First Choice (music group)

First Choice
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Soul, R&B, Disco
Years active	1971–1984 2014- present
Labels	Philly Groove, Gold Mind
Members	Rochelle Fleming Annette Guest Wardell Piper Joyce Jones Ursula Herring Debbie Martin

1971–1984

First Choice is an American girl group vocal music trio from Philadelphia. The group produced the Soul/disco hits "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player", "Love Thang", "Let No Man Put Asunder" and "Doctor Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove Records and to disco label Salsoul Records.

The First Choice began singing in high school as the Debonettes. The group consisted of lead singer Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest and Wardell Piper. They performed in clubs after school in and around Philadelphia, PA. They were introduced to record man Norman Harris by radio DJ Georgie Woods. Harris produced their first single “This Is The House Where Love Died”. The single failed to chart nationally but was played in Philadelphia and dance club across the U.S. Their next release was “Armed and Extremely Dangerous” . The single quickly became an R&B top 11 hit in early 1973 and making the UK Top 20. Wardell Piper quit the group to go solo before their first album was released and is not pictured although she is singing on the album . She was replaced by singer Joyce Jones. Their new hit enabled the group to get national exposure on TV shows like Dinah , Soul Train and American Bandstand. Other R&B hits followed like “Smarty Pants”went to #25 R&B and became the group's biggest UK single reaching #9 , “Newsy Neighbors” and “The Player” which became their biggest R&B hit going to number #7 .

The trio officially disbanded in 1980 however in 1984 Sal-Soul records released “Let No Man Put Asunder” from their 1977 LP “Delusions”. That single rose to #13 on the Billboard dance chart and has become the groups signature song and still a current favorite on the house music scene.

Rochelle Fleming continued to record and perform internationally as a solo artist . Annette Guest became a successful songwriter writing for artist such as Stephanie Mills.

Official members Annette Guest and Ursula Herring are currently performing again as The First Choice.

The group was influential to early house and techno music, because of sampling by many artists, including Todd Terry and The Jungle Brothers, mostly from First Choice's 1977 track, "Let No Man Put Asunder". "Let No Man Put Asunder" was also covered by Mary J. Blige on her 1999 album Mary.

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