Rochelle Fleming, the founding lead singer of First Choice, died on November 5, 2026, at age 72. The news was announced on her official Instagram page two days later. The announcement gave no cause of death and said details of a service celebrating her life would follow.
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From a Philadelphia High School to the Billboard Charts
Fleming started singing with Annette Guest and Wardell Piper while they attended Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School. They called themselves the Debonettes before becoming First Choice. Local radio personality Georgie Woods helped connect the group with producer Norman Harris and songwriter Allan Felder.
Their 1973 breakthrough, “Armed and Extremely Dangerous,” reached No. 11 on Billboard’s R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100. “Smarty Pants” and “The Player” followed. By 1977, First Choice had released Delusions, an album that held two of the group’s most enduring dance records.
Discover how Rochelle Fleming helped turn a 1977 First Choice album track into an early house music staple in Resident Advisor’s tribute.
The First Choice Song That Found a Second Life
“Doctor Love” gives listeners a quick introduction to Fleming’s commanding lead. “Let No Man Put Asunder,” from the same album, shows why DJs kept returning to her voice. Her delivery shifts between full-throated singing and conversational asides. Even a short vocal fragment carries the personality of the original performance.
The song became a staple of early house music as DJs and producers reused parts of the vocal and instrumental arrangement. Mary J. Blige recorded her own version in 1999, giving another generation a route into the song. First Choice disbanded in 1980, but Fleming kept recording and performing. Her solo releases included “Love Itch” and “Danger!”
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FAQs
1. Who Was Rochelle Fleming?
She was the founding lead singer of First Choice, a Philadelphia vocal group whose recordings helped connect soul, disco, and house music.
2. What Was Rochelle Fleming’s Cause of Death?
The announcement on her official Instagram page did not disclose a cause of death. It said details of a service would be announced later.
3. What Album Features “Let No Man Put Asunder”?
The original First Choice recording appeared on Delusions in 1977. The album also features “Doctor Love.”
4. Did Rochelle Fleming Release Solo Music?
Yes. She continued recording and performing after First Choice disbanded. Her solo dance releases included “Love Itch” and “Danger!”
