Legendary R&B and Killing Me Softly singer Roberta Flack dies aged 88
Legendary R&B singer Roberta Flack has died aged 88, her spokesperson announced today.
“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025,” the statement read. “She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
The soul icon was best known for her Grammy-winning hits “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
With her graceful presence and genre-crossing versatility, Flack established herself as one of soul and R&B’s greatest artists, crafting a string of chart-topping hits throughout the 1970s.
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Her lustrous, slow-burning vocal style brought her six top-10 pop hits and 10 top-10 R&B singles during her career.
Flack made history as the first artist to win consecutive Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, a feat not matched until U2 achieved it in 2001-02.
Her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” claimed the prestigious award in 1973, followed by “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in 1974.
“Killing Me Softly” was penned by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, inspired by singer Lori Lieberman’s reaction to a Don McLean performance. The song reached No. 1 on the pop chart and No. 2 on the R&B charts in early 1973.
The track was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and found renewed success when the Fugees, featuring Lauryn Hill, covered it in 1996.
Her album “Killing Me Softly” peaked at No. 3 and achieved double platinum status.
The track was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and found renewed success when the Fugees, featuring Lauryn Hill, covered it in 1996.
Her album “Killing Me Softly” peaked at No. 3 and achieved double platinum status.Born to a musical family in Black Mountain, North Carolina in 1937, Flack was introduced to music early through her mother Irene, a church choir organist.
She began studying piano at age nine and demonstrated remarkable talent, earning admission to Howard University at just 15 on a full scholarship.
.After graduating at 19, she initially aspired to become an opera singer before taking up teaching in North Carolina.
Her breakthrough came through performing in Washington DC nightclubs, particularly during a residency at Mr Henry’s Restaurant, where jazz pianist Les McCann discovered her.
McCann introduced her to Atlantic Records, leading to her debut album “First Take” in 1969.
The album found mainstream success when Clint Eastwood used her version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 directorial debut “Play Misty for Me.”
Flack’s musical partnerships proved highly successful, particularly her collaborations with soul singer Donny Hathaway, yielding hits like “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.”
After Hathaway’s death in 1979, she found further success with Peabo Bryson, reaching No. 2 in the UK charts with “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” in 1983.
Her versatility saw her performing with artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Miles Davis, whilst covering Leonard Cohen and Laura Nyro.
Her final album, “Let It Be Roberta,” a collection of Beatles covers, was released in 2012.
She suffered a stroke in 2018, as revealed by her manager after she became unwell during a performance.
Flack, who divorced jazz musician Steve Novosel in 1972, is survived by their son, musician Bernard Wright.