Profile of Fontella Bass on Famous Like Me

Fontella Bass (born July 3, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American soul singer.

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 of her home town.

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 thirty 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.

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 occaisionally, being featured as a background vocalist on several recordings, including those of her husband, Lester Bowie, a jazz trumpeter. 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'.

Discography

Albums

• The New Look (1966, Chess) US: #93
• 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

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