Remembering Roberta Flack: The Voice That Touched Hearts
The world has lost a true musical icon. Roberta Flack, the legendary singer behind timeless hits like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song , has passed away at the age of 88. Her representatives confirmed that she passed peacefully on February 24, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. A trailblazer in music and a passionate educator, Flack’s impact extended far beyond the notes she sang.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, Roberta Flack’s journey to stardom was anything but conventional. She started as a classical pianist, earning a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15. Her love for music was expansive—she seamlessly blended her classical training with soul, jazz, and R&B. In the 1960s, while working as a music teacher by day, she played in jazz clubs by night. It was there that musician Les McCann discovered her, mesmerized by the depth of emotion in her voice.
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Her breakthrough came when Clint Eastwood featured her haunting rendition of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me . The song became a massive hit, earning her a Grammy for Song of the Year. The following year, she repeated history, winning again with Killing Me Softly With His Song , a track that remains one of the most beloved songs of all time. The 1996 cover by The Fugees introduced a new generation to her magic, but nothing could replace the soul-stirring original.
Flack’s career spanned decades, with collaborations ranging from Donny Hathaway to Miles Davis. She wasn’t just a singer—she was a storyteller, an artist who believed in the power of music to connect people. Even after a stroke in 2019 and her ALS diagnosis in 2022, she remained an inspiration, receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Roberta Flack wasn’t just a performer; she was a force of nature. She sang with her whole heart, her voice a vessel for love, pain, and every emotion in between. Today, as we say goodbye, we remember her not just for the songs she left behind, but for the way she made us feel. Her music will forever be a part of us.
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