R&B and disco legend Rochelle Fleming dead at 72

Rochelle Fleming, the lead singer and founding member of the 1970s R&B and disco girl group First Choice, has passed away at the age of 72. According to KTVU, her passing was confirmed through a post on her official Instagram page written by her manager on behalf of the family. Her manager stated that she passed away on Nov. 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Services to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date, as reported by KTVU.

First Choice was originally formed in Philadelphia in 1971, having initially been known as the Debronettes, according to AL.com and KTVU reports. The group collaborated with producer Norman Harris and achieved success both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Their breakout hit in 1973 was "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," which made a splash on the R&B charts. Additional hits produced by the group included "Smarty Pants," "The Player (Part 1)", "Guilty," "Love Thang," and "Doctor Love," according to AL.com and KTVU. Their track "Let No Man Put Asunder" also became a classic in the Chicago house music scene following remixes by Shep Pettibone and Frankie Knuckles, as noted by Celebrity Talent Agency information cited by KTVU.

Sources provided differing timelines regarding the group's disbandment and activity. AL.com reported that First Choice broke up in 1980, after which Fleming continued with a solo career. In contrast, KTVU reported via Celebrity Talent Agency that the group disbanded in 1984 before re-forming in 1987 to continue seeing success through remixes and reissues of their disco hits. Lenny Fontana paid tribute to Fleming on Facebook, calling her "One of the greatest in R&B, Disco, and House music" and noting that she is "probably one of the most sampled in current dance music," as reported by AL.com.

Fleming was also deeply connected to her local community in Philadelphia. According to AL.com, the Christian Hope Baptist Church shared a statement on Facebook expressing heartache over the passing of "our beloved Sister Rochelle Fleming," noting that she came to the church as a child with her family and remained a faithful member throughout her life. The church stated that when Fleming stepped forward for a solo, the sanctuary would lean in as her voice stirred spirits and moved people to tears.