Roberta Flack, Legendary Voice Behind “Killing Me Softly,” Dies at 88
Roberta Flack, the iconic American vocalist behind such hits as “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. Her publicists confirmed her death, but no specific cause was stated. Flack has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological condition that limits her singing.
Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Flack was introduced to music early on by her mother, Irene, a church choir organist. She began playing piano at nine and, by 15, earned a full music scholarship to Howard University, making her one of the youngest students in the institution’s history.
After graduating, Roberta Flack initially aspired to be an opera singer but took up a teaching position in North Carolina. She performed in nightclubs during evenings and weekends, blending classical, blues, folk, Motown, and pop genres. Her talent led to a residency at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant in Washington, D.C., in 1968, prompting her to leave teaching and pursue music full-time.
Roberta Flack breakthrough came when soul jazz pianist Les McCann introduced her to Atlantic Records. In early 1969, she recorded her debut album, “First Take,” reportedly in just 10 hours. The album featured her rendition of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which Clint Eastwood used in his 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” The song became a major U.S. hit, spending six weeks at No. 1 in 1972 and earning a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1973.
In 1973, Roberta Flack achieved another No. 1 hit with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” making her the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years. She followed up with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974. Flack also worked with soul great Donny Hathaway, creating hits such as “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.” Following Hathaway’s death in 1979, she enjoyed a UK success with “Back Together Again” and subsequently teamed with Peabo Bryson for the 1983 ballad “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love.”
Over her career, the versatility of Flack led to work with artists like Michael Jackson and Miles Davis, and recordings of Leonard Cohen and Beatles material. Her influence extended to the quiet storm subgenre of R&B, as evidenced by the work of artists like Erykah Badu and D’Angelo. She released an album of Beatles covers, “Let It Be Roberta,” in 2012.
Flack suffered a health incident on stage in 2018, and she was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, prompting her to stop performing. Her passing has been followed by tributes from numerous music industry figures, among them being Jennifer Hudson, who said she was “one of the great soul singers of all time.”
Flack was married to jazz artist Steve Novosel from 1966 until 1972. She was also a member of the Artist Empowerment Coalition, which fought for artists’ rights and was a spokesperson for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her legacy lives on through the Roberta Flack School of Music, which offers free music lessons to disadvantaged students.
