Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter and musician who is best known for her classic hits “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” She has won multiple Grammy awards and is considered to be one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Flack began her career as a jazz pianist and vocalist, eventually gaining recognition for her unique blend of soul and gospel music. Her music has been sampled and covered by countless artists, most notably Kanye West and Lauryn Hill. Flack continues to perform and tour to this day, delighting audiences with her timeless music.
| Name | Roberta Flack |
| Date of Birth | February 10, 1937 |
| Genres | R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Folk |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Capitol, Private Music |
| Associated acts | Donny Hathaway, Peabo Bryson, Maxi Priest |
10 Best Roberta Flack Quotes
“I like to say I was a musical before musicals were cool.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy.com
“My message has always been that music is a universal language and it can bring us all together.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy.com
“The idea of communication through music is a powerful thing.”
– Roberta Flack, from MusicRadar.com
“A song must speak to everyone.”
– Roberta Flack, from MusicRadar.com
“When I write a song, I don’t write it for any particular audience. I write it for the world.”
– Roberta Flack, from NPR.org
“I’m a singer, not a writer, so I don’t write songs – I find them.”
– Roberta Flack, from NPR.org
“I’m a song interpreter, not a singer.”
– Roberta Flack, from AllMusic.com
“I can hear music in my head and I want to share it with the world.”
– Roberta Flack, from SoulTracks.com
“I don’t go out to make hits. I go out to make music.”
– Roberta Flack, from SoulTracks.com
“I think of myself as an artist, not a star.”
– Roberta Flack, from AllAboutJazz.com
8 Inspirational Roberta Flack Quotes
“Music is a language that is understood all over the world. It’s a way of connecting people.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I’m a musician, and I’m an artist. I’m a very independent thinker. And I’m an observer.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I’m thankful that I’m still able to perform and share my music with people. That’s really what I live for.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I always felt like I was going to make it, even when I was struggling. I never gave up.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I’ve had a great life. I’ve been able to do what I love to do and travel the world.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I’m not a quitter. I will keep going until the end, no matter what.”
– Roberta Flack, from The Guardian
“I never stop learning. I think it’s important to stay open to new ideas and experiences.”
– Roberta Flack, from The Guardian
“I always try to find something positive in every situation, no matter how difficult.”
– Roberta Flack, from The Guardian
6 Famous Roberta Flack Quotes
“I think that music has the potential to be a very powerful force in people’s lives.”
– Roberta Flack, from Soul Tracks
“When I hear the music, I just go into a place that is really, really, really beautiful.”
– Roberta Flack, from Soul Tracks
“I feel like I’m a messenger and I have a message to deliver.”
– Roberta Flack, from GRAMMYs
“I’m a believer in music being the messenger of love.”
– Roberta Flack, from GRAMMYs
“I believe in the power of music. I believe it can be a healing force.”
– Roberta Flack, from Vibe
“I think people should use music to express themselves and to express their feelings.”
– Roberta Flack, from Vibe
6 Roberta Flack Quotes About Love
“Love is the same in every language and culture. It’s the same emotion, the same feelings.”
– Roberta Flack, from Interview Magazine
“Love is the one thing that transcends all boundaries, all different generations and all languages, and that’s why I am so passionate about it.”
– Roberta Flack, from The Root
“Love is the answer to every problem.”
– Roberta Flack, from Billboard
“Love is supposed to be unconditional, and it’s supposed to be forever.”
– Roberta Flack, from Interview Magazine
“Love is the thing that keeps us all alive.”
– Roberta Flack, from Interview Magazine
“Love is about giving.”
– Roberta Flack, from Billboard
5 Roberta Flack Quotes About Life
“Life is a journey. It’s not a destination.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“I’m always learning. Life is an adventure. I’m always open to learning more.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“The old saying that life is a journey, not a destination, is very true.”
– Roberta Flack, from Soul Tracks
“I think sometimes you have to go through some bad times to get to the good times.”
– Roberta Flack, from Grammy
“Life is a lesson. Everything is a lesson.”
– Roberta Flack, from Soul Tracks
5 Quotes About Roberta Flack
“Roberta Flack has a voice that can make the listener feel the words and emotions that the artist is singing.”
– Isabella, from ThoughtCo.
“She’s a true artist whose music speaks to our souls.”
– Johnson, from Grammy.com
“She is one of the few artists who can move the listener with her deep, soulful passion and heart-felt lyrics.”
– Alvaro, from Ranker
“Flack’s music is filled with emotion, and her ability to express her feelings through her music is unparalleled.”
– Joseph, from AllMusic
“Roberta Flack has a voice of an angel and her songs will forever be timeless.”
– Michael, from udiscovermusic.com
Interview with Roberta Flack
Frequently Asked Questions About Roberta Flack
1. What are some of Roberta Flack’s most famous quotes?
Roberta Flack is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for her hit songs “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song”. Throughout her career, Flack has been an inspiring source of wisdom and positivity. Here are some of her most famous quotes:
- “You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.”
- “Music can be healing, that’s why I sing.”
- “My music is meant to soothe, to bring joy and healing.”
- “Good music comes from the heart and soul.”
- “If it’s not in your heart, you can’t make it real.”
- “When I perform, I want to touch people’s hearts.”
