Roberta Flack (Photo via PBS)
Roberta Flack, the first recording artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years, died today (February 24, 2025). In 2022, the singer revealed that she had been diagnosed with ALS and was no longer able to sing. The beloved singer scored with a pair of #1 singles, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in 1972 and 1973. Both went on to win Record of the Year honors. (Billie Eilish duplicated the feat in 2020-21.)
The statement announcing her death reads: “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning. She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
Darlene Love posted a tribute for Flack, writing, “I’m so heartbroken to hear of the passing of the incredible Roberta Flack. There will never be another voice like hers—so full of soul, beauty, and emotion. ‘Killing Me Softly’ and so many of her songs will live on forever.”
A documentary on her career debuted on television as part of PBS’ American Masters series in 2023. Watch several clips below.
When her ALS diagnosis was made public, the announcement noted that “it is impossible for her to sing and not easy to speak,” adding, “but it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”
Watch a clip from the PBS special about “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
Flack was born on February 10, 1937, and became a piano prodigy at an early age. She began studying classical piano at age 9 and was awarded a full music scholarship to Howard University at the age of 15.
In 1968, moonlighting from her job as a music teacher with a regular gig at a Washington, DC, nightclub, her singular talent caught the eye of jazz great Les McCann, who arranged an audition for Flack with Atlantic Records, which led to the recording of her debut album, First Take. “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,” a song from First Take, was selected by Clint Eastwood for his directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, and it would win Flack a Grammy Award.
With his shoestring $1 million dollar film production budget Eastwood couldn’t afford to pay much. He offered $2,000 and she accepted.
Film critic Richard Roeper posted a tribute to Flack.
Rest in peace to Roberta Flack. Her cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is one of the most beautiful songs in pop history. Clint Eastwood played the entire 5 minutes+ in an extraordinarily touching scene in “Play Misty For Me.” pic.twitter.com/JDKgQsBAqK
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) February 24, 2025
Related: Our story on Play Misty For Me
Throughout her extraordinary career, Flack established hit-making mentorships with Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross and Bryson. Flack’s career has spanned decades and produced numerous other hit songs, including another #1, “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and “Where Is the Love,” a duet with Donny Hathaway that topped the R&B chart. The film chronicles how, throughout her pioneering career, Flack used her powerful platform to sing about the Black experience in America. She battled opinions of her mixed-race marriage, confronted blatant racism within the recording industry and created space for Black women to produce their own music. She released her latest album, Running, at age 80 in 2018, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
Flack published an autobiographical, lyrical picture book, The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music, in 2023, available here. Flack’s recordings are available here.
“I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” Flack said about her book. “I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself.”
So sad to hear of Roberta Flack’s passing. One of the great soul singers of all time. Rest well, Ms. Flack. Your legacy lives on!!! pic.twitter.com/0llBa6VXID
— Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) February 24, 2025
From a longtime neighbor at The Dakota, on New York’s Upper West Side…
Roberta Flack was a very close family friend and neighbor. She was an incredibly kind woman. Uniquely talented. I am eternally grateful to have known her. I’m heart broken she had to leave this earth. Will always love you. pic.twitter.com/kAbQoxWpZH
— Seán Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) February 24, 2025
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