Roberta Cleopatra Flack was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of quiet storm. Her commercial success included the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "Feel Like Makin' Love". She became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.
Flack frequently collaborated with Donny Hathaway, with whom she recorded several hit duets, including "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You". As one of the defining voices of 1970s popular music, she remained active in the industry, later finding success with duets such as " You're Looking Like Love To Me ", Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" and "As Long As There's Christmas" all with Peabo Bryson (1983) and "Set the Night to Music" with Maxi Priest (1991).
Across her decades-long career, she interpreted works by songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and members of the Beatles. In 2020, Flack received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Birth Name: Roberta Cleopatra Flack
Also Known As: Rubina Flake
Born: February 10, 1937 Black Mountain, North Carolina, U.S.
Died: February 24, 2025 (at age of 88) New York City, U.S.
Spouse(s): Steve Novosel (m. 1966; div. 1972)
Genre(s):
Jazz,
soul,
R&B
Instrument(s):
Vocals,
keyboards
Occupation(s):
Singer,
songwriter,
musician
Active From: 1968-2022