- “The most important thing is to be true to yourself.”
- “Music is the language of the heart and soul.”
- “You can never please everyone, so just be yourself.”
2. How has Roberta Flack’s music influenced modern music?
Roberta Flack has been a major influence in modern music, with her work crossing genres and inspiring many of today’s top artists. Her unique blend of soul, jazz and folk has left a lasting impression on the music industry and her influence can be seen in many popular songs today. Here are some of the ways Roberta Flack’s music has influenced modern music:
- Roberta Flack’s signature style of soulful ballads has been a major influence on modern R&B and pop. Her iconic song “Killing Me Softly With His Song” has been covered by many contemporary artists, including Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin.
- Flack’s use of jazz and folk in her music has inspired many modern artists to explore different genres and create hybrid styles of music. Her song “Feel Like Makin’ Love” was a hit for both R&B and jazz audiences, showing her ability to cross genres in a single song.
- Her music has also been a source of inspiration for many of today’s female singer-songwriters. Her emotional lyrics and vulnerability have been a source of strength to many female artists, and her influence can be heard in the music of Beyonce, Adele and Alicia Keys.
- Flack’s work has also been a major influence on modern hip-hop and rap. Artists such as Kanye West and Drake have sampled her music in their own work, and she has been credited with popularizing the use of samples in hip-hop.
Overall, Roberta Flack has left a lasting legacy in the music industry and her influence can still be heard in many popular songs today. Her unique blend of genres, heartfelt lyrics and soulful voice have continued to inspire new generations of artists and will continue to do so for many years to come.
3. What is the significance of Roberta Flack’s song “Killing Me Softly”?
Roberta Flack’s song “Killing Me Softly”, released in 1973, is a renowned classic that still holds an important place in the music industry. The song is an adaptation of Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel’s song “Killing Me Softly with His Song”, which was originally performed by Lori Lieberman.
The song’s lyrics speak of the powerful emotions that come with love and heartbreak. It speaks of the intense emotions that can be brought on by a partner’s words and actions and how easily those words and actions can be like “killing me softly”. The song has become a symbol of the power of love and how it can easily make one feel vulnerable and taken off guard by its intensity.
- The song has become a symbol of the power of love and how it can easily make one feel vulnerable and taken off guard by its intensity.
- It speaks of the intense emotions that can be brought on by a partner’s words and actions and how easily those words and actions can be like “killing me softly”.
- The song is an adaptation of Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel’s song “Killing Me Softly with His Song”, which was originally performed by Lori Lieberman.
4. What themes does Roberta Flack’s music explore?
Roberta Flack’s music is often described as soulful, heartfelt, and deeply personal. Her lyrics explore a wide range of themes, including love, loss, heartbreak, joy, and healing.
- Love: Flack’s music often contains themes of love, such as celebrating its joys and exploring its pain. Songs like “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Where Is the Love” are examples of this.
- Loss: Flack’s music also explores the pain of loss, such as in “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.”
- Heartbreak: Flack’s music also contains themes of heartbreak, as evidenced in songs such as “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “Angelitos Negros.”
- Joy: Flack’s music also contains themes of joy, as evidenced in songs such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Where Is the Love.”
- Healing: Flack’s music also contains themes of healing, as evidenced in songs such as “Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long” and “Set the Night to Music.”
Roberta Flack’s music is often described as timeless and her lyrics are poignant and powerful. Her music has the ability to move listeners, no matter the theme she is exploring.
5. How has Roberta Flack’s career evolved over the years?
Roberta Flack has been an iconic artist for nearly five decades. Her career has spanned from her debut album, First Take, to her most recent release, Let it Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles. Throughout her career, she has been an innovator and a trendsetter in the music industry. Here is how her career has evolved over the years:
- 1970s – Roberta Flack released her debut album, First Take, in 1969. It featured the hit single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, which won her a Grammy Award. She went on to release several more albums during the 1970s, including Killing Me Softly with His Song, which was her first Number 1 hit.
- 1980s – In the 1980s, Roberta Flack released a series of successful albums and singles, including the hit “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”. She also collaborated with other artists, such as Donny Hathaway and Peabo Bryson.
- 1990s – Roberta Flack continued her success in the 1990s, with the release of her album Roberta in 1994. She also collaborated with Sting on the single “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot”. She went on to release several more albums during the decade.
- 2000s – Roberta Flack released her first album of the new millennium in 2002, entitled Christmas, with Love. She continued to release albums and collaborate with other artists, such as the Dixie Chicks. She also released the album Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles in 2011.
- 2010s – Roberta Flack released her latest album of original material, Let It Be Roberta, in 2013. She continues to perform live and collaborate with other artists. She also works in the studio, producing new music and collaborating on new projects.
Roberta Flack has been a major influence in the music industry for many years. Her career has evolved and grown over the years, and she continues to inspire and entertain fans around the world.
Conclusion
Roberta Flack is a living legend whose music has been a source of inspiration for generations. Her powerful lyrics and soulful melodies have brought joy to millions of people all around the world. As an artist, she has shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity and her career has been marked by hard work, dedication and commitment. She is an inspiration to all who are striving to make it in the music industry and a reminder that anything is possible if you put in the effort and follow your dreams. Roberta Flack’s music has truly left a lasting impression on the world.
