Jazz and soul legend Roberta Flack dies after suffering from a fatal illness
The soul and jazz music community is in mourning following the sudden death of Roberta Flack, the iconic Grammy-winning singer and pianist best known for her unforgettable rendition of Killing Me Softly with His Song.
Her death at the age of 88 was announced on Monday, February 24 by her publicist. Flack had announced years earlier that she was suffering from a serious and painful illness.
Roberta Flack Photo: Youtube
According to the official statement, Flack passed away at home, surrounded by her family members.
Flack rose to fame in 1970 when her song The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face was used in a film by American actor Clint Eastwood. The track became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard chart in 1972, a success that helped her win her Grammy.
The successful singer suffered from a serious illness In 2022, the artist had revealed that she suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which had prevented her from continuing to sing.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a disease of the nervous system that affects the neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing a loss of muscle control . In addition, it is a condition that worsens over time.
"There comes a time when ALS affects the control of the muscles to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this deadly disease," they explain on their website.
In 1973, Killing Me Softly repeated this achievement, making her the first artist to win consecutive Record of the Year awards.
This disease affects the brain. Photo: iStock
Her other major hits include Feel Like Makin' Love and the duets Where Is the Love and The Closer I Get to You with Donny Hathaway . In total, Flack has won five Grammy Awards and has been nominated eight times. In 2020, she received a Grammy for lifetime achievement, being honored by artists such as John Legend and Ariana Grande.
In 2022, Beyoncé included her in a list of influential musicians along with Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin during her Queens Remix tour.
Flack: from piano teacher to celebrity Born on February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Roberta Flack showed her musical talent from an early age. At the age of nine she began playing the piano and soon distinguished herself as a prodigy in classical music.
Flack won a scholarship to Howard University at the age of fifteen, becoming one of the youngest students to enter the institution. She graduated with a BA in music at the age of nineteen and before beginning her singing career, she worked as a teacher and gave piano lessons.
Roberta Flack Photo: networks
Her big break came in 1968 when she was hired to play at Mr. Henry's Restaurant on Capitol Hill, Washington. Her talent caught the attention of pianist Les McCann, who recommended her to Atlantic Records.
With his passing, music loses a legend whose voice and legacy will continue to resonate in the history of one of the most memorable voices in soul and jazz.
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