Friday 10 February 2023

Roberta Flack born 10 February 1939

Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American singer and pianist who was the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" won in 1973 and "Killing Me Softly with His Song" won in 1974. 

Roberta Cleopatra Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Her father Laron Flack was a self-taught jazz pianist and her mother, Irene Flack, was church pianist. At the age of nine her family moved to Arlington, Virginia.  There she began to take piano lessons and broaden her appreciation of musical genres from R&B and jazz to blues and pop. By the age of 13, she was already displaying her range of musical talent when she won second place honours with her performance of a Scarlatti sonata in a state-wide contest for African American students. 

In 1952 at the age of 15, she enrolled at Howard University on a music scholarship. She became one of the youngest students to enrol in that institution in the 20th century. Within a year, she was conducting her sorority’s vocal quartet and accompanying pop, jazz, and opera singers. After switching her major from music to music education, Flack graduated in 1958. She continued her studies at Howard, working toward a master’s degree, but the death of her father in 1959 caused her to put school on hold. Flack returned to North Carolina, where she got a job teaching music in public schools. A year later, she found a similar job in Washington, teaching music and English in the District of Columbia’s junior high schools. 

Flack began taking voice lessons, concentrating primarily on opera, with Frederick “Wilkie” Wilkerson.  At the same time she worked at the posh Tivoli Club in Washington, D.C., where she served as an accompanist to visiting opera singers. Flack’s own professional singing career began in 1967 at Mr. Henry’s, a nightclub on Capitol Hill, where Flack sang blues, folk songs, and pop standards on an old upright piano. In 1968, at a benefit held at the Bohemian Caverns for the Inner City Ghetto Children’s Library Fund, jazz pianist Les McCann heard Flack perform. He was so impressed that he made a demo tape and took it to Atlantic Records. They sent a scout to hear Flack at Mr. Henry’s, and he signed her immediately. 


                              

Her first two albums -- 1969's First Take and 1970's Chapter Two -- were well received but produced no hit singles; however, that all changed when a version of Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," from her first LP, was included in the soundtrack of the 1971 film Play Misty for Me. The single zoomed to number one in 1972 and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year's biggest hit. Flack followed it with the first of several duets with Howard classmate Donny Hathaway, "Where Is the Love." "Killing Me Softly with His Song" became Flack's second number one hit (five weeks) in 1973, and after topping the charts again in 1974 with "Feel Like Makin' Love," Flack took a break from performing to concentrate on recording and charitable causes. 

She charted several more times over the next few years, as she did with the Top Ten 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement -- featuring "The Closer I Get to You," a number two ballad with Hathaway. A major blow was struck in 1979 when her duet partner, one of the most creative voices in soul music, committed suicide. Devastated, Flack eventually found another creative partner in Peabo Bryson, with whom she toured in 1980. The two recorded together in 1983, scoring a hit duet with "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." 

Flack spent the remainder of the '80s touring and performing, often with orchestras, and also several times with Miles Davis. She returned to the Top Ten once more in 1991 with "Set the Night to Music," a duet with Maxi Priest that appeared that year on the album of the same name. Her Roberta full-length, featuring interpretations of jazz and popular standards, followed in 1994. In 2005 Flack founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, New York, to provide an innovative and inspiring music education program to underprivileged students free of charge. 

As she continued into the 21st century, Flack recorded infrequently but released albums like 2012's Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles, which showed that her poise and balanced singing had aged well. On April 20, 2018, Flack was appearing onstage at the Apollo Theater at a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America. She became ill, left the stage, and was rushed to the Harlem Hospital Centre. In a statement, her manager announced that Flack had suffered a stroke a few years prior and still was not feeling well, but was "doing fine" and being kept overnight for medical observation. 

Flack has released nineteen albums over her career and won four Grammy awards in addition to a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. On November 14, 2022, it was announced by a spokesperson that Flack had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known in the UK as motor neurone disease) and had retired from performing, due to the disease making it "impossible to sing", according to a spokesperson. 

(Edited from AllMusic , BlackPast & Wikipedia)

7 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Roberta Flack – The Very Best Of Roberta Flack (2006 Atlantic)” go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/arG9d

1 Killing Me Softly With His Song 4:49
2 Where Is The Love (w. Donny Hathaway) 2:44
3 Feel Like Makin' Love 2:56
4 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 5:21
5 And So It Goes 3:35
6 Tonight, I Celebrate My Love (w. Peabo Bryson) 3:31
7 The Closer I Get To You (w. Donny Hathaway) 4:39
8 'Til The Morning Comes 3:47
9 Back Together Again (w. Donny Hathaway) 6:53
10 Making Love 3:43
11 Only Heaven Can Wait (For Love) 4:04
12 Set The Night To Music (w. Maxi Priest) 5:22
13 You Are My Heaven (w. Donny Hathaway) 4:13
14 Oasis 6:11
15 Don't Make Me Wait Too Long 7:46
16 And So It Goes (Reprise) 1:01
17 Trade Winds 6:51

