Roberta Flack performs at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Women’s Sports Foundation
Roberta Cleopatra Flack (b. 2/10/37– d. 2/24/25) is a retired American singer who topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 singles “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Killing Me Softly with His Song”, “Feel Like Makin’ Love”, “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You“, the latter two duets with Donny Hathaway.
Flack influenced the subgenre of contemporary R&B called quiet storm, and interpreted songs by songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and members of the Beatles.
Flack was the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” won in 1973 and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” won in 1974.
Early Life:
Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, to parents Laron Flack, a Veterans Administration draftsman, and Irene (née Council) Flack, a church organist. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia.
By age 15, she entered Howard University in Washington, D.C., making her one of the youngest students ever to enroll there.
Musical Beginnings:
Growing up in a large, musical family, she often accompanied the choir of Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by playing hymns and spirituals on piano, but she also enjoyed going to the “Baptist church down the street” to listen to contemporary gospel music including songs performed by Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke.
When Flack was nine, she started taking an interest in playing the piano. During her early teens, Flack excelled at classical piano and Howard University awarded her a full music scholarship. She eventually changed her major from piano to voice and became an assistant conductor of the university choir. Her direction of a production of Aida received a standing ovation from the Howard University faculty.
Flack became a student teacher at a school near Chevy Chase, Maryland. She graduated from Howard University at 19 and began graduate studies in music there, but the sudden death of her father forced her to take a job teaching music and English in Farmville, North Carolina.
Before becoming a professional singer-songwriter, Flack returned to Washington, D.C., and taught at Banneker, Browne, and Rabaut Junior High Schools. She also taught private piano lessons out of her home on Euclid Street, NW in the city. During that time, her music career began to take shape on evenings and weekends in D.C. area night spots.
At the Tivoli Club, she accompanied opera singers at the piano. During intermissions, she would sing blues, folk, and pop standards in a back room, accompanying herself on the piano. Later she performed several nights a week at the 1520 Club, again providing her own piano accompaniment. About this time her voice teacher, Frederick “Wilkie” Wilkerson, told her that he saw a brighter future for her in pop music than in the classics. Flack modified her repertoire accordingly and her reputation spread. In 1968 she began singing professionally when she was hired to perform regularly at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, which is on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Discography:
Studio albums = 20
Live albums = 3
Soundtrack albums = 1
Compilation albums = 5
Singles = 48
Guest appearances = 1
Some things to share:
Flack is a member of the Artist Empowerment Coalition, which advocates for artists to have the right to control their creative properties.
She is also a spokeswoman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; her appearance in commercials for the ASPCA featured “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”.
The Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, NYC, runs an after-school music program called “The Roberta Flack School of Music” to provide free music education to underprivileged students in partnership with Flack, who founded the school.
From 1966 to 1972, she was married to Steve Novosel.
Flack is the aunt of professional ice skater Rory Flack. She is also the godmother of musician Bernard Wright, who died in an accident on May 19, 2022.
According to DNA analysis, she is of Cameroonian descent.
On November 14, 2022, it was announced by a spokesperson that Flack had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and had retired from performing, due to the disease making it “impossible to sing.”
Official website: here
Tao Talk 
Such a beautiful voice, a shame she can’t sing any longer. Quite a remarkable achievement with Song of The Year back to back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed on all, Randy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love her work – I didn’t know she had MND – so sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t either until writing this up :(
LikeLike
Thanks for all this info. Enjoyed reading it and listening to her again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, David.
LikeLike
Roberta Flack thoroughly deserves the title of the Queen of Soul
LikeLiked by 1 person
….or it might have been Aretha Franklin?!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They can share the crown.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Glyn!
LikeLike
I love the song killing me softly! I’ve always loved that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. I remember reading somewhere she was singing about James Taylor but I have no idea if that’s true.
LikeLike
You’re killing me softly with your WMM posts, Lisa, picking one great artist after the other! :-)
I’ve always loved Roberta Flack’s vocals. That said, the only two songs I could name were “Killing Me Softly” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. I knew nothing about her background. Thanks for enlightening me about this wonderful artist!
LikeLiked by 2 people
:) funny, Christian, at least I’m killing you softly. Yes she a wonderful timbre to her voice. I also included the instrumental by her at the end because of her medical condition and this is one she got sole writing credit on. I hope she keeps making music even if she can’t sing now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While I imagine her music career may be over, her Facebook page and YouTube channel still look pretty active, Of course, somebody else may post on her behalf!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for featuring this incredible artist. I don’t think I’d ever heard “Mood” before, so thank you for introducing me to that extraordinary piece; I am not sure I even knew she played piano. Putting that up with the universally known “Killing Me Softly” is spot on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed the music, Steve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow…I was just thinking of Roberta Flack this afternoon. Great choice, obviously! (K)
LikeLike
and I did not know about her illness either. So sad. But what a legacy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes me smile to know you were thinking about Roberta this afternoon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was attuned to your post’s vibes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful post about Roberta Flack, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So happy you enjoyed the post, Miriam. Thank you :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Lisa. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew of her hits and work with Donny Hathaway. I’d never heard “Mood”. I love the combination of acoustic and electric pianos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy you enjoyed the tune. I like she went back to her classical roots to compose this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice piano work. I can be very sentimental about classical style piano in such a simple (but perfect) form.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marleen, I think the piano is her true love.
LikeLike
Discovered her from her first vinyl, “First Take” when she was singing and playing in D.C. jazz clubs. This would remain my best loved appreciation of her. She seemed to have changed after that, beginning with her work with Donny Hathaway and through her loss of him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you’ve been listening to her work since the beginning. Were she and Donny a couple?
LikeLike
Roberta Flack was one of my favorites. 🥺
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the first time I heard, “The First Time…” I broke down and cried. The world has lost a beautiful soul, and heaven has gained one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
She had a voice that touched your soul! I have goosebumps reading your comment, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’re right, Colleen.
LikeLike
She was a fellow North Carolinian with a lovely voice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLike
Love Roberta’s music..Especially, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Thanks for bringing her back into ear and memory…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you are a fan of her music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great vocalist – as overexposed as it may be, I still love “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” In fact, I’m to include that song in my post this Sunday. I also dig the two songs you called out. I didn’t know “Mood.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christian good to hear you will be covering Ms. Flack. I remember going out to find a song where she was the solo writer with “Mood.” Such an amazing life she led.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Mood” was a great choice, which also nicely illustrates that in addition to being a great vocalist, Roberta Flack was a talented pianist – something I had not been aware of until I read her obituary. At least, she lived a long life, though she sadly did suffer from ALS during her final few years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always worthy of a repost. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love her work
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s a rare gem that’s for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved her voice. You didn’t just listen to one of her songs, you felt them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well-said, Dana <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad news indeed
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard about this when I was talking to Carl my sports buddy. His dad worked for Soul Train and he told me about this. I always liked her a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember feeling sad last year when I posted this, to hear she had retired because of health issues. May she rest in peace now.
Very cool to have a dad who worked for Soul Train. I remember watch that and the other show (with Dick Clark) on Saturday afternoons. Seems like there was so much better stuff on TV back then. Lots of musical shows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…II remember it followed Bandstand here… yes she was a legend no doubt and her voice was unbeatable.
LikeLiked by 1 person