Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack, known for timeless hits like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” has died at 88, her representatives confirmed. Flack, who had ALS, passed away peacefully surrounded by family.

Born in North Carolina in 1937, Flack displayed musical talent early, earning a scholarship to Howard University at just 15. Jazz musician Les McCann discovered her at a Washington nightclub, leading to a deal with Atlantic Records. Her breakthrough came in 1972 when “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” topped the Billboard Hot 100 after appearing in Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty for Me. The song won multiple Grammys, solidifying her status as a musical force.

Flack’s career flourished with more No. 1 hits, including “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” She frequently collaborated with Donny Hathaway until his tragic death in 1979. Reflecting on Hathaway, Flack once told The Washington Post that he was a genius but deeply troubled, struggling with his own perfectionism. She later found a new musical partner in Peabo Bryson, scoring a hit with “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love.” In 1991, she returned to the Top Ten with “Set the Night to Music,” a duet with Maxi Priest.

Roberta Flack performs in New York in 2012.

The ‘90s introduced Flack’s music to a new generation when the Fugees’ cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” became a global hit. In 1999, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and performed in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.

Beyond her career, Flack remained committed to music education, founding the Roberta Flack School of Music to provide free lessons to underprivileged students. Even after a stroke in 2016 and other health struggles, she continued performing into her 80s, appearing at a Jazz Foundation of America event in 2018.

Tributes poured in from fellow musicians. Carole King shared a photo, while Jennifer Hudson called her “one of the greatest soul singers of all time.” Flack had recently praised Hudson’s rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” showing her enduring connection to her music.