Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ Singer, Dies at 88/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer famed for hits like “Killing Me Softly” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” died Monday at 88. Flack, who battled ALS since 2022, was known for her intimate vocal style and influence on 1970s soul music. Her five-decade career included five Grammy wins, iconic collaborations, and advocacy for music education.
Roberta Flack’s Legacy: Quick Looks
- Died at 88: Passed away at home, surrounded by family
- ALS diagnosis: Revealed in 2022, ended her singing career
- Grammy legacy: 5-time winner; first to win Record of the Year twice in a row
- Breakout hit: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” soared after Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty for Me
- Career-defining song: “Killing Me Softly” won three Grammys and inspired future covers
- Collaborations: Notable duets with Donny Hathaway and Peabo Bryson
- Cultural impact: Performed at Jackie Robinson’s funeral; close with Angela Davis and Yoko Ono
- Music education advocate: Founded Roberta Flack School of Music for young learners
Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ Singer, Dies at 88
Deep Look
NEW YORK (AP) — Roberta Flack, whose tender vocals and intimate musical style helped define 1970s soul, died Monday at age 88. The five-time Grammy winner, known for timeless hits like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” passed away at home surrounded by family, her publicist Elaine Schock confirmed.
Flack had announced in 2022 that she was battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), which left her unable to sing.
“Through music we understand what we are thinking and feeling,” Flack said in 2020. “No matter life’s challenges, I find my way with music.”
A Voice That Defined an Era
Flack’s breakthrough came in 1972 when Clint Eastwood featured “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in Play Misty for Me. The gentle ballad topped the Billboard charts and won her first Grammy for Record of the Year.
“They wanted it faster, but Clint said to keep it exactly as it was,” Flack recalled in 2018.
Just a year later, “Killing Me Softly With His Song” earned her a second consecutive Record of the Year, making her the first artist to achieve that feat.
Roots in Classical Music and Civil Rights
Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack was a musical prodigy. By 15, she earned a full scholarship to Howard University, where she studied classical piano.
While teaching in Washington, D.C. schools, she performed at local clubs, catching the attention of jazz pianist Les McCann, who said her voice “touched every emotion.”
Flack was also deeply committed to civil rights:
- Visited Angela Davis in prison
- Performed at Jackie Robinson’s funeral
- Participated in Marlo Thomas’ feminist project Free to Be… You and Me
Collaborations and Heartbreak
Her duets with Donny Hathaway, including “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You,” became classics. Their partnership ended tragically when Hathaway died in 1979 during recording sessions.
“We had unmatched musical synergy,” Flack reflected in 2022.
In later years, she found chart success with Peabo Bryson (“Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”) and saw renewed interest in “Killing Me Softly” when the Fugees released their Grammy-winning cover in 1996.
Life Beyond the Charts
- Lived at Manhattan’s Dakota Building, befriending John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- Founded the Roberta Flack School of Music for children
- Honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020
Her influence extended to artists like Beyoncé, who included Flack among her heroines in “Break My Soul (Queens Remix).”
Legacy of Empathy and Music
“Empathy was at the core of her music,” said musician John Legend. “Her songs reached into your soul.”
Flack is survived by her family, including her son, musician Bernard Wright, and a generation of artists she inspired.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.