Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937 in Black Mountain , North Carolina ) is an American soul singer , pianist and songwriter . She recorded her greatest successes in the 1970s with hits like Killing Me Softly with His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face .

Live and act

Flack studied music education and was preparing for a classical pianist career. At the same time she played in Washington nightclubs. She experienced her breakthrough in pop when the actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood selected the ballad The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (written by Ewan MacColl ) for his feature film Sadistico , which she recorded in 1969 . The song became a number one hit in the United States in 1972 and won the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year ("Single of the Year").

Roberta Flack, 1992

Another US number one was one of their best known hits, Killing Me Softly with His Song (a cover version of Lori Lieberman's song ), which was named Record of the Year at the 1974 Grammy Awards . As the only solo artist to date, she has managed to win the Record of the Year award for two consecutive years. Her third and final number one hit in the US was Feel Like Makin 'Love . She sang some of her other hits, such as Where Is the Love or The Closer I Get To You , in a duet with Donny Hathaway . Its musical director was the pianist Harry Whitaker in the mid-1970s . Her album First Take was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.

Roberta Flack was married to Steve Novosel from 1966 until the divorce in 1972 . Their son Bernard Wright , born in 1963, is also a musician.

Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)						Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B
1970	First Take Atlantic 8230	-	-	-	UK47 (2 weeks) UK	US1 platinum (54 weeks)US	R&B1 (44 weeks) R&B	First published: June 20, 1969 Re- entry and first place in US in April 1972 Chart entry in UK only in June 1972 Producer: Joel Dorn
	Chapter Two Atlantic 1569	-	-	-	-	US33 gold (82 weeks)US	R&B4 (73 weeks) R&B	First published: August 12, 1970 Producers: Joel Dorn, King Curtis
1971	Quiet Fire Atlantic 1594	-	-	-	-	US18th gold (48 weeks)US	R&B4 (34 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1971 Producer: Joel Dorn
1972	Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Atlantic 7216	-	-	-	-	US3 gold (39 weeks)US	R&B2 (26 weeks) R&B	First published: May 6, 1972 with Donny Hathaway Producers: Arif Mardin , Joel Dorn
1973	Killing Me Softly Atlantic 7271	DE47 (4 weeks) DE	-	-	UK40 (2 weeks) UK	US3 × 2 Double platinum (53 weeks)US	R&B2 (17 weeks) R&B	First published: August 1973 Producer: Joel Dorn
1975	Feel Like Makin 'Love Atlantic 18131	-	-	-	-	US24 (26 weeks) US	R&B5 (18 weeks) R&B	First published: March 1975 Producers: Leon Pendarvis, Frederick Wilkerson, Rubina Flake
1978	Blue Lights in the Basement Atlantic 19149	-	-	-	-	US8th gold (32 weeks)US	R&B5 (29 weeks) R&B	First published: December 13, 1977 Producers: Eugene McDaniels, Joe Ferla, Rubina Flake
	Roberta Flack Atlantic 19186	-	-	-	UK- silver UK	US74 (10 weeks) US	R&B37 (9 weeks) R&B	First published: August 7, 1978 Producers: Joe Ferla, Joseph Brooks , Rubina Flake
1980	Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway Atlantic 16013	-	-	-	UK31 (7 weeks) UK	US25th gold (24 weeks)US	R&B4 (26 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1979 with Donny Hathaway Producers: Eric Mercury, Roberta Flack
1981	Bustin 'Loose MCA 5141	-	-	-	-	US161 (11 weeks) US	R&B48 (10 weeks) R&B	First published: June 5, 1981 Soundtrack for the film Once and never again Producer: Roberta Flack
1982	I'm the One Atlantic 19354	-	-	-	-	US59 (21 weeks) US	R&B16 (32 weeks) R&B	First published: May 1982 Producers: Ralph MacDonald , Roberta Flack, William Eaton, William Salter
1983	Born to Love Capitol 12284	-	-	-	UK15th silver (10 weeks)UK	US25th gold (28 weeks)US	R&B8 (44 weeks) R&B	First published: July 22, 1983 with Peabo Bryson Executive Producer : Don Grierson, Varnell Johnson
1988	Oasis Atlantic 81916	-	-	-	-	US159 (8 weeks) US	R&B24 (27 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1988 Executive Producer : Roberta Flack
1991	Set the Night to Music Atlantic 82321	-	-	-	-	US110 (10 weeks) US	-	First published: September 17th, 1991 Producer: Arif Mardin
2012	Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles 429 Records 17582	-	-	-	-	US181 (1 week) US	R&B30 (4 weeks) R&B	First published: February 2012 Producers: Barry Miles, Jerry Barnes, Ricky Jordan, Roberta Flack, Sherrod Barnes

