Fontella Bass (born July 3, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri - died December 26,… Read Full Bio ↴Fontella Bass (born July 3, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri - died December 26, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri) was an American soul and rnb singer, recording the iconic hit "Rescue Me" in 1965. The daughter of gospel singer Martha Bass (of the Clara Ward Singers), Bass was exposed to music at an early age. She was singing in her church's choir at just six years old.
As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. Throughout high school she began singing contemporary 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, however.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
Fontella Bass, 72, died of heart-attack complications in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri, 26 December 2012. She is survived by four children.
Discography
Albums
* The New Look (1966, Chess) US: #93
* Les Stances A Sophie , with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (1970, Nessa Records)
* The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass, (Prestige Records, 1970)
* Free (1972, Paula)
* From The Root To The Source (1980)
* No Ways Tired (1995, Nonesuch)
* Now That I Found a Good Thing (1996, Jewel)
* Travelin (2001, Justin Time)
Singles
* "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (1965, Chess) R&B: #5 US: #33 with Bobby McClure
* "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (1965) R&B: #27 US: #91 with Bobby McClure
* "Rescue Me" (1965) R&B: #1 US: #4 UK: #11
* "Recovery" (1966) R&B: #13 US: #37 UK: #32
* "Safe and Sound" (1966) US: #100 (b-side of "Recovery")
* "I Can't Rest" (1966) R&B: #31
* "I Surrender" (1966) R&B: #33 US: #78 (b-side of "I Can't Rest")
* "You'll Never Know" (1966) R&B: #34
As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. Throughout high school she began singing contemporary 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, however.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
Fontella Bass, 72, died of heart-attack complications in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri, 26 December 2012. She is survived by four children.
Discography
Albums
* The New Look (1966, Chess) US: #93
* Les Stances A Sophie , with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (1970, Nessa Records)
* The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass, (Prestige Records, 1970)
* Free (1972, Paula)
* From The Root To The Source (1980)
* No Ways Tired (1995, Nonesuch)
* Now That I Found a Good Thing (1996, Jewel)
* Travelin (2001, Justin Time)
Singles
* "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (1965, Chess) R&B: #5 US: #33 with Bobby McClure
* "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (1965) R&B: #27 US: #91 with Bobby McClure
* "Rescue Me" (1965) R&B: #1 US: #4 UK: #11
* "Recovery" (1966) R&B: #13 US: #37 UK: #32
* "Safe and Sound" (1966) US: #100 (b-side of "Recovery")
* "I Can't Rest" (1966) R&B: #31
* "I Surrender" (1966) R&B: #33 US: #78 (b-side of "I Can't Rest")
* "You'll Never Know" (1966) R&B: #34
Free At Last
Fontella Bass Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Free At Last' by these artists:
2-BPM We going? Aight. Remember back in those old days. When…
Al Green I'm free, thank god almighty Free at last, free, free, free,…
Antony Way down yonder in the graveyard walk I thank God I'm…
Antony and the Jonsons Way down yonder in the graveyard walk I thank God I'm…
Antony The Johnsons Way down yonder in the graveyard walk I thank God I'm…
Blue Hawaii I missed the bus I didn't arrive on time And our chance…
Cause for Alarm / Warzone I found it years ago Trying to find it again But if…
Chicago I had a long list of things I thought would…
David & David At last I am free I can hardly see in front…
dc Talk Young people Welcome to the... ???... heaven... ???... and m…
G. Love Now I am trying to tell you something about my…
Hate Squad Oppressed for the colour of the skin Times have changed …
Jackie Day I am black, I am a woman I was worry, my…
Jason Walker How many ships have to sink in? How many planes in…
Jeff Black Jackin' around that old jazz town Was like draggin' a dried…
Joan Baez Free at last Free at last Free from the world And all…
Johnsons Way down yonder in the graveyard walk I thank God I'm…
Josh Fix Lay me down and stare.. At the blue, Babe I…
Kevin Gates Yeah, hmm, I'm outchea for real, dig, ya heard Pronto (pron…
Lost Dogs The queen of heaven Lives just down the street She's got h…
Low-G Now I am trying to tell you something about my…
Mikey Powell I lived a life behind these bars I had locked myself…
Neal Morse 9. FREE AT LAST MARY MAGDELENE: All out of…
Nocturnal Rites Hear the voices inside of our minds now Their message is…
Pezz Confusion...is here to stay with the wrong power, we blow a…
Possessed Steel Far beyond the realms of space and time, we were…
PUP I was kissing your salty lips Wet from your nose as…
S-X Free at last, free at last, free at last Now I'm…
Simon I have a dream that one day this nation will…
SKAUSS Don't have to try no more Memories of you no more Counting…
The Blind Boys Of Alabama Free at last, free at last I thank God I'm free…
The R.E.G. Project Now I am trying to tell you something about my…
Today Is The Day you're my sunshine in the night time you're my daytime…
Warzone I found it years ago Trying to find it again But if…
Yasin Jag är som månens ljus i natten stjärnor som glittrar Och…
Youth of Today this world is filled with competition and greed a disgusting…
Zach Taylor Band Where you go I will go What you say I will…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Fontella Bass:
All That You Give All that you are All that you are, All that you have, All…
Baby What You Want Me To Do You got me runnin', you got me hidin' You got me…
Don't Mess Up A Good Thing You been cheating on me You know my love is true Ain't…
Gee Whiz Gee whiz, look at his eyes Gee whiz, how they…
I Surrender I surrender I give my love to you I surrender You say you…
Oh No Not My Baby When my friends told me you had someone new, I didn't…
Our Day Will Come Our day will come And we'll have everything We'll share the …
Recovery Ooh baby, recovery I'm falling again happiness is in my hear…
Rescue Me Rescue me Take me in your arms Rescue me I want your tender…
Rescue Me ENJOY Rescue me Take me in your arms Rescue me I want your tend…
Rescue Me - Single Version Rescue me or take me in your arms Rescue me I want your…
Since I Fell For You When you just give love And never get love You'd better let…
This Would Make Me Happy If your love was mine alone If I had your heart…
You'll Never Know As I stand here, in the shadows, with tears, streaming, dow…
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' You never close your eyes any more when I kiss…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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