Roberta Flack, Iconic Singer of ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song,’ Dies at 88 – One America News Network
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
1:05 PM – Monday, February 24, 2025
Iconic singer Roberta Flack, renowned for chart-topping hits like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” has passed away at the age of 88.
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Flack’s sudden passing occurred on Monday.
The Grammy-winning artist had faced numerous health challenges, including a stroke in 2016 and a collapse during a performance two years later. In 2022, she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, known as “ALS,” which according to her then-manager Suzanne Koga, “made singing impossible and speaking difficult.” Still, Koga emphasized, “It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”
As reported by the Washington Post, Flack’s publicist, Elaine Schock, announced that she passed away at home, surrounded by her family, due to complications from ALS.
“Roberta broke boundaries and records,” stated an obituary shared by Schock. “She was a proud educator and a unique vocalist who defied categorization. Her music evoked both reveries and exclamations, and her stillness captivated the soul. The term ‘quiet storm’ aptly described not just her style but also her impact.”
Notably, her song was famously covered by the acclaimed R&B-funk-hip hop group Fugees in 1996, featuring the remarkable vocals of Lauryn Hill. Frank Sinatra is among many artists who also covered the song following Flack’s rendition.
Flack gained even more fame when actor-director Clint Eastwood included her 1969 song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.”
In 1972, Flack’s song reached the top of the Billboard chart and won the Grammy for record of the year.
“The record label wanted a faster tempo, but he insisted on keeping it just as it was,” Flack recalled to The Associated Press in 2018. “The song became popular as the theme song for his movie, propelling it into the spotlight.”
In 1973, she made history again by becoming the first artist to win the record of the year twice consecutively for “Killing Me Softly.”
“Fresh off her Grammy win for ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,’ Roberta Flack stumbled upon [Lori Lieberman’s] ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’ on an airplane. This encounter sparked a deep connection with the song, leading to her powerful rendition in 1973, which reached #1 on the charts for five weeks, more than any other hit that year. She eventually won the Grammy for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance.”
Flack also produced several other well-known singles, including “Where Is the Love,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and “The Closer I Get to You.”
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack’s piano skills earned her a full scholarship to Howard University at just 15. In her twenties, she taught music to middle school students in the D.C. area. Her debut album, “First Take,” released in 1969, marked the beginning of her career with Atlantic Records.
“I aimed to be successful and a well-rounded musician,” Flack shared with The Telegraph in 2015. “I listened to a lot of Aretha and the Drifters, trying to emulate that while playing and teaching.”
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