Crystabel Ukwuegbu
Renowned R&B artist Roberta Flack, celebrated 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.
A statement from her representatives confirmed the news: “We are deeply saddened to share that the incredible Roberta Flack passed away peacefully this morning, February 24, 2025, surrounded by her family. Roberta was a trailblazer, breaking records and boundaries, and she was also a dedicated educator.”
In 2022, Flack publicly disclosed her battle with motor neurone disease, which left her unable to sing.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack showed musical talent from a young age. She excelled as a classical pianist, earning a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. Though she initially pursued a career in classical music and education, she also immersed herself in various genres. By night, she played piano for opera singers and performed pop standards during breaks.
Reflecting on her musical influences, she once noted: “While studying classical music, I was also surrounded by doo-wop and R&B. I was fortunate to experience both worlds—Bach, Chopin, and Schumann on one side, and the rhythms of soul and blues on the other.”
Rise to Fame
Flack’s journey to stardom began when musician Les McCann discovered her performing in a jazz club. He later described her voice as one that “tapped into every emotion I’ve ever known.”
Her breakthrough came in her 30s when her rendition of Ewan MacColl’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was featured in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film Play Misty For Me. The song won Song of the Year at the Grammys and catapulted her to fame. She achieved further success the following year with Killing Me Softly With His Song, which earned her a second consecutive Grammy win.
In 1974, she topped the charts again with Feel Like Makin’ Love before stepping away from live performances to focus on recording and philanthropy.
A Lasting Legacy
Throughout the 1980s, Flack continued touring and collaborated with musical greats such as Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis. She returned to the charts in 1991 with Set the Night to Music, a duet with Maxi Priest. In 2012, she released Let It Be Roberta, an album covering Beatles classics.
Flack once described herself as a “soulful singer,” explaining, “True soul means taking any song, looking past its imperfections, and making people feel something deeply.”
Her contributions extended beyond music—she devoted time to the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York, encouraging young musicians. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson praised her as “socially relevant and politically fearless.”
In the 2020, a year after suffering a stroke, she was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Expressing her gratitude, she stated: “This award is proof that my peers heard my voice and connected with the stories I’ve tried to tell through music.”
Influence on a New Generation
Flack’s influence reached younger audiences in 1996 when The Fugees’ version of Killing Me Softly became a global hit. The song, reimagined with Lauryn Hill’s vocals, won a Grammy and introduced her music to a new generation.
Her legacy as a groundbreaking artist, educator, and advocate for meaningful storytelling through music will continue to inspire generations to come.
