American singer Roberta Flack, the legendary voice of "Killing Me Softly," has died
American singer Roberta Flack , known for her unmistakable voice in hits such as Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face , died on Monday at the age of 88 , her publicist confirmed in a statement.
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"She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family," Elaine Schock said, without revealing the cause of her death. The artist, who was one of the most prominent figures in soul, pop and R&B in the 1970s, had been diagnosed in 2022 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) , a disease that affected her nervous system and prevented her from continuing to sing.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia , Roberta Flack showed her musical talent from an early age. Her ability on the piano earned her a scholarship to Howard University at just 15 years old , an exceptional achievement that marked the beginning of her career.
Her big break to fame came with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face , a song that earned her a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1972 . The following year, she repeated the recognition with the hit that catapulted her into eternity: Killing Me Softly With His Song . The song, which conquered an entire generation, shone again in 1996 when the Fugees , with Lauryn Hill on lead vocals, reinterpreted it and turned it into a global anthem once again.
In addition to her impact on music, Roberta Flack was a fervent defender of civil rights in the United States . She used her voice to support social causes and in 1999 she gave an emotional concert in honor of Nelson Mandela , a symbol of the fight against apartheid in South Africa .
In an interview with Forbes in 2021, she recalled how her father restored an old piano found in a scrapyard for her. “It was my first piano and the instrument in which I found my expression and inspiration as a young person,” she said.
Her legacy will live on not only for her unparalleled musical talent, but for her role in music history and her fight for equality. Roberta Flack leaves an indelible mark on the world of soul, pop and social activism .
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