Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass' album Fontella Bass & The Voices of St. Louis album
Background information
Birth name	Fontella Bass
Born	July 3, 1940
Origin	St. Louis, Missouri
Genre(s)	Soul, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1965– Present
Label(s)	Bobbin Records Chess Records
Associated acts	Mary Wells, Dionne Warwick, The Supremes

Fontella Bass (born July 3, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American soul singer, who is best known for the 1965 R&B hit "Rescue Me". Image File history File links FontellaBassAlbum. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is a self-aware ethereal substance particular to a unique living being. ... Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... Look up pop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ercole de Roberti: Concert, c. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Chess Records logo, as featured on this Memphis Slim single. ... Mary Wells, on the cover of a Motown compilation album. ... Marie Dionne Warrick (born December 12, 1940 in East Orange, New Jersey), known professionally as Dionne Warwick, is an African-American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters and producers. ... The Supremes were a Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Soul music is a music genre that combines rhythm and blues and gospel music originating in the late 1950s in the United States. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Early Life

The daughter of gospel singer Martha Bass (of the Clara Ward Singers), Bass was exposed to music at an early age, and was singing in her church's choir at six years old. As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. Throughout high school she began singing R&B songs at local contests and fairs. In 1961, Bass found steady work on the local Leon Claxton Show, playing piano and singing in the chorus. She also began playing piano on blues vocalist Little Milton's records. With the support of Bob Lyons, the manager of St. Louis station KATZ, Bass recorded several songs released through Bobbin Records. She saw no notable success outside her home town. For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... The quality of this article or section may be compromised by peacock terms. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. ... Clara Ward (April 21, 1924 - January 16, 1973) was a gospel artist who achieved great success, both artistic and commercial, in the 1940s and 1950s as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Milton Little Milton Campbell, Jr. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ... Katz may refer to: Katz, a common Jewish surname generally believed to be a derivation of Cohen. ...

Recording Career

Two years later she moved to Chicago after a dispute with Little Milton. She auditioned for Chess Records, who immediately signed her as a recording artist. Her first works with the label were several duets with blues singer Bobby McClure, also a newcomer to the label. Released early in 1965, "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" found immediate success, reaching the top five at R&B radio and peaking at #33 at pop. They followed their early success with "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" that summer, a song that had mild success, reaching the top 30 at R&B, but barely charting at pop. Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, The City of Big Shoulders The 312 Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area... Milton Little Milton Campbell, Jr. ... The Chess Records logo, as featured on this Memphis Slim single. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

After a brief tour, Bass returned to the studio. The result was an original composition with an aggressive bass and drum work by Maurice White, of the future Earth, Wind, & Fire. The song, "Rescue Me," shot up the charts in the fall and winter of 1965. After a month-long run at the top of the R&B charts, the song reached #4 at the pop charts. She followed with "Recovery," which did moderately well, peaking at #13 at R&B and #37 at pop in early 1966. The same year brought two more R&B hits, "I Can't Rest" (backed with "I Surrender)" and "You'll Never Know." Her only album with Chess Records, The New Look, sold reasonably well, but Bass decided to leave the label after only two years, in 1967. In 1970 Bass recorded two albums with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass and Les Stances A Sophie. The latter was the soundtrack from the French movie of the same title. Bass' vocals, backed by the powerful, pulsating push of the band has allowed the Theme De YoYo to remain an underground cult classic ever since. Maurice White - Munich, Germany 1975 Maurice White (born December 19, 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an African-American soul, funk, and R&B singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and bandleader. ... Earth, Wind & Fire is an American funk band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... The Chess Records logo, as featured on this Memphis Slim single. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz ensemble that grew out of Chicagos AACM in the late 1960s. ...

Decline & Life Today

The next few years found Bass at a number of different labels, but saw no notable successes. After her second album, Free, flopped in 1972, Bass retired from music. She returned occasionally, being featured as a background vocalist on several recordings, including those of her husband, Lester Bowie, a jazz trumpeter and member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In the 1990s she hosted a short-lived Chicago radio talk show, and has released several gospel records on independent labels. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Lester Bowie (11 October 1941–8 November 1999) was a jazz trumpet player and composer. ...

Like many outstanding artists of her time, Bass experienced a revival of interest. Her still-powerful tones can be heard on the 2002 Cinematic Orchestra album, 'Everyday'. The Cinematic Orchestra is a British-based jazz and electronic outfit, created in the late 1990s by Jason Swinscoe, which records on the Ninja Tune independent record label. ...

She has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She is the older sister of R&B singer David Peaston, who was a former Showtime at the Apollo champion. The St. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... David Peaston (born in St. ... Its Showtime at the Apollo (now simply Showtime at the Apollo) is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast in 1987, and produced by Apollo. ...

Discography

Singles

Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... See also: 1964 in music, other events of 1965, 1966 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Fender Guitars is sold to CBS for $13 million. ... See also: 1964 in music, other events of 1965, 1966 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Fender Guitars is sold to CBS for $13 million. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... See also: 1964 in music, other events of 1965, 1966 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Fender Guitars is sold to CBS for $13 million. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ... See also: 1965 in music, other events of 1966, 1967 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music Hot 100 No. ...

Selected Albums

1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... This article is about the year 2001. ...

External Links

• Fontella Bass Official Site
• Fontella Bass Biography at All Music Guide
• Fontella Bass: Coming Full Circle
• Fontella Bass Page