'Killing Me Softly With His Song' Singer Passes Away

Singer Roberta Flack - famous for the love song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" - has died at the age of 88.

According to CNN , the singer's representative announced that she passed away surrounded by her family at her home on February 24, without disclosing the cause. In recent years, the famous singer had many health problems, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which was discovered in August 2022. The condition worsened, making it impossible for her to sing as before.

Many artists posted tributes on social media. Actress Jennifer Hudson wrote: "So sad to hear. She was one of the greatest voices in soul music. Rest in peace, Ms. Flack. Her musical legacy will live on forever."

Singer Kelly Rowland said her "heart sank" when she heard the news. She wrote on X : "Our dear Roberta has left this world but has left behind a wonderful beauty. Thank you for your gentle and graceful gift. I also thank you for being part of the soundtrack to most of my life's most tender moments. I am eternally grateful."

Singer Roberta Flack at a concert in Calvia in 2006. Photo: Reuters

Roberta Flack, born in 1937 in North Carolina, is one of the greatest soul and R&B singers of all time. Her mother was an organist in the church choir, so she was exposed to classical music early. The singer began studying piano at the age of nine and received a full scholarship to study music at Howard University at the age of 15. She was one of the youngest students in the history of the school.

In 1958, Flack graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education and worked as a music teacher for a time. She had wanted to become an opera singer but found the genre unpopular in the 1960s. In an interview with Time In 1975, the artist said: "One of the troubles of being a black female singer is that people are always pushing you, telling you to sing soul music."

In addition to teaching, Roberta Flack sang in nightclubs every evening and on weekends. Gradually, she was invited to perform at many stages in Washington DC. In 1968, jazz musician Les McCann discovered Flack's talent and invited her to audition for Atlantic Records - where she recorded more than 40 songs in three hours. Chat with Philadelphia Weekly More than 10 years later, the singer said she was both nervous and happy at the time. "It was a completely new experience and maybe I sang too much at that time," she told the news agency.

Roberta Flack's debut album - First Take - debuted in 1969. However, her name entered the star ranks after The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - ballad from the album - appeared in the film Play Misty for Me directed by Clint Eastwood in 1971. A year later, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks, winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1973 Grammys. She also won Best Collaboration for her duet with Donny Hathaway on the song. Where Is the Love .

Also in 1973, Roberta Flack continued to make a splash when she released the album Killing Me Softly , makes a mark with the title song Killing Me Softly With His Song . The song dominated the Billboard charts for five weeks, bringing her two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1974 Grammy Awards. Throughout her career, the singer was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, winning five trophies including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

Singer Roberta Flack at the 1974 Grammy Awards. Photo: AP

She also covered songs by other artists such as Leonard Cohen and The Beatles. By her fifth solo album Feel Like Makin' Love , the singer takes on the role of producer - a position typically held by men in the music industry - and calls herself Rubina Flake. CNN She leaves a lasting legacy as one of the defining voices of her generation - both as a cover artist and a prolific songwriter.

Although the majority of her music consists of love songs, the artist is not afraid to address social issues. She has written about racial injustices such as Tryin' Times (1969), social and economic inequality in Compared to What (1969), the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community Ballad of the Sad Young Men (1969). In addition, Roberta Flack is a philanthropist, having founded a fund to support education and animal protection. During the Covid-19 period, she helped raise funds for the Feed The Children organization and participated in activities to raise awareness about the epidemic.

Roberta Flack's music has inspired many young artists such as Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. Guardian She is said to have an elegant style, a voice that can conquer all genres, and the ability to fully convey the ups and downs of love.

In her personal life, the singer married jazz musician Steve Novosel in 1966, divorced in 1972, and the couple had no children. According to Times Now , she was single before her death.

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