Fontella Bass passed away on December 26, 2012, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Fontella Bass passed away on December 26, 2012, due to complications from a heart attack following a stroke. She died in St. Louis, Missouri, the city of her birth and musical awakening. Her passing marked the end of an era defined by her indelible contributions to soul music. In the aftermath of her passing, many celebrated her powerful vocal legacy and the iconic sounds she brought to the genre.