Roberta Flack

Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American singer.

Quotes

• I sang it about soldiers, then, later, about gay men. It touches me deeply every time. I used to perform this song at Mr Henry’s and people would be totally silent. I knew it moved them.
  • On the song “Ballad of the Sad Young Men” in “Roberta Flack: 'My music is my expression of what I feel in a moment'” in The Guardian (2020 Jan 21)

• I didn’t try to be a soul singer, a jazz singer, a blues singer – no category…My music is my expression of what I feel and believe in a moment.
  • On her career trajectory in “Roberta Flack: 'My music is my expression of what I feel in a moment'” in The Guardian (2020 Jan 21)

• I hope that one day we will be seen for the people we are, not for our race, gender, age or nationality.
  • On being told that her style was “too white” in “Roberta Flack: 'My music is my expression of what I feel in a moment'” in The Guardian (2020 Jan 21)

• I know what it is to go over the same songs over and over again, and to try to make them perfect. It’s interesting and it’s hard and it’s difficult at the same time…You have to stay on top of things.
  • On staying in top form despite suffering a stroke in 2016 in “Roberta Flack Ready to Sing Again at Jazz Foundation of America Honors” in Billboard (2018 Oct 12)

• To be moved, to be moved constantly by your own songs. You need it to be in tune with them, and I don’t mean in tune musically, but I mean in tune with the lyrics of the songs, with the words of the songs, and with the meaning. You need to be in tune with all of that, and that takes a little bit of doing.
  • On choosing to perform the songs from her catalogue that still move her in “Roberta Flack Ready to Sing Again at Jazz Foundation of America Honors” in Billboard (2018 Oct 12)

External links