Skip to main content

Roberta Flack, Trailblazing Singer and Pianist, Passes Away at 88

 Roberta Flack, the fearless singer and pianist who made Grammy history with the timeless No. 1 hits The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, passed away Monday in New York at the age of 88.

“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning,” her representative announced in a statement. “She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”



Flack’s health struggles became public in November 2022 when she was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which left her unable to sing. She had previously suffered a stroke in 2016 and retired from performing in 2018.

A North Carolina native and accomplished classical pianist, Flack made history as the first artist to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year with the haunting The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in 1973 and Killing Me Softly With His Song in 1974. Only U2 (2001-02) and Billie Eilish (2020-21) have since matched that feat.

Before her rise to fame, Flack worked as a teacher while performing in Washington, D.C. nightclubs. She was eventually signed by Atlantic Records, releasing her debut album, First Take, in 1969, followed by Chapter Two a year later. Initially, her music received little attention—until Clint Eastwood featured The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his 1971 thriller Play Misty for Me. The song was released as a single in February 1972 and soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for six weeks. (Eastwood reportedly paid just $1,000 for the rights to use the song, according to producer Joel Dorn in the 2022 documentary Roberta.)



Flack’s collaboration with longtime friend Donny Hathaway led to another Grammy-winning hit, Where Is the Love, which peaked at No. 5 in 1973. That same year, Killing Me Softly dominated the charts for five weeks, earning her a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. She reached No. 1 again in 1974 with Feel Like Makin’ Love, which contributed to her total of 14 career Grammy nominations.

In 2020, Flack received a long-overdue Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing her legacy as one of music’s most influential voices.

“I always say that ‘love is a song’—meaning that music reaches beyond age, race, nationality, and religion to touch our hearts,” Flack wrote in a 2020 email to NPR’s Ann Powers, who described her as “an interpreter as bold and discerning as her role models Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra.”

Her impact on music remains immeasurable, and her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grammy-Nominated Singer Angie Stone Dies in Tragic Car Accident at 63

 Grammy-nominated R&B and neo-soul artist Angie Stone has tragically passed away at the age of 63 following a car accident, her daughter confirmed via social media on Saturday. Reports indicate that the Wish I Didn’t Miss You singer was traveling through Alabama with nine members of her band when their Sprinter van was involved in a fatal collision with an 18-wheeler truck. According to WSFA 12, the crash took place just before 7 a.m. on Interstate 65, approximately two miles south of Hope Hull in Montgomery County. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency stated that multiple lanes were blocked for nearly four hours before the scene was cleared around 11 a.m. Tragically, Stone was the only fatality.   Her daughter, Diamond Stone—whom Angie shared with ex-husband Rodney Stone—shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, writing, “On the road, mind racing. Keep me and my family in your prayers.” A few hours later, she followed up with a simple yet devastating message: “My mommy i...
Post a Comment
Read more

GloRilla Makes History with Gospel Award Win at 2025 BET Awards

  GloRilla Makes History with Gospel Award Win at 2025 BET Awards By Amanda Clemons| June 2025 In a powerful and unexpected moment at the 2025 BET Awards, Memphis rap sensation GloRilla claimed one of the night’s most meaningful honors— the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award —for her emotionally stirring single, “Rain Down On Me.” Featuring gospel legends Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music , the track has become a cultural and spiritual touchstone, bridging the gap between hip hop and gospel in a way rarely seen before. A Bold Crossover into Faith and Praise Known for her gritty Southern flow and street-smart lyrics, GloRilla—real name Gloria Hallelujah Woods—stunned fans with a vulnerable, faith-driven record that showed a different side of the rising star. The song, which debuted on her 2024 album Glorious , blends traditional gospel chords with modern rap cadences, echoing themes of redemption, perseverance, and divine protection. “I had this song in the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Atlanta Rapper Young Scooter Dies at 39 After Fleeing Police

 ​ Atlanta rapper Young Scooter , born Kenneth Edward Bailey , tragically passed away on his 39th birthday, March 28, 2025 , following an incident involving the Atlanta Police Department. Authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a dispute involving gunfire and a woman being forcibly taken back into a residence. Upon arrival, officers attempted to make contact, but two men fled the scene. Bailey sustained a severe leg injury while attempting to jump over fences during the escape and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Young Scooter was renowned for his contributions to the Southern hip-hop scene, gaining prominence with his 2013 mixtape "Street Lottery" , which featured collaborations with artists like Gucci Mane , Young Dolph , and Chief Keef . Throughout his career, he worked closely with longtime friend Future , signing with his Freebandz label in 2012, and later affiliating with Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad Mon...
Post a Comment
Read more