ROBERTA Flack, the iconic R&B singer renowned for timeless hits 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 representatives confirmed her death on February 24, 2025, expressing deep sorrow: "We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning. She died peacefully surrounded by her family."
Flack, who had revealed in 2022 that she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and could no longer sing, was known for breaking boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on music. In addition to her career as an artist, she was also a dedicated educator, BBC reported.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack’s early life was shaped by classical music. She received a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old.
While her classical training led her to teach, she would also perform in jazz clubs, accompanying opera singers and singing pop songs during breaks, BBC reported.
Her recording career began after being discovered by musician Les McCann while performing in a jazz club. McCann famously wrote that her voice "touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I've ever known."
Despite being in her 30s, Flack scored her first major hit with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in 1971, which was featured in Clint Eastwood's film *Play Misty for Me*. The song went on to win Grammy’s Song of the Year.
She won the Grammy for Song of the Year again the following year with her classic "Killing Me Softly With His Song," and later topped the charts in 1974 with "Feel Like Makin' Love." Afterward, Flack took a step back from performing to focus on recording and charitable endeavors.
Flack spent much of the 1980s touring and collaborating with other legendary artists like Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis. In 1991, she made a successful return to the charts with "Set the Night to Music," a duet with Maxi Priest. Later, in 2012, she released *Let It Be Roberta*, an album of Beatles covers.
In an interview, Flack once described herself as "a soulful singer" who sings with all the feeling she has in her body and mind. She believed a true soul singer could take any song and transcend its flaws to make it unforgettable.
Flack was once married to jazz musician Stephen Novosel and dedicated much of her time to the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York. Reverend Jesse Jackson hailed her as "socially relevant and politically unafraid."
In 2020, after surviving a stroke, Flack was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She described the recognition as an overwhelming honor, stating that the award validated her efforts to share her stories through music.
Her music also reached a new generation when The Fugees, led by Lauryn Hill, released a Grammy-winning cover of "Killing Me Softly" in 1996. The Fugees performed the song live with Flack, introducing her work to even more fans around the world. – February 25, 2025
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