Roberta Flack: Grammy-Winning Soul Icon And Voice Of A Generation Dies At 88

Roberta Flack, the legendary Grammy-winning soul singer renowned for her heartfelt interpretations of romantic ballads like “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and her profound impact on music, activism, and culture, has passed away. She was 88.

Flack died on Monday at her home, surrounded by family, according to a statement from her publicist, Elaine Schock. Her passing follows years of health challenges, including a public diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in late 2022, a progressive disease that ultimately took away her ability to sing.

A Voice That Defined an Era

Despite her health struggles, Flack had already cemented her legacy as one of the most influential voices of her generation. As both a songwriter and an interpreter of music, she delivered a string of chart-topping hits and garnered widespread acclaim. Over her illustrious career, the classically trained daughter of a church organist earned 14 Grammy nominations and won five, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She remains the only solo artist to win the Grammy for Record of the Year two years in a row.

Tributes poured in following her passing, including from Questlove, the drummer for The Roots and musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, who shared a heartfelt post:

"Thank you, Roberta Flack. Rest In Melody."

From Classical Prodigy to Soul Sensation

Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack began studying piano at the age of 9. By 15, she had earned a scholarship to Howard University, where she graduated in 1958 with a degree in music education. Though she initially aspired to a career in classical music, she found the industry unwelcoming to Black female musicians in the 1960s.

"One of the hassles of being a Black female musician is that people always try to push you into a corner and tell you to sing soul," she once told TIME magazine. "I’m a serious artist. If I can’t play Bartók when I want to play Bartók, then nothing else matters."

Encouraged by a voice teacher to explore popular music instead, Flack began performing in Washington, D.C. clubs, where jazz musician Les McCann discovered her at Mr. Henry’s. That fateful encounter led to an audition with Atlantic Records, where she reportedly played over 40 songs in three hours.

"I was so anxious and so happy, and I still am," she later recalled. "But it was all a brand-new experience, and I probably sang too many songs."

A Career of Unforgettable Hits

Flack’s debut album, First Take (1969), featured her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, a folk song by Ewan MacColl. When Clint Eastwood used the track in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me, it skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and won Record of the Year at the 1973 Grammy Awards.

That same year, Flack and her close collaborator Donny Hathaway won a Grammy for their duet “Where Is the Love.” Then came another career-defining moment: her 1973 album Killing Me Softly, featuring the iconic title track. The song dominated the charts for five weeks and earned her two more Grammy Awards.

With her fifth solo album, Feel Like Makin’ Love, Flack took control as producer—a groundbreaking move for a woman in a male-dominated industry. She credited herself under the name Rubina Flake, an alter ego that reflected her artistic independence.

More Than Love Songs: A Voice for Change

While Flack’s most famous songs were love ballads, she never shied away from addressing social and political issues. She tackled racial injustice in “Tryin’ Times”, criticized economic disparity in “Compared to What”, and acknowledged LGBTQ+ struggles with “Ballad of the Sad Young Men.”

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson once called her “socially relevant and politically unafraid”, a sentiment she echoed in later years.

"I’m deeply saddened that many of the songs I recorded 50 years ago about civil rights, equal rights, poverty, hunger, and suffering are still relevant today," she told AARP in 2020.

Her influence has endured across generations, inspiring artists like Lauryn Hill and The Fugees—whose 1996 cover of “Killing Me Softly” became a global hit—as well as Lizzo, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande.

Whether singing about love, activism, or classical compositions, Flack poured her soul into every note. As she once told NPR’s Ann Powers:

"Every single song I’ve recorded expresses something deep and personal to me. Each was my singular focus, whether in the studio or on the stage."

A Timeless Legacy

Roberta Flack’s music transcended genres and generations, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and the world. Though her voice has fallen silent, her melodies and messages will continue to inspire for decades to come.