Rochelle Fleming, lead singer and founder of the 1970’s girl group First Choice, has died at the age of 72.

Fleming’s passing was confirmed by a post on her official Instagram page, written by her manager George Correia.

“It is with a heavy heart to share the passing of Rochelle Fleming-Finney. She was the founder of the R&B group, First Choice. She passed away on November 5 at the age of 72 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” the post read.

It continued, “She brought light, laughter and love to the world. Services to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date.”

The cause of her death was not stated.

First Choice began singing in high school as the Debonettes. It consisted of Fleming, Annette Guest and Wardel Piper.  The group’s name was later changed to First Choice.

Guest and Piper later left the group and there have been various personnel changes over the years.

Among the group’s biggest hits that found a place on local radio are Armed and Extremely Dangerous (their first charted single, which rose to #11 on the Billboard R&B chart, #28 on the Hot 100, and #19 in the United Kingdom in 1973), the disco hits Smarty Pants, Dr Love and the classic Let No Man Put Asunder, which was covered by Mary J Blige in the 1990s.

Album cuts I Love You More Than Before and A Boy Named Junior were very popular on local shores thanks to stations like JBC-FM and RJR 94 FM.

First Choice broke up in 1980.

First Choice