Fontella Bass

Fontella Bass was an American singer whose powerful, gospel-rooted voice helped shape a 1960s soul and rhythm and blues sound. She is best known for the 1960s single 'Rescue Me'. Across her career she drew on gospel and R&B traditions and later participated in collaborations that brought jazz and experimental influences; she was married for a time to trumpeter Lester Bowie. She died in 2012.