For “Roberta Flack — Chapter Two 1970 (Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition) (2021 Digital Remaster)” go here:

https://www.upload.ee/files/14921110/Roberta_Flack_-_Chapter_Two.rar.html

01. Roberta Flack — Reverend Lee (2021 Remaster) (04:32)
02. Roberta Flack — Do What You Gotta Do (2021 Remaster) (04:09)
03. Roberta Flack — Just Like a Woman (2021 Remaster) (06:15)
04. Roberta Flack — Let It Be Me (2021 Remaster) (04:59)
05. Roberta Flack — Gone Away (2021 Remaster) (05:16)
06. Roberta Flack — Until It\’s for You to Go (2021 Remaster) (04:58)
07. Roberta Flack — The Impossible Dream (2021 Remaster) (04:41)
08. Roberta Flack — Business Goes On as Usual (2021 Remaster) (03:29) BONUS TRACK
09. Roberta Flack — Midnight Cowboy (2021 Remaster) (03:51)

Bass – Marshall Hawkins, Terry Plumeri
Drums – Bernard Sweetney, Ray Lucas
Electric Bass – Charles Rainey
Euphonium – John Swallow
Alto Flute, Bass Flute – Hubert Laws, Joe Gentle
Guitar – Eric Gale
Harp – Corky Hale
Horns – Chauncey Welsh, Ernie Royal, Frank Wess, Garnett Brown, George Marge, John Frosk, John Glasell, Trevor Lawrence
Percussion – Warren Smith
Piano – Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack
Strings – Alfred Brown, Arnold Block, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Kermit Moore, Leo Kahn, Luis Eley, Max Kahn, Max Pollikoff, Noel Da Costa, Peter Buonconsiglio, Peter Dimitriades, Raoul Poliakian, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke, Seymour Myroff, Tosha Samaroff
Vocals – Roberta Flack
Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, N.Y.

Don Dan said...

Some more of this Lady...

https://uptobox.com/nbhem7unsm36/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1969 First Take.zip
https://uptobox.com/pc5m6oqbae2l/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1970 Chapter 2.zip
https://uptobox.com/jdedctekt2qb/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1971 Quiet Fire .zip
https://uptobox.com/wwuwbekooci7/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway.zip
https://uptobox.com/3n3fkc7l9pgm/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1973 Killing Me Softly.zip
https://uptobox.com/4ylhq53eqzr3/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1975 Feel Like Makin' Love.zip
https://uptobox.com/d1xeoczbpnzg/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1977 Blue Lights in the Basement.zip
https://uptobox.com/65pvf3o56lu0/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1980 Live & More 2cds.zip
https://uptobox.com/mlq5ivzh0x2n/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1981 Bustin' Loose (OST).zip
https://uptobox.com/ltz303plrg5z/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1982 I'm the One.zip
https://uptobox.com/5maa8hc8ge28/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1988 Oasis.zip
https://uptobox.com/51ym3gxqtr2g/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1992 Stop the World.zip
https://uptobox.com/6m1j3cqmwik5/Flack Roberta (1937- )1994 Roberta.zip

Have fun !

Don Dan
https://www.youtube.com/c/DonDanMusicChannel

ps: Bob, mind the post title... 1939 ???

Don Dan said...

There is something I really don't understand. I went thru text format and... nothing ! I try again.

https://uptobox.com/nbhem7unsm36/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1969 First Take.zip
https://uptobox.com/pc5m6oqbae2l/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1970 Chapter 2.zip
https://uptobox.com/jdedctekt2qb/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1971 Quiet Fire .zip
https://uptobox.com/wwuwbekooci7/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway.zip
https://uptobox.com/3n3fkc7l9pgm/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1973 Killing Me Softly.zip
https://uptobox.com/4ylhq53eqzr3/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1975 Feel Like Makin' Love.zip
https://uptobox.com/d1xeoczbpnzg/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1977 Blue Lights in the Basement.zip
https://uptobox.com/65pvf3o56lu0/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1980 Live & More 2cds.zip
https://uptobox.com/mlq5ivzh0x2n/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1981 Bustin' Loose (OST).zip
https://uptobox.com/ltz303plrg5z/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1982 I'm the One.zip
https://uptobox.com/5maa8hc8ge28/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1988 Oasis.zip
https://uptobox.com/51ym3gxqtr2g/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1992 Stop the World.zip
https://uptobox.com/6m1j3cqmwik5/Flack Roberta (1937- )1994 Roberta.zip

Sorry about all that

Don Dan
https://www.youtube.com/c/DonDanMusicChannel

Don Dan said...

