Rochelle Fleming, the lead singer and a founder of the disco girl group First Choice, has died at the age of 72.
Fleming died on November 5 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her manager announced the news on behalf of her family, and a post on her official Instagram account also confirmed it. The cause of death was not given. Her manager said she brought light, laughter and love to the world. Details of a funeral or memorial service have not been announced and will be shared later.
First Choice was a three-piece group from Philadelphia that was active in the 1970s. It began as the Debronettes, and Fleming was one of its founders. Working with producer Norman Harris, the group found success in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Its best-known songs include Armed and Extremely Dangerous, The Player and Love Thang.
Another track, Let No Man Put Asunder, became a classic in the Chicago house scene after remixes by Shep Pettibone and Frankie Knuckles. The group disbanded in 1984 and re-formed in 1987, and its disco hits kept finding new audiences through remixes and reissues.
