Rochelle Fleming, the powerhouse lead singer of the Philadelphia disco and soul group First Choice, has died at 72, her manager announced on behalf of her family.
Fleming died Nov. 5 in Philadelphia, according to reports. No cause of death has been disclosed.
A Philadelphia native, Fleming helped form First Choice in 1971. The group broke through in 1973 with "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" and followed with hits including "Smarty Pants," "The Player (Part 1)," "Guilty," "Love Thang" and "Doctor Love." After the group split in 1980, she kept recording solo dance tracks such as "Love Itch," "Danger!" and "Suffer (The Consequences)."
Her voice also outlived the disco era. BMG, parent company of the group's record label, said "Let No Man Put Asunder" became a favorite of DJs and producers through remixes, samples and reinterpretations. DJ Lenny Fontana called her one of the most sampled voices in current dance music.
Faith was part of her story, too. Christian Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia posted a tribute saying that even after Fleming became a renowned artist, she "came home" to sing there. The church said that when she stepped forward for a solo, her voice moved the congregation to tears and lifted them into praise.
Fans, DJs and her church family are now remembering a singer whose voice carried from the dance floor to the sanctuary.