Hello Bob

I still don't understand what is the problem with Uptobox...
I see that Rapidgator is accepted by the blog but the links look the same as those from Uptobox !
I'll study more about Uptobox because it's much easier to use for the downloaders.
The waiting time between downloads is much longer at Rapidgator

https://rapidgator.net/file/503ae24b1460a3216a157609380910e6/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1969_First_Take.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/a41411e58d1f1bf5e62d9b0dba00ea31/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1980_Live_&_More_2cds.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/4ed8f4b55e4f2468c75a1d22266b6edc/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1970_Chapter_2.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/478a82abac1bc30e959eb62b1e697f65/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1971_Quiet_Fire_.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/c91ac227e00297e5e5507bf9e1d42d50/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1972_Roberta_Flack_&_Donny_Hathaway.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/1b20efad25c081fefa86ec9668e3a4c6/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1975_Feel_Like_Makin'_Love.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/ef5991b8e765420ab535b558aa44ccbd/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1981_Bustin'_Loose_(OST).zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/5940bf2fdb21fb72f1b06db3894e94a0/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1994_Roberta.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/adad1ceb77282fe78a1c04e083d83062/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1973_Killing_Me_Softly.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/996b3da348b17afd762bdf9ac72888e8/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1992_Stop_the_World.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/e9d2e5a2466e9e134b81655159d65314/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1977_Blue_Lights_in_the_Basement.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/3a3ecc8b5d83b5e86aea8f77623f2252/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1982_I'm_the_One.zip.html
https://rapidgator.net/file/23a1f8ec2da693a71e02612e58bae0ce/Flack_Roberta_(1937-_)_1988_Oasis.zip.html

Tell me if it's ok for you.
Cheers DD

Don Dan said...


I don't know what^s wrong but I'm sure there is something wrong !!!
For your fun, back to Mediafire while I'm searching for a better solution...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pdg0abqryc3m323/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1969_First_Take.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rx8fo3ajidmkczj/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1970_Chapter_2.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/5ae6lx8085f3b7z/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1971_Quiet_Fire_.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/dpygwb9zoymbumo/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1972_Roberta_Flack_%2526_Donny_Hathaway.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/1uuzac8g7xt6z2n/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1973_Killing_Me_Softly.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/p02a9lqgh38msoi/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1975_Feel_Like_Makin%2527_Love.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/u1ntcvtba5sund3/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1977_Blue_Lights_in_the_Basement.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/c2jdkmvf29b7qub/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1980_Live_%2526_More_2cds.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/tdxp0tg8yvasqpg/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1981_Bustin%2527_Loose_%2528OST%2529.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/x1ux44ngn26hhde/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1982_I%2527m_the_One.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rldsljnrqp9ql18/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1988_Oasis.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/gt671ybutg05jue/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1992_Stop_the_World.zip/file

https://www.mediafire.com/file/75woyxlqxoomdoo/Flack_Roberta_%25281937-_%2529_1994_Roberta.zip/file

Don Dan said...

Hello Bob
It looks difficult for the people to use Uptobox because there has been much less downloads as usual.
Let's try Imagenetz...

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1969 First Take.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/jVb78

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1971 Quiet Fire .zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/dtkF6

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/fiGuy

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1973 Killing Me Softly.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/eLke4

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1975 Feel Like Makin' Love.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/hV7Q4

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1977 Blue Lights in the Basement.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/mncaW

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1980 Live & More 2cds.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/fDiwb

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1981 Bustin' Loose (OST).zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/kNHFt

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1982 I'm the One.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/dLTDb

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1988 Oasis.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/khWeP

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1992 Stop the World.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/e7KKL

Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1994 Roberta.zip
https://www.imagenetz.de/dtP57

Cheers
Don Dan
https://www.youtube.com/c/DonDanMusicChannel

boppinbob said...

Some more of this Lady...from DonDan

https://uptobox.com/nbhem7unsm36/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1969 First Take.zip
https://uptobox.com/pc5m6oqbae2l/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1970 Chapter 2.zip
https://uptobox.com/jdedctekt2qb/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1971 Quiet Fire .zip
https://uptobox.com/wwuwbekooci7/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1972 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway.zip
https://uptobox.com/3n3fkc7l9pgm/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1973 Killing Me Softly.zip
https://uptobox.com/4ylhq53eqzr3/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1975 Feel Like Makin' Love.zip
https://uptobox.com/d1xeoczbpnzg/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1977 Blue Lights in the Basement.zip
https://uptobox.com/65pvf3o56lu0/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1980 Live & More 2cds.zip
https://uptobox.com/mlq5ivzh0x2n/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1981 Bustin' Loose (OST).zip
https://uptobox.com/ltz303plrg5z/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1982 I'm the One.zip
https://uptobox.com/5maa8hc8ge28/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1988 Oasis.zip
https://uptobox.com/51ym3gxqtr2g/Flack Roberta (1937- ) 1992 Stop the World.zip
https://uptobox.com/6m1j3cqmwik5/Flack Roberta (1937- )1994 Roberta.zip

Have fun !

Don Dan
https://www.youtube.com/c/DonDanMusicChannel