Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88

The R'n'B and soul superstar - who was behind the hits 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' - died "peacefully surrounded by her family" on Monday morning.

A representative for the singer-and-pianist said: “We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning, February 24, 2025.

“She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

A cause of death is not known.

However, in November 2022, it was revealed that Flack had been left unable to sing after being diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) - a neurodegenerative condition also known as motor neuron disease, which affects the brain and nerves.

Her manager Suzanne Koga said ALS made it "impossible" for her to sing and "not easy to speak".

In a press statement at the time, she said: "ALS has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak. But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon! But Roberta plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits."

The news came just days before the 'Feel Like Makin' Love' singer's premiere for her self-titled documentary about her life at the DOC NYC Film Festival.

Flack started playing piano at the age of nine and was considered a child prodigy after being offered a music scholarship to Howard University at the age of just 15.

Flack shot to fame when Clint Eastwood used 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' in his 1971 directorial debut, 'Play Misty for Me'.

She went on to become the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years with 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' in 1973 and 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' in 1974.

'Killing Me Softly with His Song' became a number one hit in the US, Australia and Canada for Flack, and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. The Fugees and Lauryn Hill's 1996 version went on to score a number one in 20 countries.

In 1972, Flack started her working relationship with fellow soul legend Donny Hathaway. They duetted on the Grammy winning 'Where Is the Love' and 'The Closer I Get to You', among other tracks, and were collaborators until his death in 1979, at the age of 33.

Flack's last No. 1, 'Feel Like Makin’ Love', was released in 1974.

She continued making music, and in 2012, she released a Beatles covers called 'Let It Be Roberta'.

Flack's final studio album was 2018's 'Running'. Two years later, she was honoured with the Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bang Showbiz