Roberta Flack (1937–2025)
Iconic American singer and pianist. Soul, jazz, folk, pop. Voice that defined quiet storm and timeless ballads.
Born February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, NC. Raised in Arlington, VA. Child piano prodigy. Full music scholarship to Howard University at 15. Graduated in music education. Taught school, then started performing in D.C. clubs like Mr. Henry's where Les McCann discovered her.
Debut album First Take (1969). "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" blew up in 1972 after Clint Eastwood used it in Play Misty for Me — 6 weeks at #1, Grammy Record & Song of the Year. Then "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (1973) — another #1 + back-to-back Record of the Year (first solo artist to do it). Other big ones: "Feel Like Makin' Love", duets with Donny Hathaway ("Where Is the Love", "The Closer I Get to You").
4× Grammy winner. 18 Hot 100 hits. Founded Roberta Flack Foundation for music education & animal welfare. Huge influence on neo-soul & hip-hop (Fugees cover). ALS diagnosis 2022. Passed February 24, 2025 at 88 in NYC.
