There are artists who sing songs, and then there are artists who change the way we feel music. Roberta Flack belongs to the latter. A classically trained pianist with a voice that melts the hardest of hearts, she created moments in time. You know Killing Me Softly with His Song, you’ve felt The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, but did you know about these five incredible facts that make Roberta Flack’s legacy even more awe-inspiring?
1. She Was a Child Prodigy Who Entered College at 15
Before Roberta Flack was topping the charts, she was a prodigious talent. By the time most kids were figuring out high school, Flack had already secured a full-ride scholarship to Howard University—at just 15 years old! Originally studying classical piano, she later shifted her focus to voice, setting the stage for a genre-defying career that seamlessly blended jazz, R&B, and soul.
2. Her Big Break Came from a One-Take Wonder
Some artists spend days, weeks, even months perfecting an album. Roberta Flack recorded her debut First Take in a mind-blowing 10 hours. But it wasn’t until Clint Eastwood decided to use The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me that the song—and Flack’s career—exploded. The track became the biggest song of 1972 and won the Grammy for Record of the Year. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
3. She Was Close Friends with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Ever wonder who lived next door to John Lennon and Yoko Ono at The Dakota in New York City? That would be none other than Roberta Flack. Not only was she a neighbor, but she was also a close friend. Lennon and Ono’s son, Sean, even referred to her as “Aunt Roberta.” Imagine the music history that unfolded within those walls! It’s been said that she and Lennon bonded over their mutual appreciation for blending classical influences with pop music.
4. She Was the First Artist to Win Back-to-Back Grammys for Record of the Year
Winning a Grammy is a career-defining moment. Winning two in a row? That’s legendary. Flack made history as the first artist to win Record of the Year two years in a row—first for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1973) and then for Killing Me Softly with His Song (1974). No pressure for anyone who tried to follow in her footsteps!
5. Her Influence Helped Shape the ‘Quiet Storm’ Genre
R&B radio in the late ’70s and early ’80s was transformed by a sound known as Quiet Storm—a smooth, soulful, jazz-infused take on R&B that set the mood for late-night airwaves. While Smokey Robinson coined the term, Roberta Flack was one of its defining architects. Her rich, velvety vocals and intricate arrangements laid the groundwork for artists like Sade, Anita Baker, and Luther Vandross. The genre still thrives today, proving that Flack’s influence is timeless.
Roberta Flack was as an innovator, a trailblazer, and a storyteller whose music continues to resonate across generations. Whether she was winning Grammys, befriending legends, or shaping entire genres, her impact is undeniable. So the next time you hear Killing Me Softly, take a moment to appreciate not just the song, but the musical genius behind it.
