Roberta Flack

Biography

Roberta Cleopatra Flack, born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. Raised in Arlington, Virginia, her mother was a church organist, and her father was a jazz pianist. Flack's musical talent was evident from a young age; she began playing the piano at age nine and, at fifteen, earned a full scholarship to Howard University to study music, making her one of the youngest students to ever enroll. Initially focused on classical piano, she later switched to voice and music education. After graduating at nineteen, her father's death prompted her to take a teaching job to support her family.

Early Career and Discovery

While teaching, Flack began performing at Washington, D.C. nightclubs. She built a local following with her unique blend of pop, soul, folk, and jazz. In 1968, during a benefit concert, she was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who was so impressed that he arranged an audition with Atlantic Records. This led to her signing with the label and recording her debut album, "First Take," in 1969.

Breakthrough and Rise to Stardom

Initially, "First Take" had modest success. However, in 1971, Clint Eastwood featured the song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in his film "Play Misty for Me." The single was released in 1972 and soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, winning Flack a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. This propelled the album to the top of the charts. She followed this success with the album "Chapter Two" (1970) and "Quiet Fire" (1971). In 1972, she began a successful collaboration with fellow Howard University alumnus Donny Hathaway, starting with the duet "Where Is the Love," which also won a Grammy.

The Height of Success

In 1973, Flack released "Killing Me Softly with His Song," which became her second number-one hit and earned her another Grammy for Record of the Year, making her the first artist to win the award in consecutive years. The album of the same name was a commercial success. Her third number-one single, "Feel Like Makin' Love," followed in 1974. Throughout the 1970s, she continued to release successful albums, including "Blue Lights in the Basement" (1977), which featured the hit duet with Hathaway, "The Closer I Get to You."

Later Career and Legacy

Flack's career continued into the 1980s and beyond with successful collaborations, including "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" with Peabo Bryson and "Set the Night to Music" with Maxi Priest. She released several more albums, including "Oasis" (1988), "Roberta" (1994), and a Beatles cover album, "Let It Be Roberta" (2012). In addition to her recording career, Flack was involved in humanitarian work, founding the Roberta Flack School of Music to provide free music education to underprivileged students. She received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. In 2022, it was announced that Flack had been diagnosed with ALS, which left her unable to sing.