Rochelle Fleming, the lead singer of Philadelphia disco and R&B group First Choice, has died at seventy-two. Her manager George Iz Correia announced her passing, on behalf of her family, sharing that Fleming had died the day prior on Nov. 5 in Philadelphia. No cause of death was disclosed.Correia’s post read,“She brought light, laughter and love to the world. Services to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date. Thank you for your support during this difficult time.”Rochelle Fleming had co-founded First Choice with Annette Guest and Wardell Piper back in 1971, right there in her native Philadelphia. The group landed its first big breakthrough with “Armed and Extremely Dangerous” in 1973. “The Player (Part 1)” came the following year, and hits like “Smarty Pants,” “Let No Man Put Asunder” and “Love Thang” followed. As per a report shared by People, the group parted ways in 1980, after which Fleming stepped into a solo career. “Love Itch” in 1985, “Danger!” in 1994 and “Suffer (The Consequences)” in 1995 were among her notable solo releases. Fleming was married to Robert Finney, though she kept the details of her personal life largely away from public view. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostRochelle Fleming’s manager remembers the woman behind the music: View this post on Instagram Instagram PostFleming’s fingerprints never really left contemporary music. In 1999, Mary J. Blige covered First Choice’s “Let No Man Put Asunder” for her album Mary. Years later, R&B and electronic artist Kaytranada sampled Fleming’s “Love Thang” on his 2019 track “10%,” which featured Kali Uchis. (It is worth noting that the Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2021 was awarded to Kaytranada and Kali Uchis for “10%,” not to Rochelle Fleming directly, though her work formed the foundation of the track.) The win spoke to how deeply her music had burrowed itself into the fabric of what came after her. Correia, who managed Rochelle Fleming for seventeen years, shared his own tribute on Instagram on Sunday, Nov. 8, alongside a selfie of the two of them. The post was set to First Choice’s 1973 cover of Al Green’s “Love and Happiness.” He opened his tribute by writing,“Firstly, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Fleming/Finney family. I love you all for the love and support you gave me managing Rochelle for the past 17 years. I can’t go on without recognizing Rochelle’s husband, Mr. Robert Finney, for his support and assistance over the years. I watched him help pack plenty of suitcases over the years 😆,” he shared.“Although my heartbreak is unbearable and the gravity of the situation hit at the most sporadic times, I have so many wonderful memories with Rochelle that I can’t help but to smile with immense gratitude,” he added.Correia also turned directly to Rochelle Fleming's fanbase, writing,“You were ALL known affectionately as her, ‘sweeties.’ She never uttered a harsh word about anyone (unless you were chewing gum 😂) She loved, ‘The Golden Girls’ and would text me random dialogue from the show on Sundays.”He closed his tribute with,“Thank you to the people who gave me love for my work with Rochelle. I feel honored, blessed and proud to have contributed to her legacy.”Rochelle Fleming’s Philadelphia church pays tribute after her passing:Christian Hope Baptist Church, where Fleming had been a member since childhood, also released a statement on Facebook following her passing. The Philadelphia church shared that Fleming had regularly sung with several of its choirs over the years. Their statement read,“The Christian Hope Baptist Church family is heartbroken at the passing of our beloved Sister Rochelle Fleming. We give thanks to God for her life, her voice, and the many years she shared both with us.”The church added,“We extend our love, prayers, and deepest sympathy to the Fleming and Finney families and to all who loved her. Rest well, Rochelle. Your song continues.”