- Legendary singer Roberta Flack has died at 88.
- She was known for Killing Me Softly and won multiple Grammys.
- Flack’s music shaped R&B and inspired generations.
Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack, best known for her timeless hit Killing Me Softly With His Song, passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Her publicist confirmed her death but did not disclose the cause.
Eko Hot Blog reports that, Flack, a pioneer of soul and R&B music, had been battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) since 2022, which had robbed her of her ability to sing. “She died peacefully, surrounded by her family,” the statement read.
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Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she grew up in Arlington, Virginia, in a musically gifted family.
Her father found an old piano in a junkyard, restored it, and painted it green, setting the stage for her musical journey. She won a music scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old, a testament to her extraordinary talent.
Flack’s career took off after jazz musician Les McCann discovered her performing in Washington, D.C. She signed with Atlantic Records and gained national fame when Clint Eastwood featured her song The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The song earned her a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972. She made history the following year, winning the same award for Killing Me Softly With His Song, becoming the first artist to do so consecutively.
Her music helped shape the “quiet storm” style of R&B, influencing generations of artists. In 1996, the Fugees revived Killing Me Softly, introducing her music to a new audience. Flack received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
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Beyond music, Flack was deeply involved in civil rights movements, performing at Jackie Robinson’s funeral and supporting activists like Angela Davis. “I protested as a singer with a lot of love,” she once said.
Her legacy as a soulful storyteller and musical innovator will endure for generations.
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