Fontella Bass

Fontella Marie Bass (; July 3, 1940 – December 26, 2012) was an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter best known for her number-one R&B hit "Rescue Me" in 1965. She also collaborated with artists like the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Cinematic Orchestra, and her husband, jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie. Bass received two Grammy nominations and was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Early life Fontella Bass was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She was the daughter of gospel singer Martha Bass, who was a member of the Clara Ward Singers, and the older sister of R&B singer David Peaston. At an early age, Fontella showed great musical talent. At the age of five, she provided the piano accompaniment for her grandmother's singing at funeral services, she sang in her church's choir at six, and by the time she was nine, she had accompanied her mother on tours throughout the South and Southwest United States.

Bass continued touring with her mother until the age of sixteen. As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. She began singing R&B songs at local contests and fairs while attending Soldan High School from which she graduated in 1958. At 17, she started her professional career working at the Showboat Club near Chain of Rocks, Missouri. Her single "Poor Little Fool", released from Sonja in 1964, features Tina Turner. Bass saw no particular success with these singles. It was also during this period she met and subsequently married the jazz trumpeter, Lester Bowie. Her first works with the label were several duets with Bobby McClure, who had also been signed to the label. The song was later recorded by Ry Cooder and Chaka Khan on Cooder's album Bop 'Til You Drop (1979).

Bass and McClure followed their early success with "You're Gonna Miss Me" that summer,

Bass followed with "Recovery", which did moderately well, I had the first million seller for Chess since Chuck Berry about 10 years before. Things were riding high for them, but when it came time to collect my first royalty check, I looked at it, saw how little it was, tore it up and threw it back across the desk.

Tiring of the mainstream music scene, she and husband Lester Bowie left America and moved to Paris She also appeared on Bowie's The Great Pretender (1981) and All the Magic (1982).

Even with the success of "Rescue Me", it was many years and much litigation before Bass would be credited with her share of the songwriting and the royalties. In 1993, Bass sued American Express for unauthorized use of the song in a commercial, and was awarded a significant settlement.

Later career and death The next few years found Bass at several labels, but saw no notable successes. After her second album, Free, flopped in 1972, Bass retired from music and concentrated on raising a family; she had four children with avant-garde trumpeter Lester Bowie. In 2001, Bass released the gospel-jazz album Travellin (Justin Time Records). The album was co-produced by her son [(Bahnamous Lee Bowie)], who also performed keyboards throughout the recording; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted his contributions alongside the ensemble, describing the project as a family affair rooted in gospel and blues.

In the 2000s, she toured Europe with her younger brother David Peaston, until she fell ill. For her last years, she had to struggle due to her deteriorating health. Bass survived breast cancer, a series of strokes beginning in 2005, and a leg amputation. On December 26, 2012, she died at a St. Louis hospital from complications of a heart attack suffered earlier in the month; she was 72. She was survived by four children.

Discography Albums YearAlbum Peak chart positions US 200 1966 The New Look 93 1970 Les Stances a Sophie with the Art Ensemble of Chicago — Live in Paris with the Art Ensemble of Chicago — Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass — 1972 Free — 1980 From the Root to the Source — 1992 Rescued: The Best of Fontella Bass — 1995 No Ways Tired — 1996 Now That I Found a Good Thing — 2001 Travelin —

Singles