Written By: Beverly Bond
Cover Design: Jeremy Sampson
Cover Photo: Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Roberta Flack, the illustrious songstress whose voice became the soundtrack of intimacy and introspection, has passed away at the age of 88. Her death on February 24, 2025, in Manhattan, marks the loss of an artist whose contributions reshaped modern music.
Her voice carried an emotional depth that resonated across generations. With songs like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly with His Song, she mastered the ability to capture human emotion with clarity and control. She was a musician of rare discipline—every note was intentional, every pause filled with meaning.
Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Roberta Cleopatra Flack was immersed in music from an early age. Her parents, both pianists, nurtured her talent. At nine years old, her father brought home a salvaged piano, sparking a passion that would define her life.
By 15, Flack had earned a full scholarship to Howard University, making her one of the youngest students ever admitted. She initially trained as a classical pianist, but as she explored different genres, her path shifted toward vocal performance. The technical rigor of classical music remained in her work, setting her apart in the worlds of jazz, R&B, and soul.
Before she became a global icon, Flack was a schoolteacher in Washington, D.C., instructing students in English and music while performing in local clubs at night. Teaching, much like performing, required patience, discipline, and the ability to connect with an audience—skills that would define her career.
Her break came when jazz musician Les McCann heard her perform and arranged an audition with Atlantic Records. She recorded First Take in a single session, demonstrating an extraordinary level of preparation and control. The album sat unnoticed until Clint Eastwood used The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The song soared to number one on the charts, earning Flack a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1973.
A year later, she won the award again for Killing Me Softly with His Song, making her the first artist in history to win back-to-back Grammys for Record of the Year.
In an era when vocal theatrics were celebrated, Flack took a different approach. She understood the impact of restraint—how silence, phrasing, and control could heighten emotion.
Her rendition of Killing Me Softly with His Song was a study in subtlety. The lyrics felt confessional, the delivery precise. The song became one of the most covered in history, a reflection of her ability to create music that resonated deeply without excess.
I had the honor of interviewing Ms. Flack for my book, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Owning Our Magic, Rocking Our Truth. She spoke candidly about resisting industry labels:
“I don’t consider myself a soul singer. I’m not a jazz singer. I express myself and I object to categorizing expression. A true artist is a person who is totally devoted to the indulgence of her art form. I am a musician, and I use music to tell stories of my life and my beliefs. Music expresses our lives and crosses all barriers, and we need that expression now more than ever.”
This philosophy shaped her career. She moved fluidly across genres, blending the structure of classical music with the improvisation of jazz, the warmth of R&B, and the lyricism of folk. Whether performing solo or alongside Donny Hathaway (Where Is the Love, The Closer I Get to You), Flack created music that resonated across generations.
At BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, we have always believed in celebrating our icons while they are here. From Roberta Flack to Cicely Tyson and Ruby Dee, we have made it a priority to honor Black women in real time—not just in retrospect.
In 2017, we presented Flack with the Living Legend Award, recognizing the impact of her artistry. That night, Maxwell, John Legend, Tyrese, and India.Arie performed a tribute, a moment that reflected the depth of her influence.
Roberta Flack’s music remains as moving today as it was decades ago. Her voice, her compositions, and her artistic choices set a standard that continues to shape contemporary music.
Even as illness silenced her in later years, her influence remained. Her songs continue to be sampled, studied, and reinterpreted, proof of her enduring presence in culture.
What she created will last.
Rest in power, Roberta. Your song lives on.
