Roberta’s first two albums 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 Play Misty for Me. The single zoomed to number one in 1972. 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, but a major blow struck in 1979 when Hathaway committed suicide. Devastated, Flack was forced to find another partner and eventually did 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.” 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. Roberta, featuring interpretations of jazz and popular standards, followed in 1995. As she continued into the 21st century, Flack has released albums like 2012’s Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles, which shows that her poise and balanced singing has aged well. Flack continues to perform around the globe.
