Roberta Flack, a singer and pianist reminiscent of the 1970s when she first started making waves in the music industry, has died. She was 88 years old.
Known for hits like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The Closer I Get to You,” Flack has long solidified her standing as one of music’s greatest performers. In 2022, the singer announced that she could no longer sing following her diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS.
Born in North Carolina on February 10, 1937, Flack grew up surrounded by music. Her mother was a church organist which gave Flack easy entry into the world of melodies and harmonies. As she grew up, she began accompanying her church’s choir on the piano. From there, her love for gospel music continued to grow.
Her prodigious skills earned her acceptance into Howard University with a full scholarship at just 15. Initially, she was focused on piano performance but later switched to honing in on her vocal abilities.
Born to Love and born to sing
After college and humble beginnings teaching piano lessons, Flack would flex her skills by playing and singing jazz standards and originals in a Washington D.C. nightclub. It was at this club that Flack was discovered by fellow jazz musician Les McCann. With the help of McCann, she scored an audition with Atlantic Records. Flack performed over 40 of her songs for the label, quickly gaining their admiration.
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Her career blew up seemingly overnight after Clint Eastwood used her song “The First Time I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 film “Play Misty For Me.” Her record label wanted her to re-record the hit in a faster tempo but the original pace is what stood out to Eastwood. Two years later she released “Killing Me Softly With His Song” which earned her a Grammy for best record. She was the first artist to win the award back to back.
Over the coming decades, Flack continued to release several hits. In 1982 and 1983 she released “Making Love,” and “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”, both landing her in the top 15 on the R&B chart.
Personal Life and Advocacy Work
Flack had friends in many circles, including the realm of civil rights activism. She considered Reverend Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis as close friends. Flack visited Davis in prison while she faced murder and kidnapping charges, for which she was later acquitted.
She used her platform and notoriety to advocate for causes she deeply cared about. Flack was a member of the Artist Empowerment Coalition, a group that advocates for artists to have the right to control their creative properties. She also founded The Roberta Flack School of Music, an afterschool program in the Bronx that provided music education to underprivileged students.
Roberta Flack married Steve Novosel from 1966 to 1972 but never had children. However, she was the godmother of Bernard Wrights, a funk and jazz musician.
In 1999, Flack’s name was added to the growing list of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
While Flack performed at the Apollo Theater in 2018, staff quickly rushed her off stage. Her management shared that she had suffered a stroke a few years prior. Following her ALS diagnosis, she finally retired from the limelight. On February 24, 2025, she passed away at home while surrounded by family.