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Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ Singer, Dies at 88

BBG News

Legendary Grammy-winning artist and pianist Roberta Flack, known for her soulful singing and heartfelt music that earned her a place among the most successful recording artists in the 1970s and continued to influence others beyond that era, passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

She passed away peacefully at home, enveloped by her loved ones, as reported by her representative, Elaine Schock, in an official statement. In the year 2022, it was disclosed that she had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), which ultimately prevented her from singing.

Prior to her early thirties, Flack was relatively unknown; however, her career took off dramatically when Clint Eastwood chose “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” as the soundtrack for one of his most iconic love scenes in the 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” This hauntingly beautiful ballad, featuring Flack’s soaring soprano accompanied by a symphony of soft strings and piano, reached number one on the Billboard pop chart in 1972 and won a Grammy for record of the year.

In 2018, Flack shared with The Associated Press that the record label wished to speed up the tempo of the track for a re-recording, but he insisted on keeping it as is. With the tune serving as his movie’s theme song, its popularity surged and it eventually soared to success.

In 1973, she accomplished a remarkable feat by winning two Grammy awards consecutively for “Best Record,” and she did so with the song “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” making her the inaugural artist to achieve such a milestone in Grammy history.

In the late 1960s, she was a pianist who had been classically trained, and was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann. Later, he stated that her voice evoked, resonated, confined, and energized every emotion I’ve ever felt. Her vocal abilities were so versatile that they could invoke the fast-paced gospel fervor of Aretha Franklin. However, she usually preferred a more introspective and controlled style.

To her numerous supporters, Flack was an innovative and daring figure who emerged in both the music scene and the social and civil rights struggles of the era. Notable figures among her circle were Reverend Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis, whom she visited in prison during Davis’s trial for charges later dropped due to acquittal related to murder and kidnapping. Flack performed at the funeral of Jackie Robinson, baseball’s pioneering African-American player, and was part of Marlo Thomas’s ensemble of guest artists on the feminist children’s program “Free to Be… You and Me.

Roberta Flack, a musician’s daughter, hailed from Black Mountain, North Carolina, but was brought up in Arlington, Virginia. With a love for gospel music as a child, her exceptional piano skills earned her a full scholarship to Howard University, a historically Black institution, at just 15 years old.
In the 70s, Flack also had other hits like the warm “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and duets with her long-time friend and fellow Howard University alumnus Donny Hathaway, such as “Where Is the Love”.

As I delve deeper into the captivating story of “The Closer I Get to You,” it’s hard not to be moved by the poignant tale of a partnership cut short by fate. In 1979, I found myself collaborating with the extraordinary artist, Hathaway, on an album of enchanting duets. Tragically, during our recording sessions, he experienced a mental breakdown, and later that very same night, he fell from his hotel room in Manhattan, ultimately losing his life.

50 years ago, as they celebrated the success of their album “Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway,” which sold a million copies, Flack said in 2022 to Vibe that their creative bond was profound. He could play any instrument, sing any song. Our musical harmony was extraordinary, something I had never experienced before or since.

Despite not equaling her initial streak of success, she still made notable hits – notably “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Peabo Bryson in the 1980s and “Set the Night to Music” with Maxi Priest in the 1990s. During the mid-90s, Flack saw a resurgence of popularity when the Fugees recorded a Grammy-winning rendition of “Killing Me Softly,” which she later performed on stage alongside the hip-hop group.

In summary, she earned five Grammys (three of which were for “Killing Me Softly”), received additional nominations eight times, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020. Notable figures like John Legend and Ariana Grande have commended her work.

In 2020, Flack shared with songwriteruniverse.com that he cherishes his bond with other artists as we all share a common passion for music, considering it our unique form of expression. Music allows us to comprehend our thoughts and emotions, serving as a universal language that offers solace regardless of life’s trials. Whether I’m at my piano, on stage, in the studio, or simply listening to music, I find comfort, understanding, and guidance.

In 2022, Beyoncé honored Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and others by mentioning them in a distinguished group of female icons in her Grammy-nominated “Queens Remix” of the song “Break My Soul.”

Roberta Flack was once married to Stephen Novosel, which led to family conflicts due to their interracial relationship. Before that, she had a son named Bernard Wright, who is also a singer and keyboardist. For many years, she resided in New York’s Dakota apartment building, sharing the same floor with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. They eventually became close friends, with Yoko Ono providing liner notes for Flack’s album of Beatles covers titled “Let It Be Roberta.” Flack was also deeply committed to the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York, which primarily caters to students ranging from 6 to 14 years old.

For several years during her twenties, Flack taught music in junior high schools located around Washington D.C., but spent her evenings performing at clubs. She occasionally supported other vocalists, yet it was her solo shows at the esteemed Mr. Henry’s that drew famous patrons like Burt Bacharach, Ramsey Lewis, and Johnny Mathis. The proprietor of the club, Henry Yaffe, transformed an apartment above into a personal recording studio, which he named the Roberta Flack Room.

In 2015, she expressed to The Telegraph her aspiration to become a versatile and accomplished musician, with a focus on success. She spent much of her time listening to Aretha Franklin, the Drifters, aiming to emulate their styles by playing and teaching herself.

Flack was signed to Atlantic Records, and in 1969, her debut album “First Take” was released, blending gospel, soul, flamenco, and jazz genres. One of the tracks on this album was a love song penned by the English folk artist Ewan MacColl titled “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” This song, written in 1957 for his future wife, singer Peggy Seeger, was not unfamiliar to Flack, as she had already used it during her time working with a glee club while serving as an educator.

In Washington, D.C., I was a teacher at Banneker Junior High. The area wasn’t particularly affluent, but the children there were fortunate enough to receive music education. My goal was to help them read music effectively. To grab their attention, I’d start singing a Supremes song, “Stop, in the name of love.” Once they focused, I could teach them! This was shared with the Tampa Bay Times in 2012.

She mentioned that dealing with inner-city children requires a variety of tasks. When she played ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,’ she knew they’d enjoy the line where it says, “The first time ever I kissed your mouth.” The kids couldn’t help but giggle at this, but once they did, we continued smoothly.

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2025-02-24 22:06

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