Roberta Flack, the legendary American singer and pianist, passed away at the age of 88. Renowned for her silky emotive voice, genre-blending piano playing and musical style, Flack's contributions to soul, jazz, and R&B have left an indelible mark on the music industry.

Almost everyone’s first encounter with Ms Flack’s music happens with her version of Killing Me Softly (originally sung by Lori Lieberman) which became number one hit in the US, Australia, Canada and number six in the UK in 1973, making her a household name across the world.

But very few people know that Ms Flack’s first number one hit happened in 1971 through a song from her debut album which was beautifully used by Clint Eastwood in his debut directorial effort. A hauntingly beautiful love song, sung with a grace that only Ms Flack could bring The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. The song was originally sung by Peggy Seeger, but Ms Flack made it her own.

Roberta Flack was born on 10^th February, 1937, in North Carolina, where music was a constant presence in her life, thanks to her mother, a church organist. Gifted from a young age, she displayed remarkable talent and, at just 15, earned a full scholarship to Howard University.

Initially immersed in classical piano, she later shifted her focus to vocal performance, discovering a new avenue for artistic expression. After graduating, she juggled a teaching career with nightclub performances in Washington, D.C., where her distinctive sound eventually caught the attention of Atlantic Records, paving the way for her rise to stardom. During the 1970s, Roberta Flack joined forces with musician Donny Hathaway, creating unforgettable duets such as Where Is the Love and The Closer I Get to You. Her gift for expressing raw emotion through song captivated listeners around the world, earning her widespread acclaim and chart-topping hits.

An immensely popular, Grammy-winning cover of Killing Me Softly released by The Fugees in 1996 helped introduce the song and Ms Flack’s music to new generations of listeners.

In later years, Ms Flack faced health challenges, including a stroke in 2016 and a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, which led her to retire from performing. On 24^th February, 2025, Ms Flack departed from this world due to a cardiac arrest.

Travel well and thank you for the music.

By Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan ‘meem’ is a Dubai based business and marketing consultant, poet and a music journalist. He also has a wide range of vinyl in his collection ranging from jazz, blues, classical, rock, pop and old Hindi film albums. Meraj's first book of poems, ‘Khyaalon Ki Tapri’ was an instant bestseller and he has just released his second book of poems, 'Boondon Si Baatein'.