Roberta Flack dead at 88: Tributes pour in for the legendary vocalist
Roberta Flack, the iconic R&B vocalist who lent her distinctive voice to hit singles like ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ and ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, has died at the age of 88. Tributes for the late vocalist are already pouring in, with figures from across the world of music and entertainment paying tribute to the legendary vocalist.
It was during the 1970s that Flack’s vocal talents were discovered when Les McCann stumbled upon her at a Washington DC nightclub. At the time, Flack was a teacher who played piano and gave lessons in her spare time. After auditioning for Atlantic Records, however, her fate was sealed: she was to be one of America’s defining voices in R&B.
Throughout the 1970s, Flack continued to record for Atlantic, in addition to performing on star-studded bills alongside the likes of Wilson Pickett, Tina Turner, and The Staple Singers, among various others. Clint Eastwood played a part in the singer’s success story, too, when he selected ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ to feature in his directorial debut Play Misty for Me, after which it became the biggest hit of 1972, spending six weeks at number one.
Flack found similar success a year later with the release of ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, penned by Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel and Lori Lieberman, which went on to win multiple Grammys. These hit singles cemented Flack’s place in the musical mainstream of America, and she continued to be a defiant voice for R&B throughout her long and storied career in music.
Continuing to record and perform well into old age, including a 2012 album of Beatles covers which paid tribute to John Lennon and Yoko Ono – her former neighbours in The Dakota building, Flack’s quality followed her throughout her life. The vocalist eventually retired from music at the age of 86, after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which prevented her from continuing to sing.
As news of Flack’s passing spreads around the world, multiple tributes to the late vocalist have been flooding in from all corners of the globe. Those who have worked with her, those who knew her, and those who simply adored her incredible body of work have all been keen to share their thoughts on the death of the iconic singer.
Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters was one of the first to pay tribute to the star, sharing: “Condolences to family, friends and fans of Roberta Flack. RIP.”
Fellow R&B singer Darlene Love, who regularly performed Flack’s ‘Where Is The Love’ during her live performances, wrote on social media, “I’m so heartbroken to hear of the passing of Roberta Flack. There will never be another voice like hers – so full of soul, beauty, and emotion. ‘Killing Me Softly’ and so many of her songs will live on forever.” The singer concluded, “Rest in power, Roberta. Your music will always be with us.”
American drummer, record producer, and music obsessive Questlove also paid tribute to Flack via his Instagram, accompanying a picture of the singer with the caption “Thank You Roberta Flack. Rest In Melody.”
Bernice A. King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., shared an image of Flack with the caption, “What a powerful, synchronised, beautiful instrument you were…Thank you #RobertaFlack.”
Oscar-nominated photographer Misan Harriman, who chronicled the Black Lives Matter movement through his photography, called Flack “One of the greatest of all time.” He also shared the song ‘Do What You Gotta Do’, writing, “This song means so much to me. She was a class apart.”
New York R&B star Stephanie Mills, who rose to prominence during the 1980s and has often performed covers of Flack’s work, wrote on social media, “Roberta Flack transitioned today and my heart is shattered. I am saddened because another friend has become an ancestor. For those of us who knew her, she was more than a legend in our industry, she was real, soft spoken, laid-back, and kind to me…she said ‘Love Is A Song’, and I believe that.”
Mills added, “I remember going to church with Ms. Flack and during that service we washed each other’s feet. It is difficult to share the emotions of that moment but I’ll never forget that it was a beautiful experience.” Before concluding, “Miss Flack will truly be missed.”
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