This special episode offers a 1994 interview with music legend, Roberta Flack. One of the defining vocalists of the 1970s, Flack recorded an impressive string of hits that became instant classics, and the soundtrack of a generation.
Inspired by legendary vocalists Sam Cooke, and Mahalia Jackson, Flack embarked on her career as a professional singer in the late 1960s. Ultimately signed to a contract with Atlantic Records, she released her debut album, “First Take” in 1969, featuring the single “The First Time, Ever I Saw Your Face”. The song became the biggest-selling hit of 1972, earning Flack a Gold Record and Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1973. Teaming up with vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist, Donnie Hathaway, the duo recorded the million-selling hit classics, “Where Is the Love” in 1972, and “The Closer I Get To You” in 1978. Flack’s 1973 number-one hit, “Killing Me Softly With His Song” earned her a Grammy Award in 1974 for “Record of the Year”, and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”. Her follow-up single “Feel Like Makin’ Love” earned her a Grammy nomination in 1975. Following the tragic passing of Donnie Hathaway in 1979, Flack teamed up with Peabo Bryson in the early 80s, releasing the hit single, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”.
Flack was given a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1999, inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, and was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.
Flack continued to perform into her eighties until she was forced to retire for medical reasons in 2022.
Roberta Flack passed away in New York City at the age of 88 in 2025.
Rock and Roll Legacy is set to become a vital resource for fans of rock and roll, blues, jazz, and R&B music. Through in-depth conversations with legendary artists, Nagy provides unparalleled insights into the lives and legacies of the musicians who have shaped these influential genres. This episode with Roberta Flack is expected to generate considerable interest among dedicated fans and new listeners.
The episode is available now on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Buzzsprout, Amazon Music, YouTube, and iHeart.
About Rob Nagy:
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Rob Nagy is widely recognized for his extensive knowledge and passion for rock and roll, blues, jazz, and R&B. Over the years, he has had the privilege of interviewing some of the most iconic musicians of our time. Now, through Rock and Roll Legacy, Nagy is sharing his vast interview archives with a global audience.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563446323348 or contact Rob Nagy directly at robnagysrockandrolllegacy@gmail.com.
