Roberta Flack, the globally renowned and iconic R&B singer, who was known for timeless hits like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, has died.
The legendary American singer and pianist passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88.
Her family and representatives confirmed the news, honoring her legacy as a trailblazing artist and dedicated educator. The statement read:
“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries, shattered records, and remained a proud advocate for music education throughout her life.”
Flack revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which had made singing impossible. Yet her impact on music and culture remained as powerful as ever.
How Did Roberta Flack Die?
When the news of Roberta Flack’s death began to spread around the internet and traditional media, the initial reports stated that she died at home among her family.
However, shortly after this, her manager, Suzanne Koga, came forward with a different story. Koga stated that Flack died from cardiac arrest while on her way to the hospital in Manhattan. Apparently, Flack had fallen ill and was being taken to hospital, but she never made it there.
Tributes have since begun to pour in for Flack, who is on record for being the very first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.
Roberta Flack Rose From Classical Prodigy to Soul Superstar
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Roberta Flack’s musical journey began with classical piano training. A prodigy, she later earned a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old.
Flack wasted no time in making good use of her gifts. While her days were spent immersed in classical compositions, her nights brought her to jazz clubs, where she accompanied opera singers and performed pop standards during breaks.
Reflecting on this, she once remarked:
“I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by music my entire life — from Bach and Chopin to rhythm and blues.”
Her breakthrough came when jazz musician Les McCann discovered her performing in a Washington, D.C. club. Flack’s soulful voice and emotional depth captivated McCann, who later wrote: “Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known.”
Despite her undeniable talent, Roberta Flack didn’t achieve mainstream success until her 30s, when her haunting rendition of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was featured in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film Play Misty for Me.
The song skyrocketed to No. 1, earned her a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and cemented her place in music history.
Flack continued her winning streak, taking home another Grammy the following year for “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, a track that would later inspire a new generation when Lauryn Hill and The Fugees released their Grammy-winning cover in 1996.
Roberta Flack Had A Career Defined by Excellence and Activism
After topping the charts again with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974, Roberta Flack shifted her focus to recording, touring, and philanthropic work. She went on to make collaborations with music legends like Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis, toured extensively throughout the 1980s, and made a chart comeback in 1991 with her Maxi Priest duet, “Set the Night to Music.”
In 2012, she paid homage to another legendary act with Let It Be Roberta, an album of The Beatles covers that showcased her ability to reinterpret classics with raw emotion and authenticity.
Flack was also deeply committed to giving back. She founded the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York, where she nurtured young talent and inspired future generations to pursue their musical dreams.
“I try to sing with all the feeling I have in my body and mind,” she once said. “A person with true soul can take any song and make you listen.”
The Lasting Legacy She Has Left Behind
In 2020, a year after suffering a stroke, Roberta Flack received a well-deserved Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the time, Flack said:
“It’s a tremendous and overwhelming honor. I’ve spent my entire career telling stories through music, and this award is validation that my voice was heard.”
Beyond her chart-topping hits and accolades, Flack’s music transcended genres and generations. She used her platform to address social issues, never shying away from political topics, earning praise from figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson, who called her “socially relevant and politically unafraid.”
There is not one doubt that Roberta Flack’s influence will echo through music history forever, and she will continue to inspire many generations still to come.
