Editing Roberta Flack (section)

==Career==
===Early career===
Before becoming a professional singer-songwriter, Flack returned to Washington, D.C., and taught at Banneker, Browne, and Rabaut Junior High Schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/roberta-flack-interview-2020/|title=Legendary Artist Roberta Flack Talks About Her Classic Hits 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' 'Killing Me Softly' And 'Where Is The Love'|first=Dale|last=Kawashima|website=SongwriterUniverse|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=February 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-song-that-defined-roberta-flack/|title='The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face': the song that defined Roberta Flack|website=[[Far Out (website)|Far Out]]|first=Reuben|last=Cross|date=February 24, 2025|access-date=February 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/10/05/principal-takes-junior-high-even-higher/c46a4309-ce30-4ac9-a51c-b49d0548146c/|title=Principal takes Junior High even higher|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Jenice |last=Armstrong|date=October 5, 1989|access-date=February 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/roberta-flack-music-education/|title=Music Took Roberta Flack from D.C. Classrooms to Mr. Henry's to Worldwide Stages|website=[[The Washington Informer]]|first= Brenda C.|last=Siler|date=February 7, 2024|access-date=February 25, 2025}}</ref> She also taught private piano lessons out of her home on Euclid Street, [[Northwest (Washington, D.C.)|NW]], in the city. During that time, her music career began to take shape on evenings and weekends in nightclubs.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |last2=Bugel |first2=Safi |title=Roberta Flack, soul and R&B icon behind Killing Me Softly, dies aged 88 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/24/roberta-flack-soul-and-rb-icon-behind-killing-me-softly-dies-aged-88 |access-date=February 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 24, 2025}}</ref>

At the Tivoli Theater she accompanied [[opera|opera singers]] at the piano. During intermissions, she would sing [[blues music|blues]], [[folk music|folk]], and pop standards in a back room, accompanying herself on the piano. Later she performed several nights a week at the 1520 Club, providing her own piano accompaniment. About this time her voice teacher, Frederick "Wilkie" Wilkerson, told her that he saw a brighter future for her in pop music than in the classics. Flack modified her repertoire accordingly and her reputation spread. In 1968, she began singing professionally after she was hired to perform regularly at Mr. Henry's Restaurant, located on [[Capitol Hill]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Whiting |first1=Amanda |title=Roberta Flack Still Goes to the Capitol Hill Bar Where She Got Her Big Break|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/06/13/roberta-flack-still-goes-capitol-hill-bar-got-big-break/ |magazine=[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian]] |date=June 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Joe |title=Flack's Song of Thanks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/09/28/flacks-song-of-thanks/12a1ce5e-7987-42ef-aab1-7d7b5ae62375/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 27, 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Arlington Public Library |title= Roberta Flack's Arlington Roots |url= https://library.arlingtonva.us/2021/03/18/roberta-flacks-arlington-roots/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 27, 1987}}</ref> 

Her break came in the summer of 1968 when she performed at a benefit concert in Washington to raise funds for a children's library in the city's ghetto district,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> and was seen by soul and jazz singer [[Les McCann]], who was signed to [[Atlantic Records]]. He was captivated by Flack's voice and arranged an [[audition]] for her with Atlantic,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> in which she performed 42 songs from her nightclub repertoire in three hours for producer [[Joel Dorn]]. Dorn immediately told the label to sign her. In November 1968 she recorded 39 song demos in less than 10 hours. McCann later wrote in the liner notes of her first album, "Her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I've ever known. I laughed, cried, and screamed for more... she alone had the voice." Three months later, Atlantic recorded Flack's debut album, ''[[First Take (album)|First Take]]'' (1969), in 10 hours.<ref name="ALLMUSIC">{{cite web |author=Steve Huey |date=February 10, 1939 |title=Roberta Flack &#124; Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roberta-flack-mn0000290072/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617225803/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roberta-flack-mn0000290072/biography |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2014 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> The album was "an elegant fusion of folk, jazz and soul" and included her version of British folk singer [[Ewan McColl]]'s song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>

