Roberta Flack was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive ballads that blended R&B, jazz, and folk.
Flack became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years, a historic achievement in music.
She won a full music scholarship to Howard University, where she initially studied piano before switching to voice.
Biography
Early Life
Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, to a musically inclined family. Her father, Laron Flack, was a jazz pianist and her mother, Irene, was a church organist and music teacher. The family moved to Arlington, Virginia, when Roberta was five, where she began her musical journey in church, providing piano accompaniment for hymns and spirituals. She excelled in classical music during her early teens, winning a full music scholarship to Howard University, where she initially studied piano before switching her major to voice.
Career
Flack's professional career began in the late 1960s after she performed at various nightclubs in Washington, D.C. Her big break came in 1968 when she was discovered by soul singer Les McCann, leading to her signing with Atlantic Records. Flack's emotive ballads, including hits like "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," showcased her unique blend of R&B, jazz, and folk influences. She made history by becoming the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.
Personal Life and Advocacy
Beyond her music, Flack was an advocate for artists' rights and animal welfare, serving as a spokeswoman for the ASPCA. She founded the "Roberta Flack School of Music" to provide free music education to underprivileged students. Flack was also a strong supporter of gay rights, emphasizing the universality of love. Throughout her life, she maintained close friendships with notable figures such as Maya Angelou and Jesse Jackson, and she was known for her commitment to social causes. Flack's legacy continues to influence artists across genres, and she remains a celebrated figure in American music until her passing in 2025.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles2012
- 1.In My Life4:09
- 2.Hey Jude3:11
- 3.We Can Work It Out4:02
- 4.Let It Be4:15
- 5.Oh Darling4:39
- 6.I Should Have Known Better3:15
- 7.The Long and Winding Road4:09
- 8.Come Together4:39
- 9.Isn’t It a Pity3:41
- 10.If I Fell3:24
- 11.And I Love Him3:51
- 12.Here, There and Everywhere6:16
Pair of Fives: Roberta Flack / Dionne Warwick2005
- 1.Feel Like Makin’ Love2:55
- 2.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face4:20
- 3.Killing Me Softly With His Song4:46
- 4.I’m the One4:05
- 5.Where Is the Love2:46
- 6.Do You Know the Way to San Jose2:57
- 7.I Say a Little Prayer3:05
- 8.Message to Michael (a.k.a. Message to Martha)3:08
- 9.Walk on By2:54
- 10.A House Is Not a Home (French & English version)3:09
Friends: Roberta Flack Sings Mariko Takahashi1999
- 1.For You4:48
- 2.Friends4:40
- 3.Flower4:07
- 4.Sorry5:13
- 5.Never Say Goodbye6:06
- 6.Lover's Melody4:15
- 7.Fifth Avenue5:42
- 8.Faraway4:15
- 9.Puzzle5:24
- 10.Kisses4:20
- 11.New York4:33
The Christmas Album1997
- 1.The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)3:54
- 2.There's Still My Joy3:30
- 3.We Three Kings of Orient Are6:08
- 4.25th of Last December4:55
- 5.As Long as There's Christmas3:45
- 6.Because This Child Was Born4:25
- 7.When There's Love6:25
- 8.Little Drummer Boy5:57
- 9.Oh Come All Ye Faithful4:34
Roberta1994
- 1.Let's Stay Together4:56
- 2.Sweet Georgia Brown5:15
- 3.Thrill Is Gone5:45
- 4.It Might Be You10:02
- 5.In a Sentimental Mood3:08
- 6.Looking for Another Pure Love4:51
- 7.I Don't Care Who Knows (Baby I'm Yours)4:07
- 8.Prelude to a Kiss (Intro)0:44
- 9.Prelude to a Kiss4:28
- 10.Angel Eyes6:36
- 11.Tenderly3:49
- 12.Cottage for Sale4:38
- 13.Isn't It Romantic?3:43
- 14.My Romance5:39
- 15.You'll Never Know ('Til You Let Go)5:23
Softly With These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack1993
- 1.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face5:24
