Roberta Flack, the celebrated singer known for her soulful voice and timeless hits, has passed away at the age of 88. She was best known for songs like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song.
Her representatives confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement:
“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
In 2022, Flack revealed that she had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which made it impossible for her to sing. Despite this, her legacy continued to inspire fans around the world.
A Childhood Surrounded by Music
Roberta Flack was born in North Carolina but grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Music was a huge part of her life from an early age. She started learning classical piano and showed incredible talent. By the age of 15, she had won a full scholarship to Howard University, an extraordinary achievement for someone so young.
Although she trained as a classical musician, Flack was also drawn to other genres. She once said:
“While I was studying classical music, I was also singing and playing rhythm and blues with my friends. I grew up with both Bach and blues in my life.”
After completing her studies, she became a teacher, but her passion for music never faded. She played piano for opera singers in the evenings, and during breaks, she would sing popular songs. These performances allowed her to explore different styles and prepare for the career that lay ahead.
A Chance Discovery That Changed Everything
Flack’s career took off when jazz musician Les McCann discovered her singing in a Washington, D.C. jazz club. He was immediately impressed by her voice and later wrote:
“Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known.”
Soon after, she was offered a record deal, and her journey as a professional musician began. However, success did not come overnight. It was only when one of her songs was used in a Hollywood film that her career skyrocketed.
Breakthrough With a Grammy-Winning Hit
In 1971, Clint Eastwood used Flack’s recording of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his film Play Misty for Me. The song’s emotional depth made it an instant hit, and it won the prestigious “Song of the Year” award at the Grammys.
The following year, Flack won the same award again for Killing Me Softly With His Song. This made her one of the few artists to win back-to-back Grammys for “Song of the Year.”
Her success continued with another chart-topping song in 1974, Feel Like Makin’ Love. After this, Flack decided to step back from live performances for a while and focused on recording music and supporting charitable causes.
A Decades-Long Career in Music
Throughout the 1980s, Flack continued to tour and collaborate with other artists. She worked with legendary musicians like Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis.
In 1991, she returned to the charts with Set the Night to Music, a duet with British reggae singer Maxi Priest. She also explored different musical styles and, in 2012, released an album of Beatles covers titled Let It Be Roberta.
More Than Just a Singer
Beyond her music, Flack was passionate about education. She dedicated much of her time to teaching and established the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York. She strongly believed in the power of music to change lives and worked hard to support young musicians.
She was also recognized for her courage in addressing social and political issues. Reverend Jesse Jackson once described her as “socially relevant and politically unafraid.”
Recognition and Legacy
Even after suffering a stroke in 2019, Flack continued to be honored for her contributions to music. In 2020, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys. Expressing her gratitude, she said:
“This is a tremendous and overwhelming honor. I have always tried to tell stories through my music, and this award proves that my message was heard.”
One of her most iconic songs, Killing Me Softly With His Song, gained new popularity in 1996 when The Fugees released their Grammy-winning version. The song introduced her music to a new generation of listeners, keeping her legacy alive.
A Life That Inspired Millions
Roberta Flack’s voice was more than just beautiful—it carried deep emotions that connected with listeners across generations. Whether singing about love, loss, or life’s joys, she had a way of making people feel every word.
