 2012 at 8:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
llawrence138

Thanks Fontella... My song ! R.I.P.

December 28 2012 at 7:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bluesboy03

The same old story, American Black artists getting ripped off and taken advantage of. I am glad she had a great carreer, and got payback from American Express. All of the Brtish Invaision artists including the Rolling Stones, owe their fame to the aformetioned artist as well as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Watters, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Chuck berry, Little Richard, and the host of 60's R and B performers on the American charts, as well as Stax/Motown, that these 'creative" types "borrowed" from.

December 28 2012 at 7:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Bluesboy03's comment
Francisco Tricoche

Right Bluesboy03, and received far better royalties. And these gentiles have the gall to say "get over it"! These beasts have carried out their racism since the first African was forced into slavery in this so-called land of the GD free!

December 28 2012 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Francisco Tricoche's comment
dbrockskk1

Gentiles you don't have to stay here if you dislike it so much you know.

December 28 2012 at 8:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
dbrockskk1

Francisco hop on down to Cuba and try a heaping help of what they call democracy.

December 28 2012 at 8:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
dbrockskk1

How old are you? The RS and especially The Beatles gave credit to American black artists.

December 28 2012 at 8:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josephine

Fontella Bass also sang "The Soul Of A Man" She really put her heart and soul in that soul.. I remember when I was young.. My mother would play that on repeat.. and I loved that song.. RiP Fontella Bass .thanks for the gooood memories

December 28 2012 at 6:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply