Roberta Flack – “A Most Versatile Soul Singer”
November 18, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Roberta Flack is a well know American songwriter and singer and is well acclaimed in folk, soul and jazz as a singer. Her highly praised singles were the reason for her rise as a star.Born on 10th February, 1937, Roberta has come a long way through which she has given numerous albums and singles which were rocking in the charts. Her hit singles “Feel Like Makin Love”, “Where Is the Love”, “The first Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” made her the most popular soul singer of the 1970’s. The Grammy Award winner has won two awards for Record of the Year. In 1973, she won the Grammy Award for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and in 1974, she won the Grammy Award for “Killing Me Softly with His Song”.
Roberta Flack was born in Virginia and was an excellent classical piano player. Her talent was awarded by the Howard University when she got a music scholarship. At 15 years of age, Roberta Flack became the youngest students to enroll at Howard University after matriculation. Her interest towards music started at this age when she shifted from piano to singing and she became an assistant conductor of the University’s Choir. Flack graduated from the University at age 19 and started her further studies in music. She had to soon leave her passion for music studies after the death of her father and was forced to take up a job as a music teacher in Farmville.
During her career as a teacher she gave private lessons to students and also accompanied opera singers on the piano. She used to sing pop, folk and blues along to the music played by her on piano.
Later she was asked by her voice teacher to pursue pop music. She then did a benefit concert where she was discovered by McCann who was in the audience and arranged an audition for her with Atlantic Records where she played 42 songs in 3 hours for Joel Dorn, the producer. After three months her first album was recorded as “First Take” in just 10 hours but this did no good to the star. Later when Clint Eastwood chose a song from the album for the soundtrack of “Play Misty for Me”, it rocked the charts and became the No1 hit. After receiving fame from the song in 1972, Flack recorded for “Sudden Impact” in 1983.
Flack had recorded with Donny Hathaway and her hits include “The Closer I Get to You” in 1978 and “Where is the Love” in 1971. Her biggest hit remains “Killing Me Softly with His Song” in 1973.
Her several albums include “First Take” which was Platinum in 1969, “Chapter Two” which was Gold in 1970, “Quiet Fire” which was Gold in 1971, “Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway” which was Gold in 1972, “Killing Me Softly” which was 2 times Platinum in 1973, “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1975, “Blue Lights in the Basement” which was Gold in 1977, “Roberta Flack” in 1978, “Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway” which was Gold in 1980, “Live And More” in 1980, “I’m The One” in 1982, “Born to Love” in 1983, “Oasis” in 1988, “Set the Night to Music” in 1991, “Roberta” in 1994, “The Christmas Album” in 1997, “Holiday” in 2001 and “At Her Best – Live” in 2008.
Her numerous compilations include “The Best of Robert Flack” in 1981, “Greatest Hits” in 1984, “Softly with These Songs”, “The Best of Roberta Flack” in 1993 and “The Very Best of Roberta Flack” in 2006.
She has given great music to the community and is well acclaimed for her contributions as a singer and as a person.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Without Roberta Flack we could never have had the Fugees cover of Killing Me Softly - omigod a cover version of a classic that has almost eclipsed the original in its popularity. And then the solo careers of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill (and Pras) who owe her such a debt for that lift into the charts.
Heard some track from Roberta Flacks last album on the radio the other day and I was singing along at the top of my voice before I realised what I was doing. The neighbours must love me. But I didn’t know all about her til I read your great site. Thanks!
This lady had a flair for music. Her fingers create magic when she played on the piano. I really can’t concentrate on anything else when I hear “The first Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. Wasn’t she brilliant in that song? I admit that “Killing Me Softly with His Song” was wow.
She has in her kitty many duets that she sang with Donny Hathaway. Remember that duet, “Where Is the Love?” That was wonderful. I don’t know how can anyone sing with such an impact. Hey, did you know that she is the aunt of Rory Flack Burghardt, the ice skating pro?
This is what artists should be listening to before singing some overblown ballad. She was a mistress of understated emotion.
Hey I don’t have my copy of “The Best of Robert Flack” I have to check it out. Although, I have her other hit albums like “The Very Best of Roberta Flack” and “Softly with These Songs”. If you are her fan, you should have these two albums at home.
I really had no idea that Roberta was so good with the piano. This site is great. It provides good information on various artists from the music industry. I really have to inform my friend about this site. They will be overwhelmed.
I heard some kids talking and they said “It was some Roberta!” Turns out Roberta Flack is slang for track, tune, song….and they’re right - she is everything that a soul singer should be.
Roberta Flack song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, was included on the jazz-tinged soundtrack for Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film titled: “Play Misty For Me”.
The best song ever for making out has got to be Feel Like Makin Love. It sounds like a hot sultry night on a tropical island. And warm up with a smoochy dance to Where is the Love - her duet with Donny Hathaway. Perfect. Wrap your arms around someone now.
You’re not joking that she was some pianist annie. In her early teens, Flack so excelled at classical piano that Howard University awarded her a full music scholarship. She matriculated at Howard University at the age of 15, making her one of the youngest students ever to enroll there. And she later taught music for years, while her career was taking off. In fact recently she inaugurated a school for gifted musical students in the Bronx that she funds so that students are charged NO FEES to attend.
Did you know that Roberta Flack performed a concert to raise funds for Autistic children in 2007. 1 in 150 American children are diagnosed with some form of autism and this number is rising. Its great to hear that some folk are concerned enough to act.
My favourite Best Of Collection is Softly with these Songs by Roberta Flack - it’s essential seventies soul. There are songs like Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You, My Foolish Heart, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, and Set The Night To Music plus duets with Maxi Priest, Peabo Bryson and Donny Hathaway. If you like Roberta Flack, you’ll love this collection.
I read an article a while back where Roberta Flack claimed to be using mesotherapy, a French weight loss treatment that Europe’s rich and famous have been using. Apparently, she reckons it helped her lose the flab she’d been carrying for the last part of her career and which had affected how she was perceived by the industry. Its a shame that she felt obliged to shed the pounds or risk her career but if she feels better and now has a healthy routine of diet and fitness, then good for her!
Roberta Flack has scored for motion pictures and television, performed as a concert pianist, conducted opera; formed her own music publishing and record production company. And now she is being accepted by a whole new generation of fans! What a career!
Flack’s music has a broad appeal that makes a mockery of the demographic borders of race, age, and gender. Both her parents were accomplished musicians and she became the first black student teacher at an all-white school in Maryland, before her career took off.
i love thes wabe