RIP Roberta Flack (1937-2025)

Roberta Flack has always been on my short list of favorite singers. Roberta wasn’t a belter. She sang beautifully. In fact, she sang SO artfully that she revealed shortcomings in the recording equipment of her time. The noise floor and dynamic range of tape wasn’t up to Roberta’s range.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” came out in 1969. It wasn’t highly recognized until it was used in Clint Eastwood’s 1971 film “Play Misty For Me.” Her tender rendition is exquisitely heart felt and is the best example of a recording that would have benefited tremendously from modern equipment. She was a classically trained pianist and went on to have many hits of her own. She was the first black resident of NYC’s famous Dakota building and was friends with John, Yoko & Sean.