Roberta Flack, the velvet-voiced songstress who gave us timeless classics like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, has passed away at the age of 88. Her family confirmed the news, sharing that she passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
“Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator,” her rep said in a statement. And that’s the truth—she wasn’t just a singer; she was a storyteller, a classically trained pianist, and a musical force who made soul music feel like poetry.
A Voice That Defined an Era
Born in Black Mountain, N.C., and raised in Arlington, Va., Flack was a musical prodigy. At just 15, she earned a full scholarship to Howard University—proof that her gift wasn’t just talent, it was destiny. But her rise to stardom wasn’t immediate. She was grinding in the D.C. club scene, performing at Mr. Henry’s, when jazz pianist Les McCann caught wind of her talent. He didn’t just take notice—he took action, bringing her to Atlantic Records, where her career took flight.
Her 1969 debut album First Take didn’t immediately take off, but fate intervened when Clint Eastwood decided to use The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his thriller Play Misty for Me (1971). That hauntingly beautiful ballad? It shot to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1973.
Then came Killing Me Softly With His Song, and Flack made history—winning back-to-back Grammys for Record of the Year, a feat that wouldn’t be repeated until U2 in the early 2000s. With her signature soft, slow-burning delivery, she didn’t just sing—she hypnotized.
A Legacy of Hits and Unmatched Duets
Flack’s career wasn’t just about solo hits—she knew how to make magic in a duet. Her collaborations with Donny Hathaway (Where Is the Love, The Closer I Get to You) were the kind of love songs that made you believe in romance. The chemistry was undeniable, which made Hathaway’s tragic passing in 1979 all the more heartbreaking.
Even as music trends shifted toward funk, hip-hop, and harder-edged R&B, Flack stayed true to her signature style. She notched hits in the ‘80s (Tonight, I Celebrate My Love with Peabo Bryson) and even in the ‘90s (Set the Night to Music with Maxi Priest). And when the Fugees covered Killing Me Softly in 1996, a whole new generation got a taste of her impact.
More Than a Singer—A Cultural Icon
Beyond music, Flack was deeply connected to the social movements of her time. She stood alongside Angela Davis, sang at Jackie Robinson’s funeral, and was a champion for education. She even founded the Roberta Flack School of Music to give young musicians the opportunities she once had.
Her influence stretched far beyond the charts. In 2022, Beyoncé name-checked her in Break My Soul (Queens Remix) alongside other trailblazers like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. And let’s be real—when Queen Bey salutes you, your legacy is untouchable.
Saying Goodbye to a Legend
Though she had been battling ALS in recent years, Flack’s spirit remained as strong as ever. When honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020, she reflected on what music meant to her:
“No matter what challenge life presents, I am at home with my piano, on a stage, with my band, in the studio, listening to music. I can find my way when I hear music.”
And that’s exactly how we’ll remember her—through the songs that still make us feel, make us love, and make us listen.
Rest in power, Ms. Flack. Your voice may be silent, but your music will sing on forever.