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More studio albums

• 1994: Roberta
• 1997: The Christmas Album
• 1999: Friends: Roberta Flack Sings Mariko Takahashi

Live albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)						Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B
1980	Live & More Atlantic 7004 (2)	-	-	-	-	US52 (19 weeks) US	R&B10 (24 weeks) R&B	First published: December 1980 with Peabo Bryson , double album. Recording: Holiday Star Theater in Merrillville, Indiana Producers: Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More live albums

• 2006: The Soul of Roberta Flack in Concert
• 2012: SOUL

Compilations

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)						Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B
1984	Greatest Hits K-tel 1269	-	-	-	UK35 (14 weeks) UK	-	-	First published: March 19, 1984
1994	Softly with These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack Atlantic 82498	-	-	-	UK7th platinum (16 weeks)UK	US- gold US	-	First published: February 7, 1994
2006	The Very Best of Roberta Flack Rhino 73332	-	-	-	UK50 (2 weeks) UK	-	-	First published: April 10, 2006
2011	Love Songs Rhino 8122797808	-	-	-	UK11 (6 weeks) UK	-	-	First published: February 1, 2011

More compilations

• 1972: The Most Beautiful Songs of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (2 LPs)
• 1981: The Best of Roberta Flack (US:platinum)
• 1982: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
• 2012: Original Album Series (box with 5CDs)

