Roberta Flack, Grammy-Winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ Singer, Dies at 88
Roberta Flack, the legendary Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal style made her a defining artist of the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 88. She died at home, surrounded by family, according to a statement from her publicist, Elaine Schock.
Flack had announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), which had taken away her ability to sing.
A Breakthrough That Made History
Flack’s rise to fame came in her early 30s when Clint Eastwood selected The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for a pivotal love scene in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The hushed, hymn-like ballad, featuring Flack’s graceful soprano over soft piano and strings, soared to the top of the Billboard pop charts in 1972 and won a Grammy for Record of the Year.
“The record label wanted a faster version, but Clint wanted it exactly as it was,” Flack told the Associated Press in 2018. “Once it became the theme song for his movie, it just took off.”
In 1973, she matched this success with Killing Me Softly With His Song, making history as the first artist to win consecutive Grammys for Record of the Year.
A Classically Trained Musician With a Unique Style
Flack’s musical journey began with classical piano. Exceptionally gifted, she received a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. Later, jazz musician Les McCann discovered her in the late 1960s and was immediately struck by her ability to convey deep emotion through song.
“Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known,” McCann once said.
While she had the vocal power to rival Aretha Franklin, Flack preferred a more measured, introspective style, carefully curating each song, word by word.
A Voice for Social Change
Beyond music, Flack was deeply involved in social and civil rights movements. She counted figures like Rev. Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis among her friends, even visiting Davis in prison while she faced charges (for which she was later acquitted). Flack also performed at Jackie Robinson’s funeral and contributed to Free to Be… You and Me, a feminist children’s project led by Marlo Thomas.
Iconic Duets and Tragedy
Flack’s collaborations were among the most memorable of her era. She and her close friend Donny Hathaway, a former Howard classmate, created timeless hits like Where Is the Love and The Closer I Get to You.
However, their partnership ended in tragedy. In 1979, while they were working on another album together, Hathaway suffered a breakdown and later that night fell to his death from his Manhattan hotel room.
“We were deeply connected creatively,” Flack reflected in 2022, marking the 50th anniversary of their Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway album. “He could play anything, sing anything. Our musical synergy was unlike anything I’ve had before or since.”
Later Career and Legacy
Though she never matched the dominance of her early years, Flack continued to make an impact. She scored hits in the 1980s (Tonight, I Celebrate My Love with Peabo Bryson) and the 1990s (Set the Night to Music with Maxi Priest). Her influence was reignited when the Fugees’ Grammy-winning cover of Killing Me Softly introduced her music to a new generation—eventually leading to a live performance with the hip-hop group.
Overall, Flack won five Grammys (including three for Killing Me Softly), received eight additional nominations, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020. Artists such as John Legend and Ariana Grande praised her contributions to music.
“I love that connection to other artists,” Flack said in 2020. “Music is our language. No matter what challenges life presents, I can always find my way when I hear music.”
Her impact was further recognized in 2022 when Beyoncé included her in a tribute to musical icons in the Queens Remix of Break My Soul, alongside Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Flack was briefly married to bassist Stephen Novosel, a relationship that reportedly caused tension within both families due to racial dynamics at the time. She had a son, Bernard Wright, who followed in her musical footsteps as a singer and keyboardist.
For years, she lived in Manhattan’s Dakota apartment building, on the same floor as John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Lennon and Ono became close friends, with Ono even writing liner notes for Flack’s Beatles tribute album, Let It Be Roberta.
A passionate advocate for music education, Flack dedicated much of her later life to the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York, serving students aged 6 to 14.
Humble Beginnings to Stardom
Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she grew up in Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from Howard, she spent her 20s teaching music in Washington, D.C. junior high schools while performing in clubs at night.
Her shows at the famed Mr. Henry’s club attracted industry legends like Burt Bacharach, Ramsey Lewis, and Johnny Mathis. The club’s owner was so impressed that he converted an upstairs apartment into a private studio for her—The Roberta Flack Room.
“I wanted to be a serious all-around musician,” Flack told The Telegraph in 2015. “I listened to Aretha, the Drifters, trying to do some of that myself—playing, teaching.”
Signed to Atlantic Records, she released her debut album First Take in 1969. The album was a blend of gospel, soul, flamenco, and jazz, featuring The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, a song she had taught to a junior high school glee club years earlier.
“I was teaching at Banneker Junior High in D.C.,” Flack recalled. “These kids weren’t privileged, but they had music education. I wanted them to read music. First, I had to get their attention.”
She laughed as she remembered using pop songs to engage them.
“I’d start singing, ‘Stop! In the name of love,’ and once I had them, I could teach them,” she said. “They especially loved The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face—especially the line ‘The first time ever I kissed your mouth.’ Ooh, ‘kissed your mouth!’ Once they got past the giggles, we were good.”
A Timeless Legacy
Roberta Flack’s influence on music is immeasurable. Her songs, voice, and artistry continue to resonate, touching generations of listeners.
Her legacy is not just in her records but in the countless artists she inspired, the students she nurtured, and the emotions she stirred in the hearts of millions.
