In The News

Tributes are paid to soul singer Fontella Bass

Tributes are paid to soul singer Fontella Bass

TRIBUTES have been paid to the soul singer Fontella Bass who has passed away aged 72.

Ms. Bass will be best remembered for her song Rescue Me (see below), which reached the top of the US R&B chart in 1965. 

The hit was said to have emerged from a four-way jam session involving Ms. Bass in the recording studio at Chess Records. The ambiguity surrounding the authorship gave rise to disagreements over the years with the matter not being fully resolved until more than 20 years after the song’s release with an agreement granting the singer royalty rights.

Over the years, Rescue Me, has been covered by many other singers.

Ms. Bass also enjoyed success with Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing and You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone), both recorded as duets with Bobby McClure.

As a young girl, she had sung in her church choir. Her mother was the gospel singer Martha Bass who was a member of the Clara Ward Singers.

Ms. Bass was married to the jazz trumpeter, Lester Bowie, who was also her musical director.

She passed away in her home city of St. Louis after suffering a heart attack.

To her Fontella Bass sing Rescue Me, click here.

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