NEW YORK, USA – Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose soulful ballads and unmistakable voice made her a cultural icon, has died at the age of 88.
Flack passed away Monday, February 24, 2025 at her home, surrounded by family, her publicist Elaine Schock confirmed.
Her death follows several years of health struggles, including a 2022 diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), which left her unable to sing in her final years.
A Voice That Defined a Generation
Flack’s intimate and deeply emotional ballads shaped the sound of the 1970s.
Her breakout hit, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” became a sensation after Clint Eastwood featured it in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me, catapulting her to stardom.
The song spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Her sultry and expressive vocal style, combined with her classical training, made her stand out in the world of soul, R&B, and pop music.
She won five Grammy Awards, including back-to-back Record of the Year honours—a feat unmatched by any solo artist until Billie Eilish in 2020.
Among her other iconic songs, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (1973) – a five-week No. 1 hit and Grammy winner, “Where Is the Love” – a duet with Donny Hathaway that won a Grammy in 1973, and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (1974) – which she self-produced under the alias Rubina Flake.
Flack was also a trailblazer behind the scenes, breaking into the male-dominated industry of music production.
A Classically Trained Artist Who Defied Expectations
Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack’s musical journey started early.
By age 9, she was already studying classical piano, and by 15, she earned a scholarship to Howard University, where she graduated with a degree in music education.
She initially aspired to be a classical concert pianist, but found the world of classical music reluctant to embrace Black women.
“One of the hassles of being a Black female musician is that people are always backing you into a corner and telling you to sing soul,” Flack told TIME in the 1970s.
“I’m a serious artist. I feel a kinship with people like Arthur Rubinstein and Glenn Gould.”
Encouraged to pursue pop and jazz, Flack began performing in Washington, D.C. nightclubs. It was during one of these gigs at Mr. Henry’s that jazz musician Les McCann discovered her and helped her land an audition with Atlantic Records.
The story goes that Flack, nervous but eager, played 40 songs over three hours at her audition.
She soon signed with the label and released her debut album, First Take, in 1969.
A Legacy of Social and Political Activism
Though Flack is best known for love songs, she was never afraid to address complex social issues.
Her music touched on civil rights, economic disparity, and injustice – “Tryin’ Times” – an anthem for racial justice, “Compared to What” – a critique of political corruption and economic inequality, and “Ballad of the Sad Young Men” – a song with LGBTQ themes, a rarity at the time
Rev. Jesse Jackson once described Flack as “socially relevant and politically unafraid.”
In a 2020 interview, Flack reflected on how the themes of her songs remained relevant:
“I’m deeply saddened that many of the songs I recorded 50 years ago about civil rights, equal rights, poverty, hunger, and suffering in our society are still relevant today.”
Influence on Modern Music
Flack’s influence extended far beyond her own recordings.
Her music inspired generations of artists, including Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, whose 1996 remake of Killing Me Softly became a worldwide hit; Lizzo, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande cite Flack’s artistry as an inspiration.
Alicia Keys also has credited Flack as a major influence on her own piano-driven sound.
On social media, tributes poured in from across the music industry.
Musician and filmmaker Questlove shared a throwback photo of Flack with the caption:
“Thank you, Roberta Flack. Rest in melody.”
A Life of Music, Now a Legacy
Even after ALS took her voice, Flack remained deeply engaged in music and social justice, ensuring that her legacy extended beyond her recorded works.
“Every single song I’ve recorded expressed something deep and personal to me,” she told NPR in 2020. “Each was my singular focus whether in the studio or on the stage.”
Roberta Flack leaves behind a timeless catalog of music, a legacy of fearless artistry, and a generation of musicians who continue to be inspired by her work.
Her music may have been about love, but her impact—on culture, activism, and artistry—was far greater.
