Legendary singer and songwriter Roberta Flack, known for timeless hits such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,” passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
Her publicist confirmed her death but did not disclose the cause. Flack had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, since 2022, which had robbed her of the ability to sing in recent years.
“She died peacefully, surrounded by her family,” the statement read.
A Voice That Defined Generations
Flack, a classically trained musician, captivated audiences with her tender, soulful voice, crafting a style she described as “scientific soul”—a seamless blend of meticulous precision and emotional depth. Her work was instrumental in shaping the “quiet storm” genre, a smooth and intimate style of R&B that influenced artists well into the 1980s and 1990s.
Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she was raised in Arlington, Virginia, in a musical family with deep gospel roots. Her talent for piano earned her a music scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old.
Flack credited her father with inspiring her passion for music, recalling in a 2021 interview: “He found an old, smelly piano in a junkyard, restored it for me, and painted it green. That was my first piano, the instrument where I found my expression and inspiration.”
Her career took off when she was discovered performing in Washington, D.C. jazz clubs by musician Les McCann, leading to a record deal with Atlantic Records at age 32.
A Trailblazing Career
Though she started later than many, Flack’s rise to stardom was meteoric. Her breakthrough came when actor and director Clint Eastwood selected her ballad “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” for the soundtrack of his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The song became a massive hit, earning Flack the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972.
She repeated that success in 1973, winning Record of the Year again with “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, making her the first artist ever to win the award in consecutive years.
Her influence endured for decades. In 1996, the Fugees reimagined Killing Me Softly, with Lauryn Hill on lead vocals. The song became a global sensation, topping charts and earning another Grammy, introducing Flack’s legacy to a new generation.
A Legacy of Music and Activism
Beyond her music, Flack was deeply engaged in social justice movements, forming friendships with civil rights leaders Reverend Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis. She was a vocal advocate for racial equality and performed at the funeral of baseball icon Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first Black player.
Reflecting on her experiences growing up, Flack once said: “I lived in a time when ‘Black’ was the most derogatory word you could use. I went through the civil rights movement. But I learned, long after leaving Black Mountain, that being Black was the most positive thing I could be.”
Her music often carried a message of resistance wrapped in love. “I did a lot of songs that were considered protest songs, a lot of folk music,” she said. “But I protested as a singer—with a lot of love.”
Remembering an Icon
Roberta Flack’s unparalleled artistry, unwavering activism, and groundbreaking contributions to music have cemented her place as one of the most influential voices of the 20th century.
Her legacy lives on in the timeless beauty of her music and the many artists she inspired.