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)							Remarks	[↑]: treated together with the previous entry; [←]: placed in both charts
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B	Dance
1971	You've Got a Friend Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	-	US29 (12 weeks) US	R&B8 (13 weeks) R&B	-	First published: May 1971 with Donny Hathaway Author and original: Carole King , 1971
	You've Lost That Lovin 'Feelin' Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	-	US71 (6 weeks) US	R&B30 (6 weeks) R&B	-	First published: October 1971 with Donny Hathaway Authors: Barry Mann , Cynthia Weil , Phil Spector Original: The Righteous Brothers , 1964
1972	Will You Love Me Tomorrow Quiet Fire	-	-	-	-	US76 (5 weeks) US	R&B38 (3 weeks) R&B	-	First published: December 1971 Authors: Gerry Goffin , Carole King Original: The Shirelles , 1960
	The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face First Take	-	-	-	UK14th silver (19 weeks)UK	US1 gold (18 weeks)US	R&B4 (12 weeks) R&B	-	First published: February 1972 Grammys (Record + Song of the Year) Author: Ewan MacColl Original: Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger , 1962
	Where is the love? Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	UK29 (7 weeks) UK	US5 platinum (13 weeks)US	R&B1 (13 weeks) R&B	-	First published: May 1972 with Donny Hathaway Grammy (Pop Vocal Duo) Authors: Ralph MacDonald , William Salter
1973	Killing Me Softly with His Song Killing Me Softly	DE30 (14 weeks) DE	AT19 (4 weeks) AT	-	UK6 (14 weeks) UK	US1 gold (16 weeks)US	R&B2 (12 weeks) R&B	-	First published: January 1973 Grammy Hall of Fame Grammys (Record + Song of the Year / Pop Female Vocal) No. 369 of the Rolling Stone 500 (2010 list) No. 101 of the Songs of the Century ( RIAA , 2001 list) No. 11 of the Songs of the Century ( BMI , List 1999) Authors: Charles Fox , Norman Gimble Original: Lori Lieberman , 1972
	Jesse Killing Me Softly	-	-	-	-	US30 (9 weeks) US	R&B19 (10 weeks) R&B	-	First published: September 1973 Author: Janis Ian
1974	Feel Like Makin 'Love Feel Like Makin' Love	-	-	-	UK34 (7 weeks) UK	US1 platinum (16 weeks)US	R&B1 (17 weeks) R&B	-	First published: June 1974 Author: Gene McDaniels
1975	Feelin 'That Glow Feel Like Makin' Love	-	-	-	-	US76 (3 weeks) US	R&B25 (10 weeks) R&B	-	First published: June 1975 Authors: Eugene McDaniels, Maurice McKinley, Sister Charlotte Laws, Leon Pendarvis, Bob Fusco Original: Universal Jones, 1972
1977	25th of Last December Blue Lights in the Basement	-	-	-	-	-	R&B52 (8 weeks) R&B	-	First published: November 1977 Christmas single Author: Eugene McDaniels
1978	The Closer I Get to You Blue Lights in the Basement	-	-	-	UK42 (4 weeks) UK	US2 gold (20 weeks)US	R&B1 (19 weeks) R&B	-	First published: January 1978 with Donny Hathaway Authors: Reggie Lucas , James Mtume
	If Ever I See You Again Roberta Flack	-	-	-	-	US24 (13 weeks) US	R&B37 (9 weeks) R&B	-	First published: May 1978 Theme song of the film When I See You Again Writer: Joe Brooks
	When It's Over Roberta Flack	-	-	-	-	-	R&B82 (4 weeks) R&B	-	First published: November 1978 Author: Joe Brooks
1979	You Are Everything Roberta Flack	-	-	-	-	-	R&B98 (2 weeks) R&B	-	First published: February 1979 Authors: Linda Creed , Thom Bell Original: The Stylistics , 1971
1980	You Are My Heaven Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	-	US47 (11 weeks) US	R&B8 (17 weeks) R&B	-	First published: January 1980 with Donny Hathaway Author: Stevie Wonder
	Back Together Again Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	UK3 (12 weeks) UK	US56 (8 weeks) US	R&B8 (14 weeks) R&B	Dance6 (21 weeks) Dance	First published: March 1980 with Donny Hathaway Authors: Reggie Lucas , James Mtume
	Don't Make Me Wait Too Long Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway	-	-	-	UK44 (7 weeks) UK	-	R&B67 (5 weeks) R&B[Dance: ↑]		First published: July 1980 Author: Stevie Wonder
	Make the World Stand Still Live & More	-	-	-	-	-	R&B13 (16 weeks) R&B	-	First publication: November 1980 with Peabo Bryson Authors: Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson
1981	Love Is a Waiting Game Live & More	-	-	-	-	-	R&B46 (6 weeks) R&B	-	First publication: March 1981 with Peabo Bryson Authors: Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson
	You Stopped Loving Me Bustin 'Loose	-	-	-	-	-	R&B32 (11 weeks) R&B	-	First release: June 1981 from the soundtrack of the film Once and never again Author: Luther Vandross
1982	Making Love I'm the One	-	-	-	-	US13 (21 weeks) US	R&B29 (17 weeks) R&B	-	First release: February 1982 from the soundtrack of the film of the same name Authors: Burt Bacharach , Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer Sager
	I'm the one I'm the one	-	-	-	-	US42 (11 weeks) US	R&B24 (14 weeks) R&B	-	First published: June 1982 Authors: William Eaton, Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
	In the Name of Love I'm the One	-	-	-	-	-	R&B80 (4 weeks) R&B	-	First published: November 1982 Authors: Bill Withers , Ralph MacDonald, William Salter Original: Grover Washington, Jr. , 1980
1983	Our Love Will Stop the World	-	-	-	-	-	R&B65 (7 weeks) R&B	-	First published: January 1983 with Eric Mercury Authors: Dick Wagner, Eric Mercury
	Tonight, I Celebrate My Love Born to Love	-	-	-	UK2 silver (14 weeks)UK	US16 (29 weeks) US	R&B5 (20 weeks) R&B	-	First publication: June 1983 with Peabo Bryson Authors: Gerry Goffin , Michael Masser
	Heaven Above Me Born to Love	-	-	-	UK84 (2 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: October 1983 with Peabo Bryson Authors: Bob Crewe , Bob Gaudio Original: Frankie Valli , 1980
	Maybe Born to Love	-	-	-	-	-	R&B68 (6 weeks) R&B	-	First release: October 1983 with Peabo Bryson from the soundtrack of the film Jason, the Bottle Authors: Burt Bacharach , Carole Bayer Sager
	You're Looking Like Love to Me Born to Love	-	-	-	-	US58 (11 weeks) US	R&B41 (12 weeks) R&B	-	First published: November 1983 with Peabo Bryson Authors: Bob Crewe , Bob Gaudio , Jerry Corbetta
1984	If I'm Still Around Tomorrow Rendezvous	-	-	-	-	-	R&B79 (3 weeks) R&B	-	First published: September 1984 Sadao Watanabe with Roberta Flack
1988	Oasis Oasis	-	-	-	-	-	R&B1 (17 weeks) R&B	-	First published: October 1988 Authors: Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
1989	Uh-Uh Ooh Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes) Oasis	-	-	-	UK72 (3 weeks) UK	-	R&B37 (11 weeks) R&B	Dance1 (10 weeks) Dance	First published: March 1989 Authors: Ashford & Simpson
1991	Set the Night to Music Set the Night to Music	-	-	-	-	US6 (20 weeks) US	R&B45 (8 weeks) R&B	-	First published: September 1991 with Maxi Priest Author: Diane Warren Original: Starship , 1987
1992	You Make Me Feel Brand New Set the Night to Music	-	-	-	-	-	R&B50 (8 weeks) R&B	-	First published: December 1991 Authors: Thom Bell , Linda Creed Original: The Stylistics , 1973
1996	Killing Me Softly with His Song (Digitally Remastered)	DE38 (8 weeks) DE	-	CH32 (4 weeks) CH	-	-	-	-	First published: July 1996
	Killing Me Softly with His Song (House Remix)	-	-	-	-	-	-	Dance1 (12 weeks) Dance	First published: August 1996 Remix: Soul Solution, Jonathan Peters

