Roberta Flack, legendary 'Killing Me Softly' singer, dies aged 88

Roberta Flack , the two-time Grammy-winning singer known for her rendition of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and other intimate hit songs, died today at the age of 88, her representative told Variety magazine.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of the glorious Roberta Flack,” the statement said. “She died peacefully surrounded by her family. Roberta broke boundaries and records. She was also a proud educator.”

Widely regarded as one of the greatest voices in soul and R&B, Flack demonstrated an uncommon ability to cross genres with ease, whether on her tender cover of Ewan MacColl's ballad The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face or the soft, smooth Feel Like Makin' Love .

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Flack was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, in 1937. Her parents were both musicians: her mother, Irene, was a church choir organist, and introduced Flack to gospel and classical music at an early age.

At the age of 15, already an expert on the piano, she was accepted to Howard University to study music on a full scholarship.

A classically trained singer and pianist, Flack only achieved fame late when Clint Eastwood used her version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in his 1971 film Play Hard at Night, his directorial debut.

Their rendition went to number one on the charts. A second number one hit, Killing Me Softly , followed soon after in 1973. Both renditions were recognized in consecutive years with Grammys for Record of the Year, a feat not repeated until U2 won the same award in 2001 and 2002.