Soul music is rooted in gospel. Many of soul's early stars were gospel singers: Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin. These pioneers opened the door for church singers, artists who wanted fame in the world of popular music. A teenager from St. Louis whose mother was a professional gospel artist with the vocal group, the Clara Ward Singers, first toured with blues singer Little Milton. She was later recording with Ike Turner, who signed the young singer to his label. Fontella Bass made some of her earliest records under Ike's supervision in the early 1960s. The record, “Poor Little Fool,” which is a Rhythm Revue favorite, features Tina Turner as a background singer, as well as Ike's band.
But it wasn't until Fontella left Ike behind and signed with Chess Records in Chicago that her performances started to get play on radio stations around the country. Her 1965 recording of “Rescue Me” became her biggest hit. In fact, her only number one R&B song and top 10 pop hit.
“Rescue Me” featured, among others, Maurice White on drums, who later led Earth, Wind and Fire, and a young background singer named Minnie Riperton, herself just a few feet away from fame. Fontella Bass was born on July 3rd, 1940. She was from a family of musicians. Her mother was Martha Bass, and her younger brother David Peaston had some fame in the 1980s. She was also married to jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie. Fontella Bass died in her hometown of St. Louis in 2012.
Listen above.
Recommended Tracks:
“Rescue Me”
“The Soul of the Man” (flipside of “Rescue Me”)
“No Ways Tired” (1995)
“Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing” (with Bobby McClure)
Deep Cut:
“Poor Little Fool” (With Ike & Tina Turner)
