Rochelle Fleming, singer of disco's First Choice, dies at 72

KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYMon, November 9, 2026 at 11:20 PM UTC

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Rochelle Fleming, lead singer of the R&B and disco group First Choice, has died. She was 72.

Fleming died Nov. 5 in her hometown of Philadelphia, per a Nov. 9 statement posted on her Instagram account. Her manager, George Iz Correia, delivered the news on behalf of the Fleming-Finney family.

"She [brought] light, laughter and love to the world," Correia wrote. "Services to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date. Thank you for your support during this difficult time."

Initially called the Debonettes, the group included Fleming, Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Malanie McSears. The trio later formed First Choice in 1971 as students at Philadelphia's Overbrook High School.

McSears soon left the venture. Though Piper sang on their first album, "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," she dropped out before its 1973 release and was replaced with Joyce Jones.

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After some changes in the trio's membership and releasing other hits such as "The Player," "Doctor Love," "Guilty," "Love Thang" and the oft-remixed and sampled "Let No Man Put Asunder," they split in 1980. Fleming made a short-lived attempt to revive the group in the '80s with cousin Laconya Fleming and Lawrence Cotell.

As a solo artist, Fleming released songs such as "Love Itch," "It's Not Over" and "Nobody's Fool."

As house DJ Lenny Fontana described in a Nov. 6 social media post, Fleming "is probably one of the most sampled in current dance music as you will hear her voice on so many recordings."

Fellow Philadelphia-born musical staple Sister Sledge remembered Fleming for her "beautifully soulful voice and music" in a Nov. 9 social media post. "May she rest in heavenly peace, and our condolences to her family and loved ones," the group wrote.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rochelle Fleming, singer of disco's First Choice, dies at 72

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