St. Louis singer Fontella Bass, known for 'Rescue Me,' dies

STL Today (Post Dispatch) ^ | December 27, 2012 | MICHAEL D. SORKIN

[Da Bilge Troll]

Fontella Bass, the St. Louis-born gospel and R&B singer famous for her 1965 hit “Rescue Me,” died Wednesday night.

She was 72 and had suffered a heart attack on Dec. 2, her family said this morning.

Ms. Bass was taught by her mother, gospel singer Martha Bass.

Ms. Bass graduated from Soldan High School and started her professional career at 17 at the Showboat Club near Chain of Rocks, Mo.

She got a contract with Chess Records and sang duets with Bobby McClure, including “Don't Mess Up a Good Thing.”

She sang and co-wrote “Rescue Me,” which sold more than a million copies.

She lived in Florissant and sang worldwide. She recorded her last album, “Travellin',” in 2001. She toured for a time with her brother, David Peaston, who died in February of complications from diabetes at age 54.

Ms. Bass died at Westchester House in Chesterfield. Services are pending.

[Publius]

Fontella Bass: "Rescue Me"

Very well produced and sung.

[political1]

She also sang “Our Day Will Come,’ and ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man.’ I liked her music. RIP

[capt. norm]

My first year in radio at WABB in Mobile, Al on the overnight shift....hers was he greatest song to perk up the late audience.

She "Rescued Me" many times.

[Sivad]

“I am lonely and I’m blue
I need you and your love, too.....”

[Revolting cat!]

The greatest Motown imitation ever!

[Revolting cat!]

No synthesizers, no pitch correction, no software, you can hear the studio ambience, and perfect horn arrangements, how did they manage to do that?

[rightly_dividing]

WABB, now that brings back some memories. If you were a DJ then, I probably listened to you back in those days.

I guess that you knew Bernie Dittman died in 2006.

[Vendome]

Rest in Peace.

Luv’d that song and couple others.

[kabumpo]

I loved her, a great writer, singer and performer.

[Flick Lives]

Great Motown sound from back in the day.

[Publius]

Actually, the label was based in Chicago, not Detroit. It’s pseudo-Motown.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[chronicles]

She had a great sound! I did not know her background but we were from the same area of St Louis. My husband graduated Soldan in Jan. 1957, sounds like she might have been a classmate.

[ReformationFan]

Thanks for posting. RIP, Miss Bass and thanks for providing us with a memorable and enjoyable song.

BTW, cool signature quote Publius.

[Publius]

The quote is from The Devil's Advocate by Taylor Caldwell.

[SuziQ]

Always loved that song!

[RegulatorCountry]

Here’s her breakthrough performance of “Rescue Me” on “Shindig!” in black and white, first airing November 6, 1965:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmz7UJK_CY

She was a very talented woman, her vocals at least were sung live. Dig that sixties black and white houndstooth, she looks good!

She’ll be missed.

[Menehune56]

Wonderful singer and nice looking too. RIP.

[Da Bilge Troll]

Updated article with much expanded bio:

Fontella Bass dies; singer of "Rescue Me" was a hit in U.S. and a bigger hit in Europe