Singing us softly to goodbye—remembering a legendary voice
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The world has lost a true musical icon.
Roberta Flack, the legendary singer whose voice brought us soul-stirring classics like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, has passed away at 88.
Her influence stretched across decades, leaving an imprint on R&B, soul, and pop music—one that will resonate for generations to come.
Her life took a pivotal turn when she was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann while performing in a Washington, D.C., nightclub. That moment led to an audition with Atlantic Records, launching a career that would redefine music history.
Her duets with Donny Hathaway, including “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You”, remain some of the most beloved collaborations in music history. She continued to evolve with the industry, later working with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest, proving her ability to blend jazz, soul, and pop into something uniquely her own.
Even in her later years, she continued to inspire. She released Let It Be Roberta, a tribute album covering The Beatles, and in 2023, she published a children’s book, The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music, encouraging young musicians to find their own creative voice.
Source: Entertainment Tonight / YouTube
Flack’s final years were marked by resilience. Diagnosed with ALS in 2022, the disease took away her ability to sing—but never her ability to inspire. Though she could no longer perform, her music remains eternal.
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Roberta Flack, the legendary singer whose voice brought us soul-stirring classics like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, has passed away at 88.
Her influence stretched across decades, leaving an imprint on R&B, soul, and pop music—one that will resonate for generations to come.
A voice that transcended generations
Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Flack’s musical gift was evident from a young age. A child prodigy on the piano, she earned a full music scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old. Initially, she aspired to be a classical concert pianist, but fate had other plans.Her life took a pivotal turn when she was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann while performing in a Washington, D.C., nightclub. That moment led to an audition with Atlantic Records, launching a career that would redefine music history.
“Killing Me Softly With His Song” singer dies at 88. Image source: Entertainment Tonight / YouTube
Breaking records, breaking barriers
The 1970s cemented Flack as a powerhouse in the industry, with hits that transcended genres. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” catapulted her into stardom after it was featured in Clint Eastwood’s film Play Misty for Me, earning her a Grammy for Record of the Year. She went on to make history as the first artist to win the award in back-to-back years, following up with “Killing Me Softly with His Song” in 1974.Her duets with Donny Hathaway, including “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You”, remain some of the most beloved collaborations in music history. She continued to evolve with the industry, later working with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest, proving her ability to blend jazz, soul, and pop into something uniquely her own.
More than a singer—a champion for music and advocacy
Flack’s impact extended far beyond the stage. In 2010, she founded the Roberta Flack Foundation, dedicated to supporting music education. She also lent her voice to causes close to her heart, including animal welfare, partnering with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).Even in her later years, she continued to inspire. She released Let It Be Roberta, a tribute album covering The Beatles, and in 2023, she published a children’s book, The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music, encouraging young musicians to find their own creative voice.
Source: Entertainment Tonight / YouTube
An unshakable legacy
In 2020, Flack received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to her enduring influence on music and culture. That same year, Berklee College of Music honored her with an honorary doctorate in music. In 2023, PBS celebrated her story in the documentary American Masters: Roberta Flack, highlighting the depth of her artistry and the impact she had on generations of musicians.Flack’s final years were marked by resilience. Diagnosed with ALS in 2022, the disease took away her ability to sing—but never her ability to inspire. Though she could no longer perform, her music remains eternal.
