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IMDbPro

Roberta Flack(1937-2025)

  • Music Department
  • Actress
  • Make-up Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack was born February 10, 1937 (1939 according to some sources), in Black Mountain, North Carolina, a small town located about 10 miles (18 kilometers) from the city of Asheville, North Carolina. She is best known for her love ballad "Killing Me Softly With His Song", released in 1969. She earned a music scholarship to Howard University and graduated with a BA in Music. She briefly taught music after graduation from college. She was discovered singing and playing jazz in a Washington nightclub by pianist Les McCann, and she later signed a contract with Atlantic Records in the late 1960s. The rest is music history. Roberta's most recent album is a 1997 anthology of Christmas standards simply titled "Christmas Album".
BornFebruary 10, 1937
DiedFebruary 24, 2025(88)
BornFebruary 10, 1937
DiedFebruary 24, 2025(88)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 5 wins & 14 nominations total

Photos6

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Known for

Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Elliot Page, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Cudmore, Bingbing Fan, and Jennifer Lawrence in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
7.9
  • Soundtrack
  • 2014
Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
7.2
  • Soundtrack
  • 2015
Clint Eastwood and Jessica Walter in Play Misty for Me (1971)
Play Misty for Me
6.9
  • Soundtrack
  • 1971
Clint Eastwood in Sudden Impact (1983)
Sudden Impact
6.6
  • Soundtrack
  • 1983

Credits

IMDbPro

Music Department



  • Thierry Genovese, Rcn, and Yossi Benavraham in Il était une fois (2024)
    Il était une fois
    Podcast Series
    • singer
    • 2024
  • The Hogan Family (1986)
    The Hogan Family
    6.6
    TV Series
    • singer: theme music
    • 1986–1991
  • Bustin' Loose (1981)
    Bustin' Loose
    6.1
    • composer: original songs
    • singer: original songs
    • 1981
  • The Tiny Tree (1975)
    The Tiny Tree
    7.9
    TV Movie
    • music arranger: theme song
    • music producer: theme song
    • 1975
  • Miss Gaby
    Short
    • music by
    • 1972
  • Running
    Running
    Music Video
    • lead vocals

Actress



  • Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson: As Long as There's Christmas
    Music Video
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1997
  • Patti D'Arbanville, Michael DeLorenzo, and Malik Yoba in New York Undercover (1994)
    New York Undercover
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1996
  • Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory (1995)
    Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
    8.6
    Video
    • Daryl's mother (segment "Bad")
    • 1995
  • Loving (1983)
    Loving
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1993
  • Guiding Light (1952)
    Guiding Light
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1992
  • Roberta Flack & Maxi Priest: Set the Night to Music
    Music Video
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1991
  • Mild Seven Videography
    TV Series
    • Guest Interview
    • 1989–1990
  • Roberta Flack: Oasis
    Music Video
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1988
  • Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson: Bad (1987)
    Michael Jackson: Bad
    7.8
    Music Video
    • Darryl's Mother (voice)
    • 1987
  • Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson: Tonight I Celebrate My Love (1983)
    Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson: Tonight I Celebrate My Love
    Music Video
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1983
  • Another World (1964)
    Another World
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Roberta Flack
    • 1983
  • Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)
    The Wiz
    5.7
    • The Wiz Singers Adult Choir (voice, uncredited)
    • 1978
  • The Legend of John Henry (1974)
    The Legend of John Henry
    6.2
    Short
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 1974

Makeup Department



  • President George H.W. Bush: Speeches of the 41st President of the United States 1989-1993
    Video
    • hair stylist
    • 2005

  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

In Memoriam: Stars We Lost in 2025

In Memoriam: Stars We Lost in 2025

We pay tribute to Diane Ladd, Diane Keaton, and more stars we lost this year.
See the gallery
Production art
List

Personal details

  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Height
    • 5′ 3¾″ (1.62 m)
  • Born
    • February 10, 1937
    • Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA
  • Died
    • February 24, 2025
    • Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(cardiac arrest)
  • Spouse
    • Steve NovoselJuly 16, 1965 - June 1973 (divorced)
  • Children
    • No Children
  • Parents
      Irene Council
  • Relatives
      Ingrid Jeannine Flack (Hunter)(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Album: "Softly With These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack" (Atlantic)
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Her song, "Killing Me Softly" (1973), was a tribute to American Pie singer Don McLean.
  • Quotes
    Women have to do twice the work of male rock singers such as The Rolling Stones. We have to sing, play instruments and get accustomed to walking out on stage in high heels. Never mind the pressures of your image. If something goes wrong on my stage in any way, from sound to style, nobody can blame a band member. It's Roberta Flack who gets the rap and looks bad! I'm the one on the bill alone, with no gang of boys or crew behind me.
  • Trademarks
      Smooth silky soulful voice

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