Roberta Flack, known for hits including, Killing Me Softly, has died aged 88.
The singer's death was confirmed by her publicist Elaine Schnock, who revealed that, Flack was surrounded by her family, having been battling motor neurone disease since 2022.
Roberta Flack was renowned for hits including, Killing Me Softly, and The First Time I Saw Your Face, the latter of which was chosen by actor Clint Eastwood as the soundtrack for the explicit love scenes of his movie, Play Misty For Me, which was released in 1971.
She also played a key role in the social and civil rights movements in the 1960s, which saw her befriend Reverend Jess Jackson, and Angela Davis. The latter spent a brief time in prison for charges of murder and kidnap, where she was visited regularly by Flack. Davis was later cleared of these charges.
Elsewhere, Flack became friends with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, having lived on the same floor of the Dakota apartment building as the former Beatle, before going on to release album of Fab Four covers. She is also remembered for two duets with close friend and former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway, The Closer I Get To You, and Where Is The Love.
This partnership soon ended after Hathaway fell to his death from a hotel room in Manhattan, after he suffered a breakdown while recording an album with Flack.
Following the announcement surrounding her death, tributes were paid to Flack, including singers Ruth Pointer and Darlene Love.
Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, who wrote: “Condolences to family, friends and fans of Roberta Flack. RIP".
“I’m so heartbroken to hear of the passing of Roberta Flack. There will never be another voice like hers – so full of soul, beauty, and emotion. ‘Killing Me Softly’ and so many of her songs will live on forever", added singer Darlene Love. “Rest in power, Roberta. Your music will always be with us".
During her career, Flack also saw her track Killing Me Softly reach a new generation of fans, following the Fugees' cover of the song in the mid 1990s.
She was also recognised for her work, after being awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in 2020.
