Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937) was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter celebrated for her soulful, intimate style. Explore her life, musical legacy, and inspiring words.

Introduction

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was an artist of rare depth: classically trained yet expressive in soul, jazz, R&B, and pop. Her voice, piano work, and interpretive sensitivity made songs like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” timeless classics. Throughout her career, she balanced artistry and emotion, influencing not only listeners but later generations of singers and musicians.

Early Life and Education

Roberta Flack was born on February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

When she was about five, her family moved to Virginia—first Richmond and then Arlington—where she joined church choirs and accompanied music in worship settings.

Flack showed exceptional musical promise. By age 15, she gained a scholarship to Howard University, where she studied classical music, participated in choir, and deepened her musical foundations.

Career and Achievements

From Teaching to Nightclub Performer

Before her recording success, Flack worked as a music educator—teaching in junior high schools and giving private piano lessons at home in Washington, D.C. neighborhoods.

One of her earliest regular gigs was at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant on Capitol Hill, where she sang and played piano.

Breakthrough & Signature Hits

Flack’s recording career officially launched in 1968 when she began performing professionally on record.

Her major breakthrough came when Clint Eastwood selected her song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (from her debut album First Take) to appear in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

Following that, she achieved further success with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which also earned her a Grammy the next year — making her one of the few artists to win back-to-back Record of the Year awards.

Another major hit was “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” which reinforced her reputation for blending romantic soul with introspective subtlety.

She also recorded successful duets, for example with Donny Hathaway (“Where Is the Love,” “The Closer I Get to You”) and with Peabo Bryson (“Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”).

Over her career, she released many albums spanning genres—jazz, soul, R&B, pop—always bringing her interpretive sensitivity and instrumental skill (especially piano) to bear.

Later Years, Advocacy & Challenges

Flack remained active across decades, releasing new works, collaborating, and exploring reinterpretations of classic songs. In 1994, she released her album Roberta, which included jazz and soul covers, marking the end of her long stint with Atlantic Records.

She was also involved in music education and advocacy. She helped establish the Roberta Flack School of Music in New York City — operating in brownstones she purchased — to support young musicians.

Flack also spoke out on artists’ rights, and was part of the Artist Empowerment Coalition, advocating that musicians have greater control over their creative works.

In recent years, she faced health challenges. In 2022, she publicly disclosed a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which made singing increasingly difficult. stroke earlier in her life.

Roberta Flack passed away on February 24, 2025, at her home in New York City.

Style, Themes & Influence

Roberta Flack’s artistry was marked by:

• Emotional restraint and depth: Her vocal delivery was often understated yet potent—she could convey intense feeling with minimal vocal acrobatics.

• Musical literacy: Her early training in classical piano and her facility with harmony and melody enriched her interpretations.

• Genre fusion: She moved fluidly between soul, jazz, folk, and pop, with a sound that transcended rigid boundaries.

• Interpretive power: Rather than dominating songs, she inhabited them—especially in ballads, she made the listener lean in.

• Quiet storm influence: Her smooth, intimate style contributed to the development of the quiet storm subgenre in R&B radio.

Her influence is seen in how later artists (e.g. the Fugees’ hit cover of “Killing Me Softly”), contemporary soul, and neo-soul musicians draw from her emotional directness and nuanced musical phrasing.

Famous Quotes by Roberta Flack

Here are some notable quotes of hers:

• “Remember: Always walk in the light. And if you feel like you're not walking in it, go find it. Love the light.”

• “Once you're successful with a certain kind of music, it's hard not to have faith in it as a means to stay successful.”

• “A song to me is a very tangible thing. I can feel it with my hands and see it with my eyes…”

• “Music is an art form that doesn't need to be explained. It needs to be performed; it needs to be felt; it needs to be listened to; it needs to progress.”

• “I have my own charity I am trying to get off the ground as well, which some of my concerts go toward funding … I am building a school — the Roberta Flack School of Music — in two brownstones I purchased in New York City.”

• “To live is to suffer. To survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” (Attributed)

These quotes reflect her dedication to musical integrity, her belief in art’s emotional force, and her commitment to giving back through education.

Lessons from Roberta Flack

From her life and legacy we can derive several meaningful lessons:

1. Artistry comes from integrity. Flack’s success was built not on flash but on authenticity, emotional truth, and musical skill.

2. Musical breadth strengthens expression. Her grounding in classical technique enriched her soul and pop interpretations, giving them depth.

3. Educate and leave a legacy. By founding a music school and mentoring younger artists, she extended her influence beyond performance.

4. Resilience in adversity. Even in the face of health challenges, she remained publicly dignified and committed to her artistry’s memory.

5. Emotion over showmanship. Her style teaches that sometimes less is more—great performance often lies in subtlety, touch, and connection.

Conclusion

Roberta Flack’s voice was a rare gift—a voice that could express tenderness, heartbreak, conviction, and restraint. Across decades, she brought listeners into her emotional world, telling stories through melody and silence as much as through lyric. Her contributions to music, to artistic dignity, and to nurturing new talent ensure that even though her physical voice has now passed, her resonance continues.