Roberta Flack, the enduring vocalist who rose to stardom within the Nineteen Seventies with hits like “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “Where Is the Love,” handed away on Monday, as confirmed by her publicist. She was 88.
“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025,” wrote Elaine Schock, her publicist, in a press release. “She died peacefully surrounded by her family.”
Find out extra about her and her private life under.
Who Was Roberta Flack?
Born on February 10, 1937, in North Carolina, Flack was the daughter of a church organist and commenced taking part in classical piano at a younger age. She entered Howard University in Washington, D.C., on the age of 15 on a full scholarship.
She went on to turn into a Grammy-winning artist identified for hits like her model of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” all of which earned her prime spots on the Billboard charts. Flack was nominated for Grammy Awards 14 occasions and gained 4, in line with the Grammys.
In the assertion issued by her publicist following her passing, it was famous, “Roberta broke boundaries and records,” including that “She was also a proud educator.” According to Variety, she taught faculty in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
How Was Roberta Flack’s Health?
During a 2018 efficiency at New York City’s Apollo Theater, Flack felt unwell and needed to depart the venue. It was later revealed that she had suffered a stroke years earlier.
In 2020, Flack was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to R&B, notably her affect on the Quiet Storm subgenre. She declined to present a speech on the time and stepped away from performing in 2022 as a consequence of well being points, which had been later revealed to be a analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the identical 12 months.
ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s illness, is a progressive neurological situation that impairs an individual’s capability to regulate their muscle tissue, with the illness worsening over time.
Was Roberta Flack Married?
Flack was not married on the time of her demise, however she was beforehand married to fellow musician Steve Novosel from 1966 to 1972.
Did Roberta Flack Have Kids?
Flack didn’t have youngsters of her personal, however she was the aunt of well-known determine skater Rory Flack and the godmother of late musician Bernard Wright, who tragically died in 2022 after being hit by a automotive whereas crossing a road in Dallas.