Legendary Singer Roberta Flack Passes Away at 88
Roberta Flack, the soulful voice behind the timeless hit Killing Me Softly With His Song, has passed away at the age of 88.
Her publicist confirmed her passing but did not disclose the cause. In recent years, Flack battled ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affected her ability to sing after her diagnosis in 2022.
“She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones,” the statement read.
A Trailblazer in Music
With her delicate yet powerful voice, Flack carved a unique space in music, blending rhythm and blues with classical influences. She often described her style as “scientific soul,” a perfect mix of precision and raw emotion.
Her sound played a major role in shaping the quiet storm genre—smooth, soulful ballads that influenced R&B throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
A Journey from Gospel to Stardom
Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Music ran deep in her family, and gospel was a big part of her childhood. She learned piano at an early age, earning a scholarship to Howard University by the time she was 15.
Flack once shared that her father salvaged a broken piano from a junkyard, restored it, and painted it green—her very first instrument and a gateway to her musical journey.
Playing in Washington D.C. clubs led to her discovery by jazz musician Les McCann, which paved the way for her signing with Atlantic Records at 32—an age considered late to start a recording career.
A Voice That Defined Generations
Her rise to fame came after Clint Eastwood featured her song The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The song became an instant classic, winning the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972. The following year, she made history by winning the same award again for Killing Me Softly With His Song, making her the first artist to achieve back-to-back wins in that category.
Decades later, the Fugees introduced her hit to a new generation with their 1996 remake, featuring Lauryn Hill. The song topped global charts and brought Flack another Grammy.
In recognition of her contributions to music, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2020.
A Legacy Beyond Music
Flack’s impact extended beyond entertainment. She was deeply involved in social movements and maintained close ties with civil rights leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson and activist Angela Davis. She also paid tribute to baseball legend Jackie Robinson by singing at his funeral.
Reflecting on her early years, she once said, “I grew up in a time when being called ‘Black’ was meant to be an insult. But we reclaimed it, and it became the most powerful thing we could be.”
Her music carried messages of love, resilience, and change. “I sang songs that were considered protest songs,” she recalled. “But I protested with love.”
Roberta Flack leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking music and an enduring influence on generations of artists.
