"Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning 'Killing Me Softly' Singer Known for Her Intimate Style, Dies at 88"
Roberta Flack, Legendary Singer of ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Dies at 88
NEW YORK (AP) — Roberta Flack, the iconic Grammy-winning singer and pianist renowned for her soulful and intimate musical style, passed away Monday at the age of 88. She died peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, according to her publicist Elaine Schock.
Flack had revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which had tragically ended her ability to sing.
Flack, who rose to fame in her early 30s, achieved overnight stardom when Clint Eastwood used her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” as the soundtrack for a memorable love scene in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The haunting ballad topped the Billboard pop charts in 1972 and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. “The record label wanted to speed it up, but Clint insisted on keeping it exactly as it was,” Flack recalled in a 2018 interview.
In 1973, Flack followed up her success with “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” another landmark achievement that earned her back-to-back Grammys for Best Record.
A classically trained pianist, Flack was a musical prodigy who received a full scholarship to Howard University at 15. Her discovery by jazz musician Les McCann in the late 1960s helped launch her career, and she quickly became known for her unique vocal style, often described as emotionally expressive yet measured and reflective.
Beyond her musical talent, Flack was an influential figure in the social and civil rights movements. She counted among her friends the Rev. Jesse Jackson and activist Angela Davis, whom she visited in prison while Davis faced charges—charges she was later acquitted of. Flack also performed at the funeral of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball’s first Black player.
Throughout the 1970s, Flack released other hits, including the sultry “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and duets with close friend Donny Hathaway, such as “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.” Their partnership was deeply emotional, but it ended in tragedy when Hathaway, who had been struggling with mental health issues, fell to his death in 1979.
While Flack never again replicated the massive success of her early years, she continued to produce hits throughout the decades, including the 1980s hit duet “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Peabo Bryson and a successful 1990s collaboration with Maxi Priest, “Set the Night to Music.” Her legacy was renewed in the mid-90s when The Fugees released their Grammy-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly,” a song Flack later performed with the group on stage.
Flack won five Grammys, including three for “Killing Me Softly,” and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She was praised by modern artists such as John Legend and Ariana Grande for her profound influence on music.
In 2022, Beyoncé included Flack in her “Queens Remix” of Break My Soul, further cementing Flack's enduring impact on music and culture.
Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1939, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she was raised in Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from Howard University, Flack taught music in Washington, D.C., while performing in local clubs. It was at Washington's Mr. Henry’s that she gained early recognition, eventually leading to a record deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut album, First Take (1969), was a unique blend of gospel, soul, flamenco, and jazz, and included her breakout hit, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Flack’s contributions to music went far beyond her chart-topping hits. She became a beloved figure not only for her artistry but for her activism and commitment to mentoring future generations of musicians. Her legacy will live on through her iconic music and the countless lives she touched along the way.
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