The legendary R&B singer Fontella Bass died in a St. Louis hospital in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, reports The Huffington Post. Fontella, who was most famous for her 1965 hit “Rescue Me”, had a heart attack three weeks ago and later on Dec. 26 of complications.

Fontella’s Death

Fontella died from heart complications, her daughter Neuka Mitchell told The Huffington Post. She had suffered from strokes since 2005. ”She was an outgoing person,” Neuka said. “She had a very big personality. Any room she entered she just lit the room up, whether she was on stage or just going out to eat.”

Fontella is survived by her four children. She had been married to Lester Bowie, who died in 1999.

Fontella’s Legacy

Fontella was a legendary R&B singer, most famous for singing “Rescue Me”, ”You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone)” and “Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing”. Musical talent ran in her family, as her mother Martha Bass was gospel star.

“Rescue Me” was undoubtedly her biggest hit, has been played in a ton of movies, and it is a jukebox classic. It sold more than a million copies and stayed at #1 for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 R&B Chart.

Fontella’s career spanned several decades and transcended several genres. In 1995, Fontella recorded a gospel album called “No Ways Tired,” that earned a Grammy nomination, and in the year 2000 she was inducted into the St. Louis Hall of Fame.

She was quite an amazing woman, and her music will live on forever.

What do YOU think HollywoodLifers? Do YOU like Fontella’s music? Weigh in below!

– Eleanore Hutch

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