Fans of legendary R&B singer Roberta Flack have paid tribute to her following the announcement about her death at age 88 on Monday.
Flack is widely remembered for her iconic hits ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ and ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song.’
On Monday, a statement was released by her representatives, announcing her passing which read: “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025.”
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“She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”
In 2022, Roberta Flack announced she had health battles with a motor neurone disease and could no longer sing at the level she was used to.
Fans have taken to social media after her passing to express their gratitude for her impact and influence on their individual lives, hoping she finds rest.
One user wrote on X: “My favourite song ever! Memories of my childhood. RIP Diva!
“Oh so sad…She had a beautiful voice. Rest in peace Legend”, another stated.
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“One of the greatest voice in music History. Mother of soul. soothing powerful voice. Now she is with my eternal love Tina Turner . Roberta Cleopatra”, a third said.
A fourth added: “Oh no! We loved Ms Roberta Flack…May her soul rest in eternal peace.”
The legendary singer was born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She began her career as a classical pianist and went on to teach music to young students in her early days.
The turning point for her arrived after she was spotted singing in a jazz club by musician Les McCann, who later said “her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known”.
Her music began to see big numbers years after in her 30s when her recording of Ewan MacColl’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ was used as the soundtrack to an erotic love scene in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film Play Misty For Me.
That track went on to be crowned Song of the Year at the Grammys before she retained the award a year on after dropping her hit ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song.’
In the mid-1970s, she was top of the charts again with ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’, but took a break from performing to focus on other roles and charitable causes.
Roberta Flack worked with music stars including Donny Hathaway and Miles Davis, and recorded an album of Beatles covers in 2012, named ‘Let It Be Roberta.’
As per the Guardian, she once said to a reporter: “What I consider myself is a soulful singer, in that I try to sing with all the feeling that I have in my body and my mind.
“A person with true soul is one who can take anybody’s song and transcend all the flaws, the technique and just make you listen.”
Roberta Flack was later awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys in 2020, a year after it was widely reported she had suffered a stroke.
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“It’s a tremendous and overwhelming honour,” she said at the time.
“I’ve tried my entire career to tell stories through my music. This award is a validation to me that my peers heard my thoughts and took in what I have tried to give.”
News of her passing appears to be having a great effect on her fans, yet they will find solace in knowing she made an impact in her days as a music icon.
