Soul singer Roberta Flack, whose biggest hits include “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. Her passing has marked the end of an era in music history. Flack won a scholarship to Howard University at the age of 15, where she initially intended to study classical piano.
She soon switched to the study of popular music, and this paved the way for an amazing career that seamlessly blended classical techniques with soul music. However, after a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, Flack was unable to speak or sing until her passing.
Roberta Flack encountered racism in the music industry
Throughout her distinguished career, Flack encountered and overcame extraordinary racial and gender bias. She openly spoke on the widespread racism and covert sexism in the record business during an interview in 1978. As a notable Black female music artist and producer, she was often criticized for her talent.
Flack pinpointed a lack of feminine producers and the male-dominated nature of the music business. She explained this was a result of systemic barriers that hindered women, especially Black women, from joining the profession, and according to her, it was a challenge.
Roberta Flack’s career in music
Her debut album, First Take, introduced her unique cocktail of jazz, soul, and classical sounds, which paved the way for a string of number-one hits. “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You,” her duets with Donny Hathaway, and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” all showcased her ability to tap into deep emotions and move people with a diverse range of music.
Flack won numerous Grammy Awards for her work in her lifetime and other recognitions, including multiple Record of the Year awards and a 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.