Roberta Flack, the iconic American singer known for her soulful ballads and intimate vocal style, passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by her family at her home in New York. Her representative announced the news, stating, "We are heartbroken to announce the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning. She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records."
Flack rose to fame during the 1970s, especially after her stirring rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" featured prominently in Clint Eastwood's film Play Misty for Me. This performance not only topped the charts but also won her the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, making her the first artist to achieve this honor consecutively, as she followed up her win with the equally beloved "Killing Me Softly With His Song" the following year.
Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Flack's passion for music emerged early. Raised by musician parents, she began playing piano at the age of nine and later attended Howard University on a full scholarship at just 15 years old. Flack's talent was soon recognized; she worked her way through Washington, D.C.'s nightclub scene, where she was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who recommended her to Atlantic Records.
Her debut album, First Take, released in 1969, did not garner immediate fame, but songs such as her version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" would eventually skyrocket her career. Quickly following up with albums like Chapter Two (1970) and Quiet Fire (1971), Flack began to establish her distinctive sound—an elegant blend of jazz, soul, and pop.
The song "Killing Me Softly With His Song", along with others like "Feel Like Makin' Love" and deep collaborations with Donny Hathaway, solidified her status as one of the most celebrated voices of her era. With hits echoing themes of love and emotion, her lyrical interpretations became benchmarks of storytelling through music, influencing numerous artists, including the famed Fugees who covered "Killing Me Softly" in the 1990s.
Throughout her illustrious career, Flack earned five Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which she received in 2020. Her influence extended beyond music; she was also passionate about education. Flack founded the Roberta Flack School of Music, advocating for arts education and nurturing young talents.
Flack's personal life included one marriage to jazz bassist Steve Novosel, which ended in divorce, and she remained child-free, instead becoming a guiding figure to many young artists. She was known to have suffered considerable health challenges later in life, including having suffered a stroke in 2018 and being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, which prevented her from performing.
Despite these challenges, Flack’s artistry and passion persisted. Her final album, Let It Be Roberta, released in 2012, showcased her enduring love for music with covers of classic Beatles songs. Flack's remarkable ability to convey deep emotion through her music made her one of the defining voices of R&B, ensuring her legacy will endure through her recordings and the generations of artists she has influenced.
Flack’s death marks the conclusion of an era for soul and R&B music, but her rich legacy and the timeless quality of her music will continue to resonate. "We will miss her not only for the beautiful music she created but also for the boundaries she broke and the lives she touched," her representative added.