===1970s===
Flack's second album, ''Chapter Two'', appeared in 1970 and marked the start of her collaboration with Hathaway as arranger, accompanist and backing singer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> In 1971, Flack participated in the legendary [[Soul to Soul (film)|''Soul to Soul'' concert film]] by [[Denis Sanders]] which was headlined by [[Wilson Pickett]] along with [[Ike & Tina Turner]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]], [[The Staple Singers]], [[Les McCann]], [[Eddie Harris]], [[The Voices of East Harlem]] and others.  The U.S. delegation of musical artists featured in the film was invited to perform for the 14th anniversary of the March 6 [[Independence Day (Ghana)|Independence Day]] of [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/soul-to-soul|title=Soul to Soul (film review)|magazine=[[Time Out London]]|access-date=March 29, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329234921/https://www.timeout.com/london/film/soul-to-soul|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Rousing 'Soul to Soul'|first=Howard|last=Thompson|author-link=Howard Thompson (film critic)|date=August 19, 1971|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=990CEED81238EF34BC4152DFBE66838A669EDE}}</ref> The film was digitally reissued on DVD and CD in 2004 but for unknown reasons Flack refused permission for her image and recording to be included . Her [[a cappella]] performance of the traditional spiritual "[[Oh, Freedom|Oh Freedom]]", retitled "Freedom Song" on the original [[Soul to Soul (soundtrack)|''Soul to Soul'' LP soundtrack]], is only available in the VHS version of the film.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Soul to Soul World Catalog Search Results|oclc=840123917}}</ref>

Flack's [[cover song|cover version]] of "[[Will You Love Me Tomorrow]]" hit No. 76 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1972. Her Atlantic recordings did not sell particularly well, until actor/director [[Clint Eastwood]] used a song from ''First Take'', "[[The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face]]", written by [[Ewan MacColl]], for the soundtrack of his directorial debut ''[[Play Misty for Me]].''

Atlantic rush-released the song as a single and it became the biggest hit of 1972,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> spending six consecutive weeks at No. 1 and earning Flack a million-selling [[Music recording certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=[[Barrie and Jenkins]] Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/312 312]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/312}}</ref> "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" finished the year as [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972|''Billboard'']]'s top song of 1972. The ''First Take'' album also went to No. 1 and eventually sold 1.9&nbsp;million copies in the United States.  Eastwood, who paid $2,000 for the use of the song in the film,<ref>{{Cite book |last=McGilligan |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick McGilligan (biographer)|year=1999 |title=Clint: The Life and Legend |publisher=[[Harper Collins]] |isbn=0-00-638354-8|page=194}}</ref> remained an admirer and friend of Flack's ever after. The song was awarded the [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year]] and Song of the Year in 1973. In 1983, Flack recorded the end music to the [[Dirty Harry]] film ''[[Sudden Impact]]'', at Eastwood's request.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" />
[[File:Roberta Flack - Cash Box 1972.png|thumb|left|Flack on the cover of ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'', April 22, 1972]]
In 1972, Flack began recording regularly with [[Donny Hathaway]], scoring hits such as the Grammy-winning "[[Where Is the Love (Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song)|Where Is the Love]]" (1972) and later "[[The Closer I Get to You]]" (1978), both of which became million-selling gold singles.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> Flack and Hathaway recorded several duets together, including two LPs, until Hathaway's death in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/02/24/roberta-flack-dead-killing-me-softly-singer-grammy-winner/10819924002/|title=Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer of hit 'Killing Me Softly,' dies at 88|first=Melissa|last=Ruggieri|website=Usatoday.com|date=February 24, 2025 |access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref> After his death, Flack released their final LP as ''Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway.''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |title=Roberta Flack's 11 Essential Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/arts/music/roberta-flack-songs.html |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=February 24, 2025}}</ref>

