First Choice Singer Rochelle Fleming Dies at 72

Rochelle Fleming, the lead singer of Philadelphia disco group First Choice, died November 5 in Philadelphia at 72, according to an announcement by her longtime manager, George Iz Correia. The announcement, made on behalf of Fleming’s family, did not state a cause of death. Correia said arrangements for services would be announced later.

Fleming was a founding member of First Choice, formed in Philadelphia in 1971. The group began performing as the Debonettes and gained wider attention with “Armed and Extremely Dangerous.” Released in 1973, the single reached No. 11 on the U.S. R&B chart, according to the music-history account. It also reached the U.K. Top 20, while another account places it at No. 16 on the British singles chart.

First Choice recorded songs including “Smarty Pants,” “Doctor Love,” “Love Thang” and “Let No Man Put Asunder.” The latter appeared on the group’s 1977 album “Delusions” and was later released as a single. DJ Frankie Knuckles introduced the track to new audiences through club sets, according to the music-history account, and it became associated with the emerging house music scene.

The group split around 1980, and Fleming continued as a solo vocalist,...