“Remember: Always walk in the light. If you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the light.” – Roberta Flack
The dim glow of a single stage light bathed the incomparable Roberta Flack in gold as she sat at her piano, her fingers resting lightly on the worn ivory keys. The world outside buzzed with chaos—headlines blaring her passing, tributes flooding the airwaves—but here, in this quiet space between music and memory, she played on. Her lyrics, rich with intimacy, wove through the air as her virtuosic spirit stirred the soul, blending rhythm, blues, and jazz into a timeless symphony.
Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, in 1937, Flack was a prodigy from the start. By the age of 15, she had earned a full scholarship to Howard University, setting the stage for a career that would forever change Jazz and R&B.
Flack’s lengendary voice, warm as an autum breeze, drifted through with each note carried echoes of the past: From the smoky clubs of Washington, D.C., where she was discovered by Jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann, to the heights of fame with songs like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly, ” her voice became a bridge between soul and poetry.
The legend , 5x-Grammy award winning songstress was nominated for 14 Grammy awards and won a lifetime achievement award. Flack was the first artist to win consecutive Grammy Awards for record of the year for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”(1973) and ” Killing Me Softly With His Song” (974).
But perhaps some of her most heartfelt work came through her collaborations with Donny Hathaway. Together, they created timeless duets like “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You,” their voices entwining like old friends sharing secrets. Their music spoke of love, longing, and the deep, unspoken connections between people.
Beyond the romance of her melodies, Flack used her voice as a force for change. She sang for justice, for understanding, for the upliftment of people who needed to be heard. Through her music, she raised consciousness, touching on themes of Black identity, empowerment, and the human condition. She didn’t just sing songs—she carried messages, giving voice to struggles and triumphs alike.
Now, in this imagined moment, as the final chord lingers in the silence, she closes her eyes. The music settles deep within her soul. This was her gift, her legacy—not just melodies, but raw emotion, timeless and eternal forever playing in the hearts of those who listen.
And somewhere, beyond time, she smiles.
Roberta Flack (1937-2025 )Rest peacefully.
