Legendary singer Roberta Flack, the voice behind some of music’s greatest ballads, has passed on. She was 88.
Though best remembered for her most famous track, “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” the iconic chanteuse built a career filled with other classics that defined soul and R&B in the US and beyond.
Her breakthrough began with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a song she recorded in 1969 but that gained widespread recognition after Clint Eastwood featured it in his 1971 psychological thriller Play Misty for Me.
The song’s raw emotion and depth resonated with listeners, sending it to No. 1 on the charts and winning Flack a Grammy for Record of the Year.
Her success continued with a series of unforgettable duets with Donny Hathaway. “Where Is the Love” won a Grammy, while “The Closer I Get to You” became a late ‘70s favorite.
In 1974, Flack topped the charts once again with “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” a track that showcased her versatility as an artist and earned her three Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Her 1983 duet with Peabo Bryson, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” became a staple at weddings in the ‘80s.
Flack was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, a condition that took away her ability to sing.
Though she could no longer perform, her music remained a lasting force.