On her own, Flack scored her second No. 1 hit in 1973, "[[Killing Me Softly with His Song]]" written by [[Charles Fox (composer)|Charles Fox]], [[Norman Gimbel]] l, and [[Lori Lieberman]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pond |first=Steve |title=Singer's Career Was Softly Killed By Bad Luck And Insecurity |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HJkRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6439%2C710421 |access-date=November 18, 2020 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=June 12, 1997 |page=C5 |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314155605/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HJkRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6439%2C710421 |url-status=live}}</ref> "Killing Me Softly" was awarded both [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female]], at the 1974 [[Grammy Awards]]. Its [[Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack album)|parent album]] was Flack's biggest-selling disc, eventually earning [[double platinum]] certification. In 1974, Flack released  "[[Feel Like Makin' Love (Roberta Flack song)|Feel Like Makin' Love]]", which became her third and final No. 1 hit to date on the Hot 100 and her eighth million-seller. She produced the single and her [[Feel Like Makin' Love (album)|1975 album of the same name]] under the pseudonym Rubina Flake.<ref name="Time 1975">{{cite magazine|title=Music: What Ever Happened to Rubina Flake?|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,917444,00.html|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=August 22, 2015|date=May 12, 1975|archive-date=May 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503115710/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,917444,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1974, Flack sang the lead on a [[Sherman Brothers]] song, "Freedom", which featured prominently at the opening and closing of the movie ''[[Huckleberry Finn (1974 film)|Huckleberry Finn]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA642965125&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00253499&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon~e9b51202&aty=open-web-entry|title=MGM's Huckleberry Finn Musical That Never Reached the Screen, Part 2.|first=R. Kent|last=Rasmussen|date=September 22, 2020|journal=Mark Twain Journal|volume=58|issue=2|pages=129–202|access-date=February 24, 2025|via=go.gale.com}}</ref> In the same year, she performed "When We Grow Up" with a teenage [[Michael Jackson]] on the television special ''[[Free to Be... You and Me]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bishop|first1=Katie|title=Hearing 'Free To Be... You And Me' For The Very First Time|url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/soundcheck/articles/250830-free-be-you-and-me-very-first-time|access-date=February 24, 2025|work=Soundcheck|date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> and a year later in 1975 performed two [[Johnny Marks]] songs, "To Love And Be Loved" and "When Autumn Comes", for the animated Christmas special ''[[The Tiny Tree]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc&p=178&item=B:17761|title=Bell System Family Theatre: The Tiny Tree (TV)|website=Paleycenter.org|access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/depatie-frelengs-the-tiny-tree-1975/|title=DePatie-Freleng's 'The Tiny Tree' (1975) |date=December 24, 2014|website=Cartoonresearch.com}}</ref> "Blue Lights in the Basement (1977) included a chart-topping duet with Hathaway on "The Closer I Get to You", and in 1978 they began working on on a second album of duets, which was half-completed when Hathaway, a [[paranoid schizophrenic]] who suffered mood swings and bouts of depression, took his own life in 1979. Flack, devastated, completed the album and it was released in 1980 as "Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> 

===1980–1991===
[[File:Roberta Flack.jpg|thumb|Flack in 1995]]
She found a new duetting partner in [[Peabo Bryson]] and they released "Live and More" in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> "Born to Love" in 1983 produced a hit single, "[[Tonight, I Celebrate My Love]]", which reached No. 2 on the UK charts.<ref name="guardian1" /> Flack had a hit single in 1982 with "[[Making Love (song)|Making Love]]", written by [[Burt Bacharach]] (the title track of the [[Making Love|1982 film of the same name]]), which reached No. 13. 

Flack continued to tour in the 1980s, often backed by a live orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> In 1986 she sang the theme song "Together Through the Years" for the [[NBC]] television series ''Valerie'', later known as ''[[The Hogan Family]]''. The song was used throughout the show's six seasons. In 1987, Flack supplied the voice of Michael Jackson's mother in the 18-minute short film for "[[Bad (Michael Jackson song)|Bad]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Bad by Michael Jackson |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/michael-jackson/bad |website=Songfacts |publisher=Songfacts, LLC |access-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103711/https://www.songfacts.com/facts/michael-jackson/bad |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Oasis (Roberta Flack album)|Oasis]]'' was released in 1988 and failed to make an impact with pop audiences, though the title track reached No. 1 on the [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] chart and a remix of "[[Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes)]]" topped the [[Hot Dance Club Play|dance]] chart in 1989, after failing to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=207}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=100}}</ref>

