'Rescue Me' singer Bass dies

Fontella Bass was well known for her single 'Rescue Me' (AP)

Fontella Bass, the US soul singer best known for her 1965 hit "Rescue Me", died yesterday at the age of 72.

Bass died in a hospice in St Louis, Missouri, of a heart attack suffered three weeks ago, according to her daughter, Neuka Mitchell. She had also suffered a series of strokes.

Bass began singing in her church's choir at the age of six. Her interest turned to R&B when she was a teenager. She auditioned for Chess Records and landed a recording contract. Her duet with Bobby McClure, "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing", reached No 5 in the R&B charts. Later that year she recorded "Rescue Me", reaching No 1. Her voice bore a striking resemblance to that of Aretha Franklin. Bass haggled over royalty rights to "Rescue Me" for years. She is survived by four children.