Thank you for giving Roberta Flack the bouquets she deserved. Ms Flack is one of those rare and beautiful musicians that are beyond category. Awards are hardly enough compared to the souls and hearts her music graced and enriched.
Beautifully said. Roberta Flack’s impact goes far beyond any awards—her music touched souls, shaped memories, and enriched lives in ways that can’t be measured. Giving her the flowers she deserves is the least we can do for an artist who gave us so much.
I was shocked to learn of her passing. I feel in love with her voice as a kid when they had “soft rock” radio stations. This was what was played in grocery stories and malls. I LOVE Roberta Flack. I’m conflicted considering the state of affairs we are currently in. Who did she need the recognition from? As a people we are often imitated and never acknowledged. Did we acknowledge her brilliance? Did we see her? I think that’s most important.
Roberta Flack’s voice and artistry have left an undeniable mark, and it’s beautiful to hear how her music shaped your memories. The question of recognition is a powerful one—who do we seek it from, and does it truly matter if we’ve always seen and honored our own? Black artists have shaped culture in ways that are often overlooked, yet within our communities, their brilliance usually does get noticed. I believe Roberta’s legacy deserves that and more.
Beautifully written. Roberta’s cousin, also a musician and educator, was Fredericka Flack Hurley who was one of my late mother’s closest friends and mom’s principal. Roberta was a regular in our neighborhood, and a magisterial musician!
Wow, what an incredible connection! To have had Roberta Flack as a presence in your neighborhood and to be so closely tied to her family’s musical and educational legacy is truly special. Thank you for sharing this piece of history; it makes her legacy feel even more personal and profound!
Back in the day, Roberta kept nagging one of her background singers that he should go solo. I remember when that background singer and Peabo Bryson’s guitarist decided to have a Krystal hamburger eating contest. The guitarist was Dwight Watkins who actually won the hamburger eating contest. Roberta’s background singer was Luther Vandross.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s a loss for the world that doesn’t cherish the big souls who blessed us with their presence and incredible gifts 💝
That’s such a beautiful tribute, what a meaningful way to honor her legacy. Roberta Flack’s strength and artistry touched so many, and it’s special that your father helped share that with his audience.
Her duets with Donny Hathaway {another musical giant} were all great hits as well. Their voices together... oh my! Her book, "The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music" will hopefully inspire another generation to take up an instrument and lead them to her music. Her music truly lives on. Thank you for such a lovely write-up, Kahlil!
I adore Roberta Flack and I shared her passing across the social media universe. She did not get enough publicity, you are right. Her music will endure, that’s for sure!
Well done, Kahlil. While the accolades deserved weren’t showered upon her, Roberta Flack will live on in many hearts as one of the greatest to grace us with her musical wizardry.
Sadly her passing is overshadowed by horrifying crises going on in our country. (Although she should’ve been recognized by the Hall of Fame a long time ago.) she was amazing.
I had the privilege of meeting Roberta briefly but meaningfully in 1986. Her kind genuine manner was immediately felt. The memory stays with me as an experience where I encountered an extraordinary human. We know them when we meet them.
Thanks for the reminder. There is just so much craziness going on, it's hard to catch a breath & a moment to reflect & respect. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember. A long time ago, I got to see Roberta Flack live at an outdoor concert. You describe her voice as soft, which it could be. But there was depth and power there too. She knew how to take her time, her voice growing and gathering force as the song moved toward its crescendo. And then, just like that, she would stop, letting the final notes linger and resonate in the silence. A beautiful gift.
She was an amazing songstress and definitely deserves more recognition. May she rest in peace.
Thank you for giving Roberta Flack the bouquets she deserved. Ms Flack is one of those rare and beautiful musicians that are beyond category. Awards are hardly enough compared to the souls and hearts her music graced and enriched.
Beautifully said. Roberta Flack’s impact goes far beyond any awards—her music touched souls, shaped memories, and enriched lives in ways that can’t be measured. Giving her the flowers she deserves is the least we can do for an artist who gave us so much.
I was shocked to learn of her passing. I feel in love with her voice as a kid when they had “soft rock” radio stations. This was what was played in grocery stories and malls. I LOVE Roberta Flack. I’m conflicted considering the state of affairs we are currently in. Who did she need the recognition from? As a people we are often imitated and never acknowledged. Did we acknowledge her brilliance? Did we see her? I think that’s most important.
Roberta Flack’s voice and artistry have left an undeniable mark, and it’s beautiful to hear how her music shaped your memories. The question of recognition is a powerful one—who do we seek it from, and does it truly matter if we’ve always seen and honored our own? Black artists have shaped culture in ways that are often overlooked, yet within our communities, their brilliance usually does get noticed. I believe Roberta’s legacy deserves that and more.
I agree with “and more.” That’s the part we often don’t get. I will have to explore whether she felt seen by us. I hope she did.
What a beautiful tribute to the Ancestor.
Beautifully written. Roberta’s cousin, also a musician and educator, was Fredericka Flack Hurley who was one of my late mother’s closest friends and mom’s principal. Roberta was a regular in our neighborhood, and a magisterial musician!
Wow, what an incredible connection! To have had Roberta Flack as a presence in your neighborhood and to be so closely tied to her family’s musical and educational legacy is truly special. Thank you for sharing this piece of history; it makes her legacy feel even more personal and profound!
Back in the day, Roberta kept nagging one of her background singers that he should go solo. I remember when that background singer and Peabo Bryson’s guitarist decided to have a Krystal hamburger eating contest. The guitarist was Dwight Watkins who actually won the hamburger eating contest. Roberta’s background singer was Luther Vandross.
Wow so she gave us another gift in Luther!
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s a loss for the world that doesn’t cherish the big souls who blessed us with their presence and incredible gifts 💝
My father made a nice tribute to her on his night radio show on an oldies station. She was such a strong woman
That’s such a beautiful tribute, what a meaningful way to honor her legacy. Roberta Flack’s strength and artistry touched so many, and it’s special that your father helped share that with his audience.
sho nuff....I didn't know she isn't being recognized but I ain't no barometer of the real world popularity decency lol
Her duets with Donny Hathaway {another musical giant} were all great hits as well. Their voices together... oh my! Her book, "The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music" will hopefully inspire another generation to take up an instrument and lead them to her music. Her music truly lives on. Thank you for such a lovely write-up, Kahlil!
I adore Roberta Flack and I shared her passing across the social media universe. She did not get enough publicity, you are right. Her music will endure, that’s for sure!
She had the voice of an angel.
Well done, Kahlil. While the accolades deserved weren’t showered upon her, Roberta Flack will live on in many hearts as one of the greatest to grace us with her musical wizardry.
Wow! I never knew all of this about her! Thank you for sharing such cool information!
Sadly her passing is overshadowed by horrifying crises going on in our country. (Although she should’ve been recognized by the Hall of Fame a long time ago.) she was amazing.
I had the privilege of meeting Roberta briefly but meaningfully in 1986. Her kind genuine manner was immediately felt. The memory stays with me as an experience where I encountered an extraordinary human. We know them when we meet them.
Thanks for the reminder. There is just so much craziness going on, it's hard to catch a breath & a moment to reflect & respect. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember. A long time ago, I got to see Roberta Flack live at an outdoor concert. You describe her voice as soft, which it could be. But there was depth and power there too. She knew how to take her time, her voice growing and gathering force as the song moved toward its crescendo. And then, just like that, she would stop, letting the final notes linger and resonate in the silence. A beautiful gift.