Fontella Bass was at the lowest ebb of her life in 1990. It had been 25 years since her rhythm-and-blues single hit number one on the charts. She had no career to speak of, and she was broke, tired, and cold. The only heat in her house came from the gas stove in the kitchen. She had also strayed far from the church where she sang gospel songs as a child.
In her own words, she stated, “I said a long prayer.” I told the Lord, “I need to see a sign to continue on.” No sooner than she said that prayer, she heard her hit song “Rescue Me” on a television commercial. To her, it was as if “the Lord had stepped right into my world.”
Fontella was unaware that American Express had been using her song as part of a commercial and officials had been unable to locate her to pay royalties. Not only did she receive back-royalties, but new opportunities began to open up for her to sing.
She released a new album entitled “No Ways Tired,” but the best news to her was that she renewed her relationship with God. “For so many years I tried doing it on my own, and it didn’t work,” she said. “Then I took it out of my hands and turned it over to Him, and everything started happening.”