Fontella Bass (July 3, 1940 - December 26, 2012) was an American rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, and pop singer, pianist, and songwriter. She is best known for "Rescue Me," a 1965 recording that became one of the defining singles of the classic soul era. With its urgent vocal, insistent rhythm, prominent horns, and gospel-rooted intensity, the song established Bass as one of the most forceful female voices in 1960s R&B.
Bass was born in St. Louis, Missouri, into a musical family. Her mother, Martha Bass, was a gospel singer associated with the Clara Ward Singers, while her grandmother, Nevada Carter, also performed gospel music. Bass began singing in church as a child and toured during her youth with her mother and grandmother. Although gospel remained central to her musical identity, she was drawn to secular rhythm and blues and began performing in local clubs and at fairs. As a teenager, she worked as a pianist and singer, eventually becoming associated with the St. Louis R&B scene.
In the early 1960s, Bass joined the band of blues singer Little Milton. Her work as a pianist and vocalist brought her to the attention of producer and musician Oliver Sain, who later became an important collaborator. She recorded with Little Milton and began issuing records under her own name, including "I Don't Hurt Anymore" and "I Love the Man," the latter produced by Ike Turner. Bass also recorded "Poor Little Fool" as a duet with Tina Turner.
Bass gained wider attention as the lead singer of the Oliver Sain Soul Revue. In 1964, she and Bobby McClure recorded "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing," a duet released by Checker Records that became a Top Ten R&B hit. The success led Bass toward a solo career and a move to Chicago, where she recorded for Chess Records.
"Rescue Me" was released in 1965 and became Bass' signature performance. The single reached number one on the R&B chart and the Top Five of the pop chart. Bass' delivery combined the directness of a club singer with the emotional attack of a gospel soloist. The recording was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. Bass maintained that she had contributed to the song's writing, but she did not initially receive proper recognition or payment as a co-writer, leading to a long dispute with Chess.
Her follow-up singles, including "Recovery" and "Sweet Lovin' Daddy," achieved more modest results, and Bass' period as a major chart artist was brief. She continued recording and performing, however, and her artistic range became more apparent through collaborations with her then-husband, trumpeter Lester Bowie. After moving to Paris, she appeared on recordings connected with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, including The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass and Les Stances a Sophie. These projects placed her powerful voice in an avant-garde jazz setting.
Bass returned to St. Louis in the early 1970s and reunited with Oliver Sain for the album Free, released in 1972. Although the record received little commercial attention, it is regarded as one of her strongest full-length recordings. After spending much of the late 1970s and 1980s away from the pop industry, Bass returned increasingly to gospel music. She recorded with her mother and brother David Peaston on Promises: A Family Portrait of Faith and later made No Ways Tired and Travellin', continuing to perform in churches and on European stages.
Fontella Bass died in St. Louis at the age of 72. Her legacy rests chiefly on "Rescue Me," but her wider career reflects the close relationship between St. Louis gospel, Chicago soul, blues, and experimental jazz.