‘Rescue Me’ Singer Fontella Bass Dies at 72

Fontella Bass – best known for her 1965 hit single “Rescue Me” – passed away on Wednesday at the age of 72 in a St. Louis hospital.

According to her family, Bass based away due to complications from a heart attack she suffered three weeks ago. She had a history of strokes since 2005.

Bass released her hit single “Rescue Me” in 1965. The song would rise to #1 on the US R&B Singles chart, #4 on the US Pop Singles chart and certified Gold after selling 1 million albums. Bass would continue to release a string of hits including “You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone)”, “I Can’t Rest” and “Recovery”, but none would ever be as big as “Rescue Me”.

She is survived by her four children.