Lorin Hill Remembers Roberta Flack
Lorin Hill shared the news of Danie Robert Flack’s passing, who passed away at the age of 88 at the beginning of this week.
“We are grieving the loss of the incredible Robert Flack, who passed away this morning,” Flack’s representatives stated on Monday (February 24). “She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Roberta broke barriers and set records. She was also a proud teacher.”
Hill’s Tribute to Flack
Hill, whose hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song” with the Fugees serves as a tribute to Flack’s performance of her own 1973 rendition, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on February 26.
“Whitney Houston once told me that Roberta Flack’s voice was one of the purest she had ever heard,” Hill began. “I grew up searching for the notes my parents cherished. Mrs. Flack was one of their favorites and quickly became one of mine as soon as I met her. She was cool and sophisticated, tender yet fiercely passionate.”
Hill remarked that Flack’s music “captivated me with its beauty and elegance,” noting that the artist “inspired me and demonstrated that creative choices and standards are still possible within the soul genre.”
Regarding “Killing Me Softly,” Hill expressed that their breakthrough in 1996 was made “to honor the beauty and brilliance of this song and its performance for our generation.”
“I will always be grateful for the sensitivity and delicate power of her love and talent. May she rest in her favorite grace.” See the post below.
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Flack’s Legacy and Health Struggles
The official cause of Flack’s death has not been disclosed, although it is important to note that she battled health issues for the past three years.
Her career-defining album from 1973, also titled “Killing Me Softly,” earned her the Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal in 1974, reaching the top of the charts.
Flack received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and announced her diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2022, a neurodegenerative condition that affects nerve function in the brain and spinal cord, preventing her from singing.
In her later years, she worked on several projects, including a children’s book and a documentary about her life titled Roberta, which premiered in November 2022. The children’s book, Small Green Piano: How I Found Music, was released the following year.
Throughout her career, she received 13 Grammy nominations, the last being in 1995 for her album “Roberta,” which was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal (as reported by Variety). She was survived by her son, Bernard Wright, who is also a musician.
Just last week, Lauryn Hill performed “Killing Me Softly” during Saturday Night Live to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary alongside fellow Fugee Wyclef Jean. The moment was captured by Adele, who shared a clip of the performance.
The third member of Fugees, Pras, is currently facing 20 years in prison after being found guilty of his role in a money laundering scheme and has stated that he has “moved on” from the group.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/lauryn-hill-shares-roberta-flack-tribute-cool-and-intelligent-gentle-and-yet-militant-3841736?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lauryn-hill-shares-roberta-flack-tribute-cool-and-intelligent-gentle-and-yet-militant