In 1991, Flack found herself again in the US [[Top 40|Top 10]] with a cover of the [[Diane Warren]]-penned song "[[Set the Night to Music]]", performed as a duet with British-Jamaican [[reggae]] singer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> [[Maxi Priest]], that peaked at No. 6 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] charts and No. 2 AC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/roberta-flack/chart-history/hsi/|title=Roberta Flack &#124; Biography, Music & News|website=Billboard.com|access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/roberta-flack/chart-history/asi/|title=Roberta Flack &#124; Biography, Music & News|website=Billboard.com|access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref> In 1996 [[The Fugees]] released a [[hip-hop]] remix of "Killing  Me Softly".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> 

===Later career===
[[File:Roberta Flack 1.jpg|thumb|Flack in 2002]]
[[File:Roberta Flack in August 2013.jpg|thumb|Flack performing in 2013]]
In 1999, a star with Flack's name was placed on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref> PBS, [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/roberta-flack-biography-and-career-timeline/25437/ Roberta Flack biography and career timeline], pbs.org, USA, January 17, 2023</ref> In the same year, she gave a concert tour in South Africa. During her tour of the country, she performed "Killing Me Softly" for President [[Nelson Mandela]] at his home in Johannesburg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/406802.stm|title=BBC News &#124; Entertainment &#124; Roberta sings softly for Mandela|website=News.bbc.co.uk|date=July 29, 1999|access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref> In 2010, she appeared on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, singing a duet of "Where Is The Love" with [[Maxwell (musician)|Maxwell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news2/arts/things-that-go-pop-blog/2010/01/gaga-for-grammys-lil-waynes-pants-pinks-stunts-and-other-highlights-from-musics-biggest-night.html|title=Gaga for Grammys: Lil' Wayne's pants, Pink's stunts and other highlights from music's biggest night|first=Sarah|last=Liss|date=January 31, 2010|website=Cbc.ca|access-date=February 24, 2025}}</ref>

Flack influenced the subgenre of contemporary R&B called [[quiet storm]], and interpreted songs by songwriters such as [[Leonard Cohen]] and members of [[the Beatles]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Powers|first=Ann|date=February 10, 2020|title=Why Is Roberta Flack's Influence On Pop So Undervalued?|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/10/804370981/roberta-flack-the-virtuoso|access-date=November 1, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101213939/https://www.npr.org/2020/02/10/804370981/roberta-flack-the-virtuoso|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, Flack released ''[[Let It Be Roberta]]'', an album of [[The Beatles|Beatles]] covers including "[[Hey Jude]]" and "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]". It was her first recording in eight years.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Gail |title=Six Questions With Roberta Flack |magazine=Billboard |date=February 18, 2012 |volume=124 |issue=6 |pages=26–27 |issn=0006-2510 |quote=On Feb. 7, the Grammy Award winner released her first project in eight years: Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles.}}</ref> Flack knew [[John Lennon]] and [[Yoko Ono]], as both parties lived in [[The Dakota]] apartment building in New York City and had apartments next door to each other. Flack said that she had been asked to do a second album of Beatles covers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roberta Flack's Long And Winding Road|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/02/18/146942636/roberta-flacks-long-and-winding-road|publisher=[[NPR]]|work=[[Weekend Edition Saturday]]|interviewer=[[Scott Simon]]|date=February 18, 2012|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701182056/http://www.npr.org/2012/02/18/146942636/roberta-flacks-long-and-winding-road|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, she was reported to be involved in an interpretative album of the Beatles' classics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertaflack.com/biography.php |title=Roberta Flack Biography |publisher=Robertaflack.com |access-date=May 23, 2014 |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007203218/http://www.robertaflack.com/biography.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the age of 80, Flack recorded "Running" for the closing credits song of the 2018 feature documentary ''[[3100: Run and Become]]'' with music and lyrics by [[Michael A. Levine]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8481848/roberta-flack-running|title=Roberta Flack Returns With New Song 'Running': Premiere|last=Mitchell|first=Gail|date=October 26, 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101231111/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8481848/roberta-flack-running|url-status=live}}</ref> She continued to perform into her eighties until she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and could no longer sing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/roberta-flack-obituary-singer-who-fused-soul-jazz-and-folk-q6gsbmfmt |website=thetimes.com |title=The Times Register: Obituary Roberta Flack |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>