Roberta Flack, world renowned vocalist and talented piano player, has died aged 88. Although she was probably best known for her powerful, soulful vocal abilities, she was also a skilled and diverse, classically-trained pianist, having studied the instrument from an early age.
Early Life
Roberta Flack was born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She grew up in a musical household, where her love for music was nurtured from an early age. Her mother was a church organist, and gospel music was a significant part of her upbringing.
Aged nine, she began studying classical piano. She was greatly influenced by gospel music in the church, and classical music of the great composers. Aged 15 she won a full music scholarship to Howard University, and initially continued her study of classical music, before shifting focus to vocals and teaching, heavily inspired by the jazz and folk music scenes.
After graduating and working for a time as a music teacher in Washington, D.C., her exceptional and varied talent — encompassing classical, jazz, soul and R&B genres — found her discovered by jazz musician Les McCann, who helped her get her first recording deal with Atlantic Records in the late ’60s.
Music Milestones
Discovered by Les McCann in 1968, her debut album “First Take” was released, to subdued commercial success, in 1969. Recorded in just 10 hours, it received critical acclaim, showcasing her smooth vocals and piano-driven style blending jazz, R&B and folk.
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” became her breakthrough track after Clint Eastwood heard, and subsequently used, it in the film Play Misty for Me (1971). The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks in 1972, and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1973.
More hits followed, including “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in 1973 — a song which much later was both covered and duetted with by The Fugees — “Where Is the Love” (1972) and “The Closer I Get To You” (1978), both collaborations with Donny Hathaway.
Flack also had hits with “Making Love” in 1982, and “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”, a 1983 duet with Peabo Bryson.
In the 1980s, she experimented with various different styles, including more pop and adult contemporary sounds.
1994 saw a Beatles tribute album — “Roberta” — launched, including songs like “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be”.
In 2020 she won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Piano Heart
Mention Roberta Flack’s name and most people will probably first mention her distinctive vocal performances. What is perhaps missed is her incredible talent as a pianist.
Just last year, she published an autobiographical children’s book “The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music“, in which she recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by music and love, and how it all started with a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted green.
“When her daddy spies an old, beat-up upright piano in a junkyard, he knows he can make his daughter’s dream come true. He brings it home, cleans and tunes it, and paints it a grassy green. And soon the little girl has an instrument to practice on, and a new dream to reach for–one that will make her become a legend in the music industry.”
Flack’s piano style is based on classical training, which gives her playing a level of refinement and expressiveness that set her apart from many of her contemporaries in soul and R&B. Yet she also introduced jazz and soul fusion, with improvisation, gospel harmonies and soulful grooves an integral part of her style.
Her key touch was delicate and expressive, having a keen sense of phrasing and dynamics.
Piano Songs
Songs which are notable in showcasing her piano-playing skills include:
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – While more famous for its haunting vocals, the song’s sparse, gentle piano arrangement plays a crucial role in its emotional depth.
- Killing Me Softly with His Song – This Grammy-winning hit features her fluid and sensitive piano accompaniment, which perfectly supports her deeply emotive vocal interpretation.
- Feel Like Makin’ Love – A perfect example of her ability to blend jazz and R&B, with smooth chord voicings and a laid-back groove.
- Live Performances: Flack often accompanied herself on piano during live shows, bringing an intimate and deeply personal feel to her performances.
Live performances are where she really shone:
- Killing Me Softly with His Song (Live, 1973 – Montreux Jazz Festival)
Flack accompanies herself on the piano, showing her subtle yet expressive touch. Her phrasing and chord choices add depth to the already emotional song. - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Live on Burt Sugarman’s Midnight Special, 1975)
This intimate performance showcases her ability to use space and dynamics, with her piano playing serving as a delicate, flowing accompaniment to her voice. - Feel Like Makin’ Love (Live on TV, 1975)
A masterclass in smooth, jazz-influenced R&B piano playing. The song’s groove and harmonies highlight her sophisticated approach to chord voicings. - Reverend Lee (Live on YouTube, various performances)
A deeper cut that showcases her ability to blend gospel, jazz, and storytelling. She builds intensity with rhythmic left-hand playing and expressive phrasing. - The Closer I Get to You (Duet with Donny Hathaway, Live)
Though often remembered for the vocals, the gentle, soulful piano accompaniment plays a huge role in the song’s warmth. - Suzanne (Leonard Cohen Cover, Live Performance)
Flack’s piano playing brings a fresh, intricate quality to this classic song, enhancing the poetic nature of the lyrics.
Underrated Songs
Some of Flack’s less well known but no less incredible in showcasing her talent include:
- Business Goes on as Usual (1971) – Quiet Fire
A socially conscious ballad about the Vietnam War, showcasing her ability to tackle deep themes with grace and emotion. - Gone Away (1972) – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
A beautifully melancholic track featuring stunning harmonies with Donny Hathaway. - I Can See the Sun in Late December (1975) – Feel Like Makin’ Love
A hidden gem with an almost classical, cinematic feel—one of her longest and most intricate compositions. - Ballad of the Sad Young Men (1969) – First Take
A moody, jazz-influenced piece with haunting piano work and an introspective, almost theatrical vocal delivery. - Somewhere (1972) – Quiet Fire
A unique take on the West Side Story classic, full of drama and rich orchestration. - 25th of Last December (1970) – Chapter Two
A deeply soulful, gospel-inspired track that’s perfect for the holiday season but meaningful year-round. - Be Real Black for Me (1972) – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
A powerful, intimate love song with Donny Hathaway, celebrating Black love and identity. - Hittin’ Me Where It Hurts (1988) – Oasis
A later-career R&B gem with a smooth groove and heartfelt lyrics. - Friendship (1981) – Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway
One of the last duets recorded with Donny Hathaway before his passing—deeply emotional and heartfelt.
Roberta Flack wIll be greatly missed. Thankfully, her legacy and inspiration lives on, and we are blessed to have so many great performances captured and preserved in sound and vision.
