Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
	Flack in 1976
Background information
Birth name	Roberta Cleopatra Flack
Also known as	Rubina Flake
Born	February 10, 1937; Black Mountain, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2025 (aged 88); New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	R&B; soul; blues; jazz;
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, keyboards
Years active	1968–2022
Labels	Atlantic (1968–1996); Angel / Capitol(1997); RAS / 429 / Sony/ATV (2011–2018)
Associated acts	Donny Hathaway; Peabo Bryson; Maxi Priest
Website	robertaflack.com

Roberta Cleopatra Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025)^[2]^[3] was an American singer. She was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She has released nineteen studio albums. She has had three number one singles. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was her first number one. It won the 1973 Grammy Record of the Year. In 1974 Flack performed "When I Grow Up" with Michael Jackson. In 1999 a star was put in the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her.

Early life

Roberta Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She was raised in Virginia. Howard University gave her a music scholarship because she was good at playing piano. When she was fifteen she became a student there.^[4]

Career

Roberta Flack in 1995.

Flack released her first album First Take in 1969. The album went to number one in the US album chart. It was her most successful album. In 1970 Flack's second album Chapter Two was released. It was less successful. In 1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was released. In 1973 Killing Me Softly was released. In 1980 Flack's second album with Donny Hathaway was released.

Health and death

On November 14, 2022, it was announced by a spokesperson that Flack had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and had retired from singing, due to the disease making it "impossible to sing", according to her spokesperson.^[5]

Flack died on February 24, 2025 in New York City from cardiac arrest caused by ALS at the age of 88.^[6]