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More singles

• 1969: Compared to What (release: September)
• 1970: Reverend Lee (release: September)
• 1971: Do What You Gotta Do (release: January)
• 1980: Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love) (Release: August)
• 1983: This Side of Forever (from the soundtrack of the film Dirty Harry comes back ; release: November)
• 1984: I Just Came Here to Dance (released April)
• 1986: We Shall Overcome (released March)
• 1988: Shock to My System
• 1990: You Are So Beautiful ( Nino Tempo feat. Roberta Flack)
• 1992: Friend
• 1992: When Someone Tears Your Heart in Two
• 2012: We Can Work It Out

literature

• Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 227f - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .

swell

1. ^ Barry Graves , Siegfried Schmidt-Joos , Bernward Halbscheffel: "Das neue Rocklexikon" 1988, ISBN 3-499-16352-7 .
2. ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Inducts 26 New Titles (2015) in JazzTimes
3. ↑ ^{a b c d} Chart sources: DE AT CH UK Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 200 Let It Be Roberta (Billboard R&B Charts)
4. ↑ ^{a b c d} gold / platinum databases: UK US
5. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
6. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .
7. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .
8. ↑ RS500 Songs (List 2010)
9. ↑ Songs of the Century, RIAA (List 2001)
10. ↑ Songs of the Century, BMI (List 1999)

Web links

Commons : Roberta Flack  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Own website (English)
• Roberta Flack at Allmusic (English)
• Roberta Flack at Discogs (English)
• Roberta Flack at laut.de
• Roberta Flack at 45cat.com (English)