One of our brightest most magical stars of music, Roberta Flack passed away Monday at 88 from a heart attack after several years of living with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) that left her unable to sing anymore.
She was born in 1937 in North Carolina, later moving to Washington D.C. where she later went to Howard University on full scholarship at 15 years old, graduating while she was still a teen. Concerned about the sparse opportunities available for a black woman who was classically trained in piano and voice after she graduated, she spent her days as a junior high school music teacher and at night played in D.C. cabarets and clubs, accompanying opera singers and backing celebs like Johnny Mathis, Burt Bacharach and Liberace who would drop by when in town.
Roberta was finally signed to Atlantic Records in 1968 thanks to jazz artist Les McCann who saw her perform during that time in her career. Jazz fans loved her first few releases, but everyone knew who she was just a few short years later when she hit number one with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face that Clint Eastwood featured in the movie Play Misty for Me.
After that, she would become even better known for her signature hit, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Feel Like Makin’ Love, which launched the late night Quiet Storm format in R&B radio. She was also a producer, arranger and mentor to younger performers like Peabo Bryson and Luther Vandross, who sang background vocals for her before their solo careers. And her classic duets with male artists, including her friend Donny Hathaway, cemented her in our hearts.
Over her career, Ms. Flack won 4 Grammys and was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta, having pledged at Alpha Chapter at Howard University.
Honor our giants of our history & remember to always celebrate your magic! xo