The singer’s daughter, Neuka Mitchell, says Bass died at a St. Louis hospice Wednesday night of complications from a heart attack suffered three weeks ago. She was 72. Bass had also suffered several strokes since 2005.
RIP Fontella.
Rescue Me was released in 1965. Since then, I’ve heard uncountable covers, from famous divas to grunge bar bands, and none of them held a candle to Fontella. Her voice shimmers. No one else seems to hit the notes quite right. It was a magical song / singer combination.
Years ago, they did a commercial for Pizza Hut, or some such operation, that used the song as sung by Arethra Franklin. I was not gruntled about that at all. But in consolation, thanks to the world wide web, I am weary of outrage.