Roberta Flack singing with passionate expression and another black and white photo of her with a thoughtful expression. — The iconic soul and R&B singer passed away at 88 years old. | La Derecha Diario

Camara — The iconic soul and R&B singer passed away at 88 years old. | La Derecha Diario

What Did Roberta Flack Die of at 88: the Iconic Voice of Soul and R&b

His music marked an era with hits like 'Killing Me Softly.'

24/02/2025 13:47:00h

Editorial Team

The legendary singer Roberta Flackpassed away at 88 years old, leaving an indelible legacy in music. Her representative confirmed the news and expressed that her circle is "devastated" by the loss.

The singer died on the way to the hospital, according to her manager and friend. The cause was a cardiac arrest, she assured. In 2022, Flack had revealed that she had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which prevented her from singing again.

Roberta Flack playing the piano and singing on stage with a microphone, while another person is in the background.

He had turned 88 years old on February 10. | La Derecha Diario

The artist had gone through several health issues in recent years. In 2016, she suffered a stroke and, in 2022, announced that she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

According to her representative's statement, Roberta Flack died at her home, surrounded by her family. "She broke barriers and records. She was also a proud educator," they highlighted in their farewell.

Three black and white portraits of Roberta Flack with thoughtful and melancholic expressions.

The singer died on the way to the hospital. | La Derecha Diario

Roberta Flack's career

Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Flack showed her passion for music from a young age. At 9 years old, she began playing the piano. At 15, she received a scholarship to study at Howard University, where she stood out as one of the most talented students.

Roberta Flack with curly, voluminous hair smiles while wearing a blue garment with purple details.

Roberta Flack was born on February 10, 1937, in North Carolina. | La Derecha Diario

Although she initially aspired to be an opera singer, her career took another direction when she started performing in nightclubs. Her unique style, which fused classical music, blues, folk, and pop, led her to move away from teaching and dedicate herself entirely to the stage.

The successes that took Roberta Flack to the top

The big break came when Clint Eastwood chose her version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face for the soundtrack of Play Misty for Me. The song became a hit. It topped the charts for six weeks and earned her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1973.

Clint Eastwood and Roberta Flack smile in a recording studio.

Clint Eastwood chose his version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | La Derecha Diario

That same year, Flack made history again with Killing Me Softly with His Song, a song with which she repeated the Grammy in 1974. She was the first artist to win the Record of the Year award in two consecutive years, an achievement later only reached by U2 and Billie Eilish.

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