KEY POINT
- Fleming died Thursday in Philadelphia at the age of 72, according to an announcement shared on Instagram the following day.
- She helped establish First Choice in 1971, with the group becoming known for several influential disco and soul recordings.
- Her musical career continued after the group separated in 1980, with her final track release arriving in 2025.
The announcement of Fleming’s death was shared on Friday through her official Instagram account. The statement celebrated the singer’s impact on people around her, describing how she brought light, laughter and love to the world.
No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Her longtime manager, George Iz Correia, also confirmed his grief in a personal tribute. He described the loss as deeply painful but said his memories of working with Fleming continued to bring him gratitude and happiness.
Correia highlighted her personality beyond the stage, remembering her as someone who rarely spoke negatively about others. He also revealed a detail about her relationship with supporters: Fleming disliked calling them fans and affectionately referred to them as her “sweeties.”
He said she would not want people to remain sad during this period, encouraging everyone to celebrate her music and the legacy she built with First Choice.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Fleming developed a musical career that became closely connected to the city’s entertainment history. In 1971, she joined Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Malanie McSears to establish First Choice.
The group gained recognition with “Armed and Extremely Dangerous” in 1973, a recording that helped introduce its distinctive sound to a wider audience.
A year later, First Choice achieved further success with “The Player (Part 1),” which reached the top of the US Billboard charts, according to the supplied reporting.
Other notable recordings included “Smarty Pants,” “Doctor Love” and “Let No Man Put Asunder.”
The latter became particularly influential beyond its original release. BMG, the parent company of the group’s record label, highlighted how DJs and music producers continued embracing the track through remixes, samples and reinterpretations.
When First Choice separated in 1980, Fleming moved forward with a solo career rather than leaving the music industry.
She released dance recordings including “Love Itch” in 1985, “Danger!” in 1994 and “Suffer (The Consequences)” in 1995. These releases extended her presence in dance music beyond the group’s original era.
Her final recorded track release was “Balls 2 Bounce,” a 2025 collaboration with Terry Hunter. One of her last reported stage appearances took place in New York City in 2019.
Christian Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, where Fleming worshipped from childhood, shared a separate tribute following her death.
The church said she remained a faithful member throughout her life and continued returning to sing, even after achieving international recognition.
Its statement recalled her performances during services, particularly the moments when she stepped forward for a solo. The congregation remembered how her singing moved worshippers emotionally and encouraged them in their faith.
DJ Lenny Fontana also paid tribute, describing Fleming as an icon whose voice had appeared in numerous dance music recordings through sampling.
For those who knew her through First Choice, her recordings remain a lasting part of disco and R&B history. For her church community, she was also someone who maintained a connection to her Philadelphia roots throughout her career.
