KINGSTON, Jamaica — In 1991 when American R&B/soul singer Roberta Flack was making ready to work on her sixth studio album, she known as on reggae singer Maxi Priest to collaborate together with her on a canopy of Starship’s 1987 Billboard Grownup Modern hit, Set the Evening to Music.
Maxi and Roberta’s model reached #6 on the Billboard Scorching 100, giving Roberta her first prime ten hit on that chart since 1982’s The Nearer I Get to You with Donny Hathaway topped out at #2.
Flack, who died on February 24 on the age of 88, was remembered by Maxi Priest. In an interview with Observer On-line, he recalled their preliminary assembly.
“Working with Roberta Flack on Set the Evening to Music was one of many best experiences of my profession! She is among the most lovely and kind-hearted individuals you can ever meet; an expertise I’ll always remember and have carried it with me all through my journey. Her professionalism was inspiring, and I’ve realized a lot from her; her strategy to creating music, her persistence in working with me, and the way in which she nurtured the artistic course of. I even have to say Arif Mardin, the producer of Set the Evening to Music. They gave me the liberty to discover vocal preparations with out worry, creating an open area the place errors had been merely a part of the method. Their encouragement meant a lot, and I’ll always remember the time he invited me to his residence for lunch. As we ate, he shared tales and confirmed me his many awards; what an unimaginable expertise. RIP, King,” Maxi Priest shared.
He mentioned his affiliation with Flack gave him many worthwhile connections within the music trade.
“By way of Roberta, I met so many nice individuals, and people relationships proceed to at the present time. Going to her residence and being on tour with Roberta and her crew—whom I name household—was a blessing. Her power radiated via the individuals round her, lots of whom had labored together with her for years. That speaks to the honesty, loyalty, and dedication she carried in her journey. Any artist or entertainer will perceive how exhausting and lonely this street might be and discovering individuals who actually get that’s uncommon. Once I take into consideration Set the Evening to Music, I take into consideration its influence throughout all genres. What actually touches me is how deeply it related with individuals around the globe; particularly throughout the Caribbean. That blessing opened so many doorways for me, and it nonetheless does to at the present time. Only recently, I carried out the tune on the present Insurgent Salute in Jamaica, and listening to the individuals sing alongside was a testomony to Roberta’s legacy,” mentioned Maxi Priest.
Maxi Priest continued, “While you discuss Roberta Flack, you will need to accomplish that with the very best regard. She is among the best legends of all time—not simply of her technology, however for each technology after her and past. Roberta Flack will dwell on without end. RIP in Zion, my good friend. Condolences to the Flack household, family members, mates and followers.”
Flack’s consultant mentioned in an announcement to the media that the Grammy-winning singer died peacefully.
“She died peacefully surrounded by her household. Roberta broke boundaries and data. She was additionally a proud educator,” the assertion learn.
The reason for Flack’s dying was not revealed.
Flack was battling a number of well being challenges within the years main as much as her dying. She publicly revealed she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in late 2022. The progressive illness “has made it not possible to sing and never straightforward to talk”, Flack’s supervisor Suzanne Koga mentioned in a launch on the time. “However it’s going to take much more than ALS to silence this icon.”
Flack was born in North Carolina. Because the daughter of a church organist, she realized the right way to play basic piano at a younger age. When she turned 15, she received a scholarship at Howard College in Washington, DC, the place her singing and piano abilities had been found. She was later signed to Atlantic Information Group.
Her best-known hits embody the #1 hit The First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face which catapulted her into stardom after Clint Eastwood used it because the soundtrack for a love scene in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me.
Nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, she gained three all through her profession. She additionally gained back-to-back Grammy Awards for Report of the 12 months in 1973 and 1974. She was the primary artiste to perform that feat.
She launched 15 albums, her closing one being the Beatles recital “Let It Be Roberta,” which got here out in 2012.
Roberta Flack charted 18 entries on the Billboard Scorching 100, three of which went to #1. She had greater than two dozen hits on the Billboard Scorching R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 4 of which had been chart-toppers.
Her different in style hit songs in Jamaica embody Killing Me Softly (Along with his tune), which was launched to a brand new technology of music lovers because of a devoted cowl by The Fugees in 1996), Tonight I Rejoice My Love For You (with Peabo Bryson), The Nearer I Get to You (with Donny Hathaway), Again collectively Once more (additionally with Hathaway) and So it Goes.
Her 1977 album Blue Lights within the Basement featured the reggae-inspired observe Nice, Nice Day, which was a gold-seller.
Flack resided in Jamaica for a few years together with her Jamaican boyfriend. She was additionally a detailed good friend of the late reggae icon Bob Marley.
Requested what sort of particular person Flack was, Maxi Priest mentioned “She was non secular, deeply related to tradition, and carried a kindness that touched everybody round her. Caring, compassionate, and filled with pleasure, she had a way of humour that would gentle up any room. She was hard-working, devoted to her craft, and all the time gave her greatest. Greater than that, she was a mom, a trainer, a good friend—no matter you wanted her to be, she was. Genuine, actual, and actually one in every of a form. Love you all the time Roberta.”
He shared that he was nervous the primary time that he met the famed singer.
“I used to be nervous, however she quickly made me really feel comfy and at residence. There are such a lot of tales I’ll always remember, however the first time I spoke to Roberta was actually unforgettable! I used to be dwelling in my first home in Crofton Park, Southeast London, when the cellphone rang. My sister answered after which checked out me in disbelief, laughing, saying, ‘a woman on the cellphone says her identify is Roberta Flack, and he or she wish to discuss to you’. Me and my sister Rose checked out one another, pondering, somebody’s having fun right here. However I received on the cellphone, and within the softest, most welcoming tone, I heard, ‘hello, that is Roberta Flack. Might I communicate to Maxi Priest?’ I replied, ‘sure’, and the remaining was historical past within the making. Not lengthy after that, when she got here to England, she visited my residence together with her crew. My sister cooked for everybody, in fact, full Jamaican vibes—pure tradition, pure love. It was as if we had identified one another for years. I treasured our friendship,” Maxi Priest confided.
— Kevin Jackson
File photograph: Roberta Flack
