Soul singer Fontella Bass has died in St. Louis of complications from a recent heart attack, the Associated Press reports. She was 72 years old. Bass was best known for singing and co-writing the 1965 smash "Rescue Me".

Bass came from a deep family tradition of music-- her grandmother was gospel performer Navada Carter, her mother was Martha Bass of the Clara Ward Singers, and her younger brother was the late singer David Peaston ("Two Wrongs (Don't Make A Right)"). She was married to jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie before he passed in 1999.

Bass grew up singing in church and performing with her family, but as a teenager her interests brought her to more secular music and she began performing in nightclubs in St. Louis. There, she became tight with local acts like Little Milton-- future husband Bowie also played in Little Milton's band-- and the Oliver Sain Soul Revue. She performed as session pianist for artists including Muddy Waters and Albert King, before recording her first vocal sessions in 1962.

After leaving St. Louis for Chicago and signing to Chess Records, Bass teamed up with Sain collaborator Bobby McClure for her first Top Ten Hit, the duet "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing." Bass cut "Rescue Me" in 1965, which is regarded by some as "greatest record Aretha Franklin never made."

In the 70s, Bass mostly took a break from the music business to raise her family, though she did work with Bowie and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In the 80s, she began performing gospel music with her family again, and released several gospel albums. Her last album was 2001's Travellin'.

"Rescue Me":

"Don't Mess Up a Good Thing":