Roberta Flack, the acclaimed singer and pianist who won multiple Grammy awards and became a significant figure in music throughout the 1970s and beyond, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. According to her publicist, Elaine Schock, she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Flack had revealed in 2022 that she was diagnosed with ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which prevented her from singing.
Flack was relatively unknown until her early 30s when she gained instant fame after Clint Eastwood chose her song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for a pivotal romantic scene in the 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” Her hauntingly beautiful ballad, highlighted by her delicate soprano, climbed to the top of the Billboard pop charts in 1972 and won a Grammy for Record of the Year. Reflecting on this moment, Flack mentioned in a 2018 interview that the record label had wanted to alter the song’s tempo. However, Eastwood insisted it remain unchanged, leading to its burgeoning popularity.
In 1973, she captured public attention again with “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” earning her a consecutive Grammy win for Best Record. A prodigy at piano, Flack received a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. She was discovered in the late 1960s by jazz artist Les McCann, who remarked that her voice evoked deep emotions, bridging the gap between various musical styles. While she could emulate Aretha Franklin’s passionate gospel sounds, Flack preferred a more thoughtful delivery, crafting each song with care.
Flack commanded respect not only in the music industry but also within the socio-political landscape of her time. She associated with civil rights figures such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis, whom she visited during Davis’s imprisonment on charges she was ultimately acquitted of. Flack also performed at significant events such as Jackie Robinson’s funeral and contributed to Marlo Thomas’s feminist children’s project “Free to Be … You and Me.”
Some of her other popular songs from the era include the sensual “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and two memorable duets with her close friend Donny Hathaway titled “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.” This collaboration, however, was marred by tragedy when Hathaway experienced a mental breakdown and subsequently fell to his death in 1979 while they were working on a duet album.
Flack remarked on their deep creative bond, expressing in a 2022 interview how their synergy was unmatched in her career. Although she never quite matched the success of her early years, she enjoyed hits like “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Peabo Bryson in the 1980s and “Set the Night to Music” with Maxi Priest in the 1990s. The Fugees brought her back into the spotlight with their Grammy-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly,” which she later performed alongside them on stage.
In total, Flack garnered five Grammy awards—three for “Killing Me Softly”—and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020, praised by notable artists like John Legend and Ariana Grande. Flack sweetly spoke about her bond with fellow musicians as a shared language through which they could express their thoughts and feelings, emphasizing how music was her refuge.
Throughout her career, Flack’s influence resonated beyond her musical success. In 2022, Beyoncé honored her along with other icons in the Grammy-nominated “Queens Remix” of “Break My Soul.” Flack’s personal life included a brief marriage to Stephen Novosel amidst familial tensions, and she also raised a son, musician Bernard Wright. For many years, she lived in the historic Dakota apartment building in Manhattan, where she befriended John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who later contributed liner notes for her Beatles tribute album titled “Let It Be Roberta.”
Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and grew up in Arlington, Virginia. After completing her education at Howard University, she taught music in local junior high schools while performing at clubs. Her performances at Washington’s renowned Mr. Henry’s club attracted attention from celebrities, leading to the creation of a private studio dedicated to her artistry.
Flack, who was signed to Atlantic Records, released her debut album “First Take” in 1969, which showcased a mix of gospel, soul, flamenco, and jazz influences. The album included the now-classic ballad “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which Flack had previously introduced to her students during her teaching years.
Her dedication to music education was evident as she sought to engage her students from underprivileged backgrounds with songs that resonated with them. She recalled employing well-known hits to capture their interest before introducing more complex material and fostering a love for music that transcended their daily challenges.
