Fontella Bass dies, sang 'Rescue Me' | R&B Singer Fontella Bass dead age 72 | Fontella Bass death

	Fontella Bass dies, sang 'Rescue Me' | R&B Singer Fontella Bass dead age 72 | Fontella Bass death Fontella Bass dies, sang 'Rescue Me' | R&B Singer Fontella Bass dead age 72 | Fontella Bass death ST. LOUIS -- Fontella Bass, a St. Louis-born soul singer who hit the top of the R&B charts with "Rescue Me" in 1965, has died. She was 72. 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 <b>...</b>	From: InsaneMrBrain Views: 28 0 ratings
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