Grammy-winning US singer Roberta Flack has died aged 88, her publicist has confirmed.
She was known for songs including The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, originally by Ewan MacColl, and Killing Me Softly With His Song, written by Lori Lieberman and Norman Gimbel.
Publicist Elaine Schock told the PA news agency: “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.”
Flack was born on February 10, 1937 in North Carolina but grew up in Virginia and started classical piano lessons at the age of nine.
She was awarded a full scholarship to Howard University in Washington DC aged 15 and was assistant conductor of the university choir for a while before returning to North Carolina following her father’s death in 1959, returning to the capital a year later.
In 2020 she won a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys.
