In Memoriam
Roberta Flack
February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025 · aged 88
Soul · R&B · Jazz · Pop
Roberta Cleopatra Flack was a sophisticated singer-pianist whose quiet fire and flawless, classically trained vocal control bridged the worlds of soul, pop, and jazz. Born in North Carolina in 1937, Flack possessed an astonishing ability to take a song and utterly transform it into a deeply intimate, hushed confession. She achieved historic success in the early 1970s, becoming the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years—first for the breathtakingly stark 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' in 1973, and then for her definitive, genre-defying rendition of 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' in 1974. Flack drew from a wide range of American musical forms, injecting profound emotional intelligence into everything she recorded, including her legendary duets with Donny Hathaway. Also a fierce social advocate, she used her music to address prejudice and human rights. She passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled elegance and grace.
Milestones
Killing Me Softly With His Song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Feel Like Makin' Love
Also remembered in 2025
- David Johansen (1950–2025)
- Garth Hudson (1937–2025)
- Marianne Faithfull (1946–2025)
- Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025)