Roberta Flack, the unmistakable voice behind hits Killing Me Softly with His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Facedied out of his life at the age of 88.
Roberta Flack Photo: Facebook
“We are deeply endured by the loss of extraordinary Roberta Flack, who died on the morning of February 24, 2025”, The artist’s representatives announced. According to them, the artist died quietly, surrounded by family. “Roberta brought down barriers and records. Was also a dedicated educator. ” His death comes after confronting several years of health problems, including a diagnosis, publicly revealed in 2022, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack started her career as a classical music pianist and music teacher. His path to fame began in a jazz club, where he was discovered by musician Les McCann. Impressed, he stated: “Her voice touched, shaken and awaken every emotion I have ever met. ”
Major success came in the 1970s when the song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was included on the soundtrack of the film Play Misty for Me directed by Clint Eastwood. The song won the title of “The song of the year“At the Grammy Awards. A year later Flack strengthened his star status with Killing Me Softly with His Songfor which he obtained a second consecutive Grammy.
Over the years, Roberta Flack has collaborated with renowned artists, such as Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis, and in 2012 he released the album Let it be robertaa collection of Reinterpretations of Beatles.
For her, music was more than a technical performance. “What defines me is the soul with which I sing, I try to convey all the emotion I have in the body and mind“She said in an interview.
In 2020, one year after suffering a stroke, he received the Grammy award for his entire career. “It is an overwhelming honor”, Confessed the artist. “All my life I tried to tell stories through music. This prize is proof that my message has been heard. ”
In addition to music, Flack dedicated his time and education, setting up Roberta Flack School of Music in New York. Over the years, new generations of listeners have discovered its emblematic song, Killing Me Softly, due to the version performed by The Fugees, along with which he went on stage.
Roberta Flack remains a symbol of Soul music, an artist who has redefined emotion through her unique voice.
