Who was Roberta Flack? The ‘Killing Me Softly’ singer dies at 88

Roberta Flack has passed away at the age of 88. She sang some of the most beloved love songs of the 1970s.

Her career brought jazz, soul, and R&B genres together. In all these varied fields, Flack left a lasting imprint, which will be remembered. Hit songs like Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face made her one of the defining voices of her era.

Roberta Flack’s influence extended beyond music

She was a classically trained pianist and an educator. She used her global platform to support civil rights and social causes.

Per Guardian, in a statement shared with a journalist, the beloved singer said,

"What I consider myself is a soulful singer, in that I try to sing with all the feeling that I have in my body and my mind. A person with true soul is one who can take anybody's song and transcend all the flaws, the technique and just make you listen."

Her songs were majorly personal. However, as she sang about love, heartbreak, human connection, and more, her music touched multiple other fans across the globe. Her commercial success faded in later years. Nevertheless, she inspired generations of artists across genres.

Variety took to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle to share the news of Roberta Flack's demise. The post was captioned,

"Roberta Flack, ’70s R&B Vocalist Known for ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Dies at 88"

Fans soon weighed in on the comment section of the post, reminiscing about Roberta Flack.

"‘To Love Somebody’ from The Americans S.1. RIP!", shared a fan.

"Rest in peace ~ Heaven has a new angel for its Heavenly Choir!!!", added another.

"May she rest well was and still is an icon in our home Ms. Roberta sang every song like it was the only one she had. left us an incredible catalog of music.", noted a third.

"Can we go back to the 70's please? I hadn't born yet but whatever", expressed a fourth.

Roberta started late

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, in 1937. She started playing piano at an early age. She eventually earned a full scholarship to Howard University at 15. While she initially studied classical piano, she found herself drawn to jazz, R&B, and folk music.

Her big break came unexpectedly. In the late 1960s, she was performing in Washington, D.C.’s nightclub scene when jazz musician Les McCann saw her play.

He introduced her to Atlantic Records, where she recorded her debut album, First Take, in 1969. The album did not immediately gain attention. Then, Clint Eastwood picked The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The song, originally written in the 1950s by folk artist Ewan MacColl, became a beloved one. It topped the Billboard charts and earned Flack her first Grammy for Record of the Year.

In 1973, she achieved a greater milestone with Killing Me Softly With His Song. The song was reportedly inspired by folk singer Lori Lieberman’s experience of watching Don McLean perform.

This won her a second consecutive Grammy for Record of the Year. It made her the first artist to achieve this feat.

Besides her solo works, she was also known for her duets, particularly with Donny Hathaway. Their collaborations, including Where Is the Love and The Closer I Get to You, were notably acclaimed by fans. Hathaway’s struggles with mental illness led to his untimely death in 1979.

Now, as the other member of the duo, Roberta Flack, passes away, may her soul rest in peace.

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