Roberta Flack, the diagram topping, Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter, whose series of hits broke sophisticated pop and vintage soul, died Monday (February 24) at the age of 88. A product of piano-based classic training and gospel stylings of The Ame Church, Flack signed with Atlantic Records in 1968 after years as a teacher and club practitioner around Washington, DC
In January 1970, Flack’s debut album, First takearrived Billboard‘s charts, including a No. 195 Start of Billboard 200. Among its eight tracks was a cover of a popular folk song, “the first time I ever saw your face,” which appeared as a mainstream hit after Clint Eastwood borrowed it For his film registration debut, Play Misty for meAt the end of 1971. The track was Flack’s fourth career hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1972, and in mid-April became the singer’s first No. 1 six weeks at the summit, which was burnt “face” to the end of the year. First takeAlso enjoyed the prey, pushed to No. 1 on Billboard 200 for a five-week reign.
The following year, many of the same triumphs repeated, with another # 1 Hot 100 single, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and The Record of the Year Grammy Award. Flack landed almost both wins for a third year in a row, as her third and last Hot 100 leader, 1974’s “Feel Like Makin ‘Love,” was also nominated for this year’s record.
In total, Flack achieved 18 Hot 100 hits in her career, including six duets with her most frequent partner, Donny Hathaway, with classics “The Closer I Come to You” ( # 2) and “Where is Love” (No. 5) Find the strongest success. Her last performance came in 1991, with the Maxi Priest collaboration “Set the Night to Music”, which peaked at No. 6.
Her material also touched by a new generation through the joints’ rendition of “killing me soft” from their semen album, The scoring. HIP-HOP trio version rose to No. 2 on the radio song diagram from card-topping results across multiple formats, including POP AirPlay and R&B/HIP-HOP AirPlay, winning a Grammy award for Best R&D B-vocal performance of a duo/ group.
To review legend’s influence across popular music, here is the official overview of Roberta Flack’s biggest hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Roberta Flack’s largest billboard Hot 100 hits placement is based on weekly performance on Hot 100 from its 4th August 1958, start through February 22, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks of # 1 that earns the greatest value and weeks on lower spots that earn the least. Due to changes in diagram modology over the years, era is weighted differently to explain chart revenue speeds for different periods.
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“If I ever see you again”
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 87
Hot 100 Debut Date: May 20, 1978Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 24
Hot 100 Peak Date: 22 July 1978 -
“You have a friend” (with Donny Hathaway)
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 90
Hot 100 Debut Date: June 12, 1971Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 29
Hot 100 Peak Date: 14 August 1971 -
“To love”
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 80
Hot 100 Debut Date: 6. March 1982Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 13
Hot 100 Peak Date: June 12, 1982 -
“Tonight I celebrate my love” (with Peabo Bryson)
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 89
Hot 100 Debut Date: 9. July 1983Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 16
Hot 100 Peak Date: 5. November 1983 -
“Put the night into music” (with Maxi Priest)
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 73
Hot 100 Debut Date: September 21, 1991Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 6
Hot 100 Peak Date: November 16, 1991 -
“Where is the love” (with Donny Hathaway)
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 68
Hot 100 Debut Date: June 10, 1972Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 5
Hot 100 Peak Date: 12 August 1972 -
“The closer I get to you” (with Donny Hathaway)
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 86
Hot 100 Debut Date: 18th February 1978Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 2
Hot 100 Peak Date: 13 May 1978 -
“Feels like Makin ‘Love”
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 78
Hot 100 Debut Date: June 22, 1974Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 1 (for a week)
Hot 100 Peak Date: 10 August 1974 -
“The first time I ever saw your face”
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 77
Hot 100 Debut Date: March 4, 1972Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 1 (in six weeks)
Hot 100 Peak Date: April 15, 1972 -
“Killing me gently with his song”
Hot 100 Debut: Nr. 54
Hot 100 Debut Date: January 27, 1973Hot 100 Peak: Nr. 1 (for five weeks)
Hot 100 Peak Date: February 24, 1973