Bass was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were Wilhelmina (née Duckett) and DeWitt Talmadge Bass. Her father was a letter carrier. She was raised in the Venice/Fairfax neighborhood and went to Hamilton High School. She studied philosophy at San Diego State University (1971–1973). Then, she got a B.S. in health sciences from California State University, Dominguez Hills (1990).