Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack | |
---|---|
Birth name | Roberta Cleopatra Flack |
Born | Birth date -1st March 1966 Black Mountain, North Carolina, U.S. |
Genres | Soul, Jazz, R&B, Folk |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
Years active | 1968–present |
Labels | Atlantic Records, Capitol Records |
Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is best known for her classic hits such as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly with His Song," and "Feel Like Makin' Love." Flack's music is noted for its emotional depth and her ability to blend various genres, including soul, jazz, R&B, and folk.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Roberta Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She showed an early aptitude for music, learning to play the piano at a young age. Flack attended Howard University on a full music scholarship, where she excelled in classical piano. She graduated at the age of 19 and began teaching music and performing in clubs around Washington, D.C..
Career[edit | edit source]
Breakthrough[edit | edit source]
Flack's breakthrough came in 1969 when she was discovered by Les McCann while performing at a nightclub. McCann recommended her to Atlantic Records, where she signed a recording contract. Her debut album, First Take, was released in 1969 and included the hit single "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The song became a major hit after it was featured in the 1971 film Play Misty for Me, directed by Clint Eastwood.
Success in the 1970s[edit | edit source]
Throughout the 1970s, Flack released several successful albums and singles. Her duet with Donny Hathaway, "Where Is the Love," won a Grammy Award in 1973. She continued to achieve commercial success with songs like "Killing Me Softly with His Song," which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1974, and "Feel Like Makin' Love," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Later Career[edit | edit source]
In the 1980s and 1990s, Flack continued to record and perform, collaborating with artists such as Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest. She also ventured into other genres, including pop and adult contemporary. In 1999, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal Life[edit | edit source]
Flack has been involved in various humanitarian efforts, including education and animal welfare. She established the Roberta Flack School of Music in the Bronx, New York, to provide music education to underprivileged children.
Discography[edit | edit source]
- First Take (1969)
- Chapter Two (1970)
- Quiet Fire (1971)
- Killing Me Softly (1973)
- Feel Like Makin' Love (1975)
- Blue Lights in the Basement (1977)
- Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (1980)
- I'm the One (1982)
- Born to Love (1983)
- Oasis (1988)
- Set the Night to Music (1991)
- Roberta (1994)
- The Christmas Album (1997)
- Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles (2012)
Awards and Honors[edit | edit source]
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1973, 1974)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star (1999)
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
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- American soul singers
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD