We have lost a great American singer-songwriter and accomplished pianist who will truly be missed. In 2022 Roberta Flack was disgnosed with ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Flack passed away February 14, 2025 in New York City surounded by her family.
During the height of the early 1970s classic rock era, Roberta Flack broke onto the scene with her soft and mellow singing style making a big splash on R&B, jazz, rock, and pop charts. A classically trained child prodigy who became one of the leading singers of romantic ballads in modern times. Her tender and intimate vocals take us back to the best romantic moments of our lives and deeply touch us where we are most vulnerable. A great interpreter of R&B, soul, jazz, folk, and pop songs who garnered many Grammy and Billboard awards.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
1973, Flack won a Grammy, song written by Ewan MacColl.
Les Cann said “Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known. I laughed, cried, and screamed for more… she alone had the voice.” Jason King stated “the nature of her power as a performer—to generate rapturous, spellbinding mood music, and to plumb the depths of soulful heaviness by way of classically-informed technique.”
The Los Angeles Times wrote that “She helped us to hear out own stories.” NPR stated that she was one of the “prime revisionists of the American Song Book.” Allmusic called her “classy, urbane, reserved, smooth, and sophisticated.” The Washington Post wrote that she “embodied the Quiet Storm a full decade before it became a successful radio format.”
Killing Me Softly With His Song
1974, Flack received a Grammy award, song written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel.
Roberta Flack was born in 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She was a child prodigy playing the piano and singing in the church choir. At 15 she won a full music scholarship at Howard University where she studied classical piano and vocal music. Earning a degree in music she worked as a high school music teacher. In 1968 Flack began her professional career starting as a jazz singer at nightclubs in Washington DC. Her first album was released in 1969 to much critical acclaim.
Where Is the Love
1973, Duet with Donny Hathaway, won a Grammy. Song written by Ralph MacDonald.
Flack quickly achieved a successful singing career and became a leading star in the 1970s and ‘80s. She was the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years. Her 1973 song The First Time Ever I saw His Face won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Billboard Song of the Year. Again in 1974 her song Killing Me Softly With His Song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
The Closer I Get to You
1979, Duet with Donny Hathaway, won a Grammy, song written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas.
She went on to produce 17 albums with 19 number one hit singles across pop, R&B, jazz, and adult contemporary charts. She won five Grammys with 14 nominations and an American Music Award with six nominations. The Berklee College of Music awarded her an honorary doctorate. Her final album was released in 2012 and her last performance was in 2017.
Feel Like Makin’ Love
1975, Grammy winner, written by Gene McDaniels
Flack performed popular duets with Donny Hathaway, Peabo Bryson, Quincy Jones, and Max Priest. She worked with several songwriters for her albums such as Ralph MacDonald, Gene McDaniels, Charles Fox, and Gerry Goffin. She also sang covers of many other singer-songwriters such as, Leonard Cohen, Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Janis Ian, Carole King, Buffy Sainte Marie, Ewan MacColl, Bobby Caldwell, Phil Spector, Burt Bacharach, and others.
Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson
Tonight I Celebrate My Love
1983, Duet with Peabo Bryson, written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser.
