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").
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 |
|
1973 | Killing Me Softly Atlantic 7271 |
DE47 (4 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK40 (2 weeks) UK |
US3 × 2
(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 |
|
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 |
|
1983 | Born to Love Capitol 12284 |
- | - | - |
UK15th
silver
(10 weeks)UK |
US25th
gold
(28 weeks)US |
R&B8 (44 weeks) R&B |
|
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 |
- | ||
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 |
- | ||
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 |
- | ||
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 |
- | ||
1980 | You Are My Heaven Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway |
- | - | - | - |
US47 (11 weeks) US |
R&B8 (17 weeks) R&B |
- | ||
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 |
|||
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 |
- | |||
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 |
- | |||
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 |
- | |||
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 |
- | ||
1992 | You Make Me Feel Brand New Set the Night to Music |
- | - | - | - | - |
R&B50 (8 weeks) R&B |
- | ||
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
- ^ Barry Graves , Siegfried Schmidt-Joos , Bernward Halbscheffel: "Das neue Rocklexikon" 1988, ISBN 3-499-16352-7 .
- ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Inducts 26 New Titles (2015) in JazzTimes
- ↑ a b c d Chart sources: DE AT CH UK Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 200 Let It Be Roberta (Billboard R&B Charts)
- ↑ a b c d gold / platinum databases: UK US
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .
- ↑ RS500 Songs (List 2010)
- ↑ Songs of the Century, RIAA (List 2001)
- ↑ Songs of the Century, BMI (List 1999)
Web links
- Own website (English)
- Roberta Flack at Allmusic (English)
- Roberta Flack at Discogs (English)
- Roberta Flack at laut.de
- Roberta Flack at 45cat.com (English)
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Flack, Roberta |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American soul singer, pianist and songwriter |
DATE OF BIRTH | February 10, 1937 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Black Mountain , North Carolina |