In Memoriam - Celebrating the Extraordinary Life of Roberta Flack
Dear Howard University Community,
Join us as we honor the life of one of our most profoundly impactful alumnae, the legendary songstress, composer, performer, and artistic icon Roberta Flack (B.M.E. ’58, D.Mus. ’75). Over the course of an incredible career, she inspired countless performers through her talent, showmanship, professionalism, and sheer charisma. She also founded the Robert Flack Foundation in 2010 to promote animal welfare and music education.
Flack passed away yesterday, February 24, 2025. The music world is paying tribute to a true icon celebrated internationally for her vocal artistry and soulful mastery of the timeless, deeply emotional terrain of love and romance.
Born in Asheville, North Carolina, she was raised in Richmond and later Arlington, Va. A classically trained pianist, Flack earned a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University on a full music scholarship, studying voice and piano. While at Howard, she was a member of the School of Music’s Student Council. Even as a student, she was already garnering acclaim by performing on campus, singing in student talent shows, and directing opera.
In 1954, The Hilltop wrote about her “easy flowing vocals” as she sang songs like, “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education in 1958. Among many return trips, she came back to perform in Homecoming concerts, and in 1975, she would return to campus to receive an honorary doctorate alongside Dorothy Height.
In Truth and Service,
Office of University Communications