Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist renowned for her intimate vocal style, passed away Monday at the age of 88. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, as confirmed by her publicist, Elaine Schock. In 2022, Flack announced her diagnosis of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which had rendered her unable to sing.
Flack’s rise to fame began in her early 30s when Clint Eastwood selected her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for a pivotal scene in his 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” This hushed, hymn-like ballad topped the Billboard pop chart in 1972 and earned a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Reflecting on Eastwood’s choice, Flack told The Associated Press in 2018, “The record label wanted to have it re-recorded with a faster tempo, but he said he wanted it … .”
In 1973, Flack achieved another milestone with “Killing Me Soft … making her the first artist to win consecutive … Record of the Year. Discovered in the late 1960 … Flack was praised for a voice that “touched, tapped, trapped, and … While capable of delivering the up-tempo gospel passion reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, Fl … .
Beyond her musical achievements, Flack was a prominent figure in social and civil rights movements. She counted the Rev. Jesse Jackson and … among her friends, even visiting Davis in prison during her trial. Flack performed at Jackie Robinson’s funeral and contributed to Marlo Thomas’s feminist children’s project, “Free to Be… You and Me.”
Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack in Black Mountain, North Carolina … she was a prodigious pianist who, at 15, earned a full scholarship to Howard University. Her 1970s hits included “Feel Like Makin’ … duets with her close friend … classmate Donny Hathaway, such as “Where Is the Love” … .” Their partnership ended tragically in 1979 with Hathaway’s untimely death.
Flack’s influence extended into the 1980s and 1990s with collaborations like “Tonight, I Celebrate My … with Peabo Bryson and “Set the Night to Music” with Maxi Priest. The Fugees’ Grammy-winning cover of “K … ” in the mid-90s introduced her work to a new generation, leading to a memorable on-stage performance with the hip-hop group.
Throughout her career, Flack garnered five Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, and received eight additional nominations. She was briefly married to Stephen Nov … and was the mother of singer and keyboardist Bernard Wright … Flack resided for years in Manhattan’s Dakota apartment building … sharing a floor with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. She also dedicated time to the Roberta Fl … in New York, nurturing young talents aged 6 to 14.
Before her rise to fame, Flack taught music in Washington, D.C., junior high schools and performed in clubs, including the renowned Mr. Henry’s, where she attracted notable patrons like Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mathis. Signed to Atlantic Records, her debut album “First Take” was released in 1969, featuring her breakthrough song, “The First Time Ever I … .”
Reflecting on her teaching days, Flack told the Tampa Bay Times in … , “I was teaching at Banneker … .” Her dedication to music and education left an indelible mark on both industries.
Source: Swifteradio.com
