Four time Grammy Award winning musician Roberta Flack died February 24, 2025 in her Manhattan home as a result of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) just two weeks after her 88th birthday.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason spoke on Flacks saying, “the world has lost a musical great with the passing of the timeless Roberta Flack. A visionary artist and humanitarian, she created music that transcended genres, cementing her legacy as one of music’s most influential voices.  We honor her creative spirit, boundless talent, and lasting impact on music and beyond.”

Thanks to director Clint Eastwood, Flack became “an overnight success” when he used her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” as the background music for a love scene in the film “Play Misty for Me”. 

But she is perhaps best known for her smash hit “Killing Me Softly (With His Song)”.

Along with her solo work, she had collaborations with Peabo Bryson, Donny Hathaway, and The Fugees.

Flack has a music school in New York City named after her where she spent some time.

She sang at the funeral of Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson – the first man to break the colour barrier in Major League Baseball.

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina to musician parents.  A Classically trained pianist, a 15  year old Flack earned a full scholarship to Howard University.  After graduating she spent time teaching during the day while performing in clubs at night.

Married and divorced, there was no mention of survivors.

Roberta Flack discography:
“First Take”
“Chapter Two”
“Quiet Fire”
“Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway”
“Killing Me Softly”
“Feel Like Makin’ Love”
“First Take/Chapter Two”
“In Concert”
“Blue Lights in the Basement”
“Roberta Flack”
“Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway”
“Live and More”
“First Time I Saw You”
“The Best of Roberta Flack”
“Bustin’ Loose” Music from the Original Motion Picture
“I’m the One”
“Born to Love”
“Greatest Hits”
“Oasis”
“Feel Like Makin’ Love”
“Killing Me Softly”
“Uh Uh Ooh Ooh”
“Set the Night to Music”
“You Make Me Feel Brand New”
“Softly with These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack”
“Roberta”
“Christmas Album”
“The Classic Mix” EP
“3 for One Box Set”
“In Concert” (Video/DVD)
“Killing Me Softly” (DVD)
“Holiday”
“An Evening With”
“Rhino Hi-Five: Roberta Flack”
“Pair of Fives: Roberta Flack/Dionne Warwick”
“Black is Beautiful” (DVD)
“Prime Concerts”
“The Very Best of Roberta Flack”
“The Soul of Roberta Flack: In Concert”
“Rhino Hi-Five: Roberta Flack, Vol. 2”
“Friends: Roberta Flack Sings Mariko Taka”
“In Concert/Killing Me Softly”
“At Her Best: Live”
“Love Songs”
“Let it Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles”
“S.O.U.L.”
“Original Album Series”
“Christmas Songs”
“Lost Takes”
“Now Playing”