Rochelle Fleming, the singer who formed the disco and R&B band "First Choice" in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 72. This was reported in an announcement made on her Instagram account where it was stated that she died on November 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. Her manager revealed the news on Monday, November 9, on her behalf.
According to George Iz Correia, the manager of the deceased Rochelle Fleming-Finney, the founding member of the R&B band known as First Choice died, and he broke the news with much regret.
The statement explained that Rochelle Fleming-Finney was a person whose life brought "light, laughter, and love."
As George Iz stated, although he felt an unbelievable pain, there are so many good memories that made him happy and smile with gratitude.
Rochelle formed the band in Philadelphia in 1971. In the beginning, the name of the band was Debonettes. Its original members were Rochelle, Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Malanie McSears. The trio that was known later as First Choice was headed by Rochelle's voice.
The breakthrough single "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" was released in 1973. The single that followed in 1974 was titled "The Player (Part 1)". Some other songs include "Love Thang". Their records were played in nightclubs and R&B radio stations in the time of disco.
Later in her career, she ventured into solo releases such as "Love Itch", "It's Not Over" and "Nobody's Fool".
Fleming made a failed attempt to revive First Choice along with her cousin Laconya Fleming and Lawrence Cotell in the 1980s, as reported by USA TODAY. In later years, Fleming kept releasing songs as she performed live, and in 2019, she was pictured performing on stage at Elsewhere in New York City on May 25th.
The voice of Carol Fleming was not limited to disco music, as mentioned in People Magazine and Yahoo. Her voice gained prominence in house music, and samples of her voice are used widely in modern dance music. In his Facebook post, producer and DJ Lenny Fontana remembered her as one of the greatest voices in R&B, disco and house music genres.
Fontana recalled her humble nature and her iconic status. He said that her voice could be heard in numerous contemporary dance tracks.
Fleming's career connected the 1970s Philly disco scene with the subsequent dance music scenes that evolved decades later.
Fleming was a long-standing member of Christian Hope Baptist Church, which has confirmed her passing in an announcement on Facebook.
It has been said that she has been a faithful member since joining with her family as a child.
This shows one side of her life that was outside of her public career.
Fans and other members of the industry have paid tribute via social media in the form of video and audio clips of the group's songs. They have particularly highlighted the fact that her vocals are still being heard in clubs and online platforms.
Privacy is requested by the family and there has been no information released on funeral/memorial service arrangements in the articles I read.
The legacy of Fleming is based on several songs that were hits within the dance music genre, as well as the voice that survived the period when she recorded.
For the city of Philadelphia, she will always be known as part of the musical history of the city with musicians who have created music in the genres of R&B, soul, and disco.
For the DJs and producers, her vocals are a resource for sampling and inspiration.
The family plans to release funeral details and plans for memorial services. In addition, the church and music fraternity that the deceased belonged to will hold tributes. It is also anticipated that radio stations and DJs will pay tribute by playing songs by First Choice in her memory.
Her songs can still be found in various music streaming sites.
