Roberta Flack, the iconic Grammy-winning soul singer known for timeless hits like Killing Me Softly with His Song, has passed away at the age of 88. Her publicist, Elaine Schock, confirmed that Flack died peacefully at home on Monday, surrounded by her loved ones. Her passing comes after a prolonged battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that ultimately took away her ability to sing.
A Voice That Transcended Generations
Roberta Flack’s influence on the music industry is undeniable. Her career, spanning decades, cemented her as one of the most defining voices of her generation. With 14 Grammy nominations and five wins—including back-to-back Record of the Year awards—Flack’s legacy is woven into the fabric of soul, R&B, and pop music. In 2020, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her remarkable contributions.
Musician and filmmaker Questlove paid tribute to Flack, sharing a heartfelt message: “Thank You Roberta Flack. Rest In Melody.”
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack was a musical prodigy from a young age. She started piano lessons at just nine years old and earned a scholarship to Howard University at 15, graduating in 1958 with a degree in music education. Despite her classical training, she faced barriers in the industry, with limited opportunities for Black women in classical music.
“One of the hassles of being a Black female musician is that people are always backing you into a corner and telling you to sing soul,” she once told TIME magazine. However, her deep passion for music led her to explore new genres, ultimately shaping her distinctive sound.
Rise to Stardom
Flack’s breakthrough moment came when jazz musician Les McCann discovered her performing at a Washington, D.C. nightclub. He introduced her to Atlantic Records, where she famously auditioned with over 40 songs in three hours. Her debut album, First Take (1969), introduced her to the world, featuring The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face—a song that skyrocketed to fame after Clint Eastwood used it in his film Play Misty for Me. The track dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and won Record of the Year at the 1973 Grammy Awards.
Hit After Hit
Flack continued to produce chart-topping music, collaborating with fellow soul artist Donny Hathaway. Their duet Where Is the Love won a Grammy, and in 1973, she released Killing Me Softly with His Song, which became one of the biggest hits of her career. The song remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and earned her two Grammys in 1974.
Her fifth solo album, Feel Like Makin’ Love, saw her take creative control as a producer, a rare move for women in the male-dominated music industry. She even credited herself as Rubina Flake, a name that symbolized her bold step into production.
A Voice for Social Change
Beyond romance and soul, Flack’s music tackled pressing social issues. She addressed racial inequality in Tryin’ Times, economic disparity in Compared to What, and LGBTQ struggles in Ballad of the Sad Young Men. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson once described her as “socially relevant and politically unafraid.”
Reflecting on her legacy, Flack expressed disappointment that many of the struggles she sang about remained unresolved. “I’m deeply saddened that many of the songs I recorded 50 years ago about civil rights, equal rights, poverty, hunger, and suffering in our society are still relevant today.”
A Lasting Influence
Flack’s music inspired generations of artists, including Lauryn Hill and the Fugees, who revived Killing Me Softly in 1996. Contemporary stars like Lizzo, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande also cite her as an influence.
Her music was deeply personal. “Every single song I’ve recorded expressed something deep and personal to me,” she once told NPR. Her legacy is not just in her hits but in the emotions and messages she conveyed through her music.
As we remember Roberta Flack, we celebrate her extraordinary contributions to music, culture, and social change. Her voice may be silent, but her melodies will live on forever.
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