Legendary R&B singer Roberta Flack died in her home Monday at the age of 88.
Flack’s publicist, Elaine Schock, issued a statement confirming her death and noted that the iconic singer was surrounded by loved ones at the time of her passing, according to a report published Feb. 24 by The Associated Press. Flack was a Grammy-winning singer and pianist who left a mark on the music industry with her top recordings, epic hits, and signature style. Her death sent shockwaves through the music industry.
NEWARK, NJ – AUGUST 05: Roberta Flack attends Black Girls Rock! 2017 backstage at NJPAC on August 5, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
Flack survived a stroke and her ALS diagnosis was revealed in 2022. However, her exact cause of death has not been publicly revealed as of Monday morning.
The talented hitmaker first became famous in the 1970s, first with her song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” She went on to create the iconic hit, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” which was famously covered by the Fugees and sung by Lauryn Hill in the 1990s. She worked with the likes of other music legends, like Donny Hathaway, Leonard Cohen, and Burt Bacharach. She was a true trailblazer in the arts, and was active in the social and civil rights movement.
Flack’s other hits from the 1970s include “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and two duets with Hathaway, “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.”
She recorded the hit song, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Peabo Bryson in the 1980s, and collaborated with Maxi Priest on a duet of “Set the Night to Music” in the 1990s.
Her many accolades include five Grammys, three of which were awarded for “Killing Me Softly.” She received eight other Grammy nominations and earned a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2020.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 25: Roberta Flack attends the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs on January 25, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Flack’s last album was 2012’s “Let It Be Roberta,” a collection of Beatles covers. (RELATED: ‘American Graffiti’ Star Lynne Marie Stewart Dies Suddenly At Age 78)
Social media has erupted with messages from fans and colleagues as the world pays tribute to the talented star and the legacy she left behind.
