In Tribute To Roberta Flack
The world has lost another cherished voice with the passing of certified legend Roberta Flack.
Roberta Flack, a highly famed and respected singer, songwriter and musician passed away on 24 February at the age of 88. Her manager Suzanne Koga reported Roberta succumbed to cardiac arrest en route to hospital in Manhattan.
Roberta was born on 10 February 1937 in North Carolina. She was raised in a large musical family and took an early interest in piano at the age of nine. Her talents earned Roberta a full scholarship to Howard University, becoming one of the youngest students to enrol at just 15 years old.
While working as a teacher, Roberta moonlighted as a singer and performer at jazz clubs in Washington DC during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Her emotive vocal performances and endearing stage presence were soon noticed, and Roberta was picked up to record a demo and not long after, her debut album ‘First Take’ in 1969.
The hits came thick and quick, when ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’ was selected by Clint Eastwood for his directorial debut ‘Play Misty For Me’, spending six consecutive weeks at No. 1 of the Billboard chart in 1972.
Roberta’s second No. 1 hit came in 1973 with the timeless classic ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, followed by ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ in 1974, Flack’s third and final chart topper. Roberta Flack maintained a strong presence throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, her legend cemented with a star on the coveted Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 1999.
But Roberta never faded from the spotlight, continuing to record well into the 2000s and maintaining presence through her vast catalogue of songs that are cherished to this day. Her legend also remains in her contributions to the birth of the quiet storm radio format and subsequent R&B genre.
Characterised by a smooth and romantic jazz-influenced style, and deliberately marketed to appeal to upscale, mature African American listeners, quiet storm carved a definitive sonic niche on the airwaves.
Roberta Flack now takes her rightful place in music history as one of the immortal vocalists of soul and R&B, alongside the likes of Etta, Aretha and Whitney.
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