A voice that could move mountains, a presence that could define elegance, Roberta Flack was more than a singer; she was a musical institution. On Monday, March 10, the world joined her in a moving farewell as music royalty came together at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church to honor her life and legacy.
One of the stars who paid tribute, Lauryn Hill, took the stage with raw emotion only a voice like hers could carry. Flack’s impact on Hill has been undisputed, and on this somber afternoon, she poured that influence into her soul-steering take on “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” The latter, of course, was made immortal by Hill’s version with The Fugees, introducing Flack’s classic to a new generation.
As if the moment couldn’t get more moving, fellow Fugee Wyclef Jean joined Hill onstage to make the tribute’s weight even heavier. Their chemistry, born of years of collaboration and shared artistry, felt like a full-circle moment for them, one Flack herself would have savored.
Its monumental decibels with reverence on a star-studded night was all the more welcome: The legendary Stevie Wonder treated Flack to a performance, saturating the song in homage and divine musicality. He offered a visceral version of “If It’s Magic,” and then a special moment of nostalgia with “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” a song written for Flack back in 1975. And yet Wonder, who has never experienced the world with his eyes like other people, spoke about seeing Flack’s spirit, her human-ness, how he “saw her heart” when he had never even seen her face.
The tributes went further than music, with Rev. Add in Al Sharpton delivering a heartfelt eulogy, acknowledging Flack’s widespread cultural reach. She was a “beacon of artistry and resilience,” he said, “whose voice provided a soundtrack to Black dignity.” It was a sobering reminder that Flack’s music was more than pretty melodies but was an engine of transformation and representation.
The memorial united some of the industry’s most notable figures, like Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, and Alicia Keys, to pay tribute to a woman whose talent was beyond genre. Church choirs filled the house with spiritual hymns, including a stirring “Amazing Grace,” Berklee College of Music’s Nebulous String Quartet performed a delicate tribute.
Throughout the ceremony, a massive screen displayed footage from Flack’s landmark career snapshots of her life, her artistry, and the legacy she has left us all. And one of her most powerful messages was printed in the program for all to ponder: “Always walk in the light. If you’re not feeling like you’re walking in it, find it.
For those who couldn’t attend in person, the memorial was streamed live on RobertaFlack. Com and YouTube, giving fans from across the globe a chance to join in this final farewell. Roberta Flack’s voice may no longer be heard, but her songs, impact, and light will live on eternally.
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