Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack’s career spanned six decades, marked by her distinctive vocal style and significant contributions to R&B, jazz, and pop music, making her a celebrated artist whose work resonated across generations. After jazz singer Les McCann arranged an audition with Atlantic Records in 1968, Roberta Flack released her debut album, ‘First Take,’ in 1969, featuring an ‘elegant fusion of folk, jazz and soul.’ Her collaboration with Donny Hathaway began with her second album, ‘Chapter Two,’ in 1970. Flack’s career surged in 1971 when Clint Eastwood featured ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ in his film ‘Play Misty for Me,’ propelling the track to become a number one hit and earning her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972. That same year, her duet with Donny Hathaway, ‘Where Is the Love,’ became a million-selling gold single.

Flack made history as the first solo artist to earn back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, receiving her second consecutive award in 1973 for ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song,’ which also became a number one hit. In 1974, ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ achieved number one status and another million-seller. Her album ‘Blue Lights in the Basement’ was released in 1977. Her duet ‘The Closer I Get to You’ with Donny Hathaway became a million-selling gold single in 1978.

The PBS series ‘American Masters’ opened its 37th season with a look at her career in January 2023, the same year she received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music. Flack is set for induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in September 2025.