Fontella Bass

Fontella Bass: Travellin'

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

It's been a while since the public has heard from Fontella Bass, but in case a reminder is needed, she had a huge hit in the 1960's: “Rescue Me." What many of the people who remember that hit may not know is that Bass was married at the time to the immortal Lester Bowie, and she followed him to perform for several years in France. She was an integral member of the St. Louis-based Black Artists Group during its founding ...

Fontella Bass 1940-2012

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
December 29, 2012

Singer Fontella Bass, the St. Louisan who had a huge soul and pop hit in 1965 with “Rescue Me" but also sang jazz while married to trumpeter Lester Bowie, died Wednesday night in St. Louis of complications from heart failure. She was 72. “Rescue Me," which Bass co-wrote as well as sang, sold more than a million copies. The song was the No. 1 R&B hit for four weeks, also reached the pop Top 10, and stayed on the charts ...
read more

News Release - Fontella Bass and the Voices of St. Louis

Source: All About Jazz

December 6--Acclaimed gospel/soul singer Fontella Bass and her Voices of St. Louis group will release their debut album on Justin Time Records on March 27, 2001.

Travelin', a dynamic collection of 10 original tunes ranging from gospel to soul to jazz and blues, was recorded at the Four Seasons Media recording studio in her native St. Louis last September. The set was produced by Bass and Voices of St. Louis member Bahnamous Bowie.

Bass is the daughter of the great ...
read more