Senate Resolution No. 446

BY: Senator CLEARE

MOURNING the death of Roberta Flack, one of the
most iconic and influential voices in the history of
American music

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative talents
have contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their
community, the State of New York, the Nation and the world; and

WHEREAS, It is with profound sorrow and deep regret that this
Legislative Body records the passing of Roberta Flack, noting the
significance of her inspired life and accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Roberta Flack, the magnetic singer and pianist whose
intimate blend of soul, jazz and folk made her one of the most popular
artists of the 1970s, died on Monday, February 24, 2025, in Manhattan;
she was 88; and

WHEREAS, Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses
of our time, four-time GRAMMY Award winner and Lifetime Achievement
Award recipient Roberta Flack will forever remain unparalleled in her
ability to tell a story through her music; her songs bring insight into
our lives, loves, culture and politics, while effortlessly traversing a
broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz; and

WHEREAS, Roberta Flack made history as the first solo artist to win
the GRAMMY Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years; her
song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," took home the 1973 GRAMMY,
followed by "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which won the award in
1974; and

WHEREAS, Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Roberta
Flack received a music scholarship at the age of 15 to attend Howard
University; after spending 10 years as a schoolteacher and performing
nights in downtown Washington, D.C., Roberta Flack zoomed to worldwide
stardom in 1972, after her version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your
Face" was featured in a Clint Eastwood film; and

WHEREAS, The song had been released three years earlier, on her
debut album for Atlantic Records, but came out as a single only after
the film was released; within weeks it was at No. 1 on the Billboard
chart - a perch she would reclaim two more times, with "Killing Me
Softly With His Song" (1973) and "Feel Like Makin' Love" (1974); and

WHEREAS, With a string of hits including, "Where Is the Love," "The
Closer I Get to You," "Tonight I Celebrate My Love," and "Set the Night
to Music," Roberta Flack has inspired countless artists with her musical
brilliance and honesty; and

WHEREAS, From her inaugural album's first track - "Compared to
What," Roberta Flack frequently sang songs of social frustration and
racial solidarity; and

WHEREAS, One of her most tender and affecting performances came
alongside Donny Hathaway on "Be Real Black for Me," a song of love and
mutual admiration; it was later famously sampled by the rapper Scarface
on his 2002 single "On My Block"; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, in performance, she and Donny Hathaway recast
"Somewhere," the Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim Broadway hit, as
a declaration of Black solidarity and resolution; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her renowned music career, Roberta Flack
founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter
School in the Bronx, providing an innovative and inspiring music
education program to underprivileged students free of charge; and

WHEREAS, Roberta Flack was also a staunch advocate of gay rights;
she sang "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" on her debut album, as well as
the theme song to "Making Love," a 1982 film about a man grappling with
his sexual identity; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, she founded The Roberta Flack Foundation with a
mission to support music education, promote the arts, and offer
assistance to underprivileged communities; through various initiatives,
the foundation seeks to nurture young talent, provide access to arts
programs, and use music as a tool for social change; and

WHEREAS, Known for her soulful voice, powerful performances, and
timeless songs, Roberta Flack's music, which transcended genres and
touched the hearts of millions, leaves behind a legacy that will
continue to inspire future generations; she leaves behind a profound
impact on the cultural landscape, and her absence will be deeply felt by
fans and fellow musicians alike; her creative spirit, boundless talent,
and lasting impact on both music and the broader world will forever be
honored and remembered; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Roberta Flack, and to express its deepest condolences
to her family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Roberta Flack.