- 2.Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow4:07
- 3.Where Is the Love2:45
- 4.Killing Me Softly With His Song4:48
- 5.Feel Like Makin' Love2:54
- 6.The Closer I Get to You4:42
- 7.More Than Everything4:03
- 8.Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love)5:48
- 9.Back Together Again4:51
- 10.Making Love3:44
- 11.Tonight I Celebrate My Love3:32
- 12.Oasis6:10
- 13.And So It Goes3:36
- 14.You Know What It's Like4:46
- 15.Set the Night to Music5:24
- 16.My Foolish Heart4:41
- 17.Uh-Uh Oooh-Oooh Look Out (Here It Comes) (Steve Hurley's house mix)5:14
Stop the World1992
- 1.Stop the World4:59
- 2.Love That Was Lost5:00
- 3.Chinatown4:18
- 4.Love Will Make Me Stronger4:51
- 5.I Love You4:38
- 6.We Can Make It Right4:45
- 7.The Moment Has Come4:44
- 8.Got the Blues5:00
- 9.Last Christmas Eve3:50
Set the Night to Music1991
- 1.The Waiting Game4:39
- 2.Set the Night to Music5:23
- 3.When Someone Tears Your Heart in Two4:06
- 4.Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me4:55
- 5.You Make Me Feel Brand New5:02
- 6.Unforgettable5:31
- 7.Summertime4:23
- 8.Natural Thing4:40
- 9.My Foolish Heart4:42
- 10.Friend3:01
- 11.Always4:36
Oasis1988
- 1.Oasis6:11
- 2.All Caught Up in Love4:09
- 3.Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes)4:42
- 4.Shock to My System4:25
- 5.You Who Brought Me Love4:02
- 6.Something Magic4:07
- 7.And So It Goes3:35
- 8.You Know What It's Like4:45
- 9.And So It Goes (reprise)1:02
- 10.My Someone to Love5:53
- 11.(His Name) Brazil4:51
Greatest Hits1984
- 1.Tonight, I Celebrate My Love
- 2.Feel Like Makin' Love
- 3.Killing Me Softly With His Song
- 4.You've Got A Friend
- 5.The Closer I Get To You
- 6.Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
- 7.Maybe
- 8.Where Is The Love
- 9.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- 10.Jessie
- 11.If I Ever See You Again
- 12.You're Lookin' Like Love To Me
- 13.Don't Make Me Wait Too Long
- 14.You Are My Heaven
- 15.Heaven Above Me
- 16.Back Together Again
Born to Love1983
- 1.Tonight, I Celebrate My Love3:29
- 2.Blame It on Me4:12
- 3.Heaven Above Me4:34
- 4.Born to Love4:25
- 5.Maybe3:19
- 6.I Just Came Here to Dance3:59
- 7.Comin’ Alive3:34
- 8.You’re Looking Like Love to Me3:59
- 9.Can We Find Love Again4:29
I’m the One1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face1982
- 1.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
- 2.Go Up Moses
- 3.Bridge Over Troubled Water
- 4.Sunday & Sister Jones
- 5.See You Then
- 6.Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
- 7.To Love Somebody
- 8.Let Them Talk
- 9.Sweet Bitter Love
- 10.Killing Me Softly With His Song
The Best of Roberta Flack1981
Tracklist not collected yet.
Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway1979
Tracklist not collected yet.
Roberta Flack1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
Blue Lights in the Basement1977
Tracklist not collected yet.
Feel Like Makin’ Love1975
Tracklist not collected yet.
Killing Me Softly1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Roberta Flack1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway1972
Tracklist not collected yet.
Quiet Fire1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Best of Roberta Flack1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Chapter Two1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
First Take1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Atlantic Records
- Record label
- Capitol Records
- Record label
- Angel
- Record label
- RAS Records
- Record label
- 429 Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
- Award
- American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Roberta Cleopatra Flack, Rubina Flake
Roberta Cleopatra Flack was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of the quiet storm radio format. Her commercial success included the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love". She became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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