In Pictures: Roberta Flack's 'Celebration of Life' musical memorial
The incredibly moving service held at New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church featured musical performances and speeches. "Roberta Flack is legend," said a visibly moved Lauryn Hill.
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A public memorial service bursting with music, including planned performances by Stevie Wonder and a surprise one by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, celebrated the life and legacy of the Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack.
Flack died last month aged 88 and is remembered for her ability to seamlessly move between soul, jazz and gospel, as evidenced by her transformative covers of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song'.
The ceremony, 'Celebration of Life', was held Monday afternoon at New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church, a historic Harlem institution and one of the oldest Black Baptist churces in the US. It was open to the public and livestreamed on the late artist's website and on YouTube.
American civil rights activist Al Sharpton gave the eulogy, saying that Flack "put a soundtrack to Black dignity,' adding: 'The reason we're here is because she made a difference. And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you, 'Don't just praise me, emulate me.'"
'Her existence was a form of resistance,' Lauryn Hill said in her speech, holding back tears. 'I adore Ms. Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is legend.'
The Fugees did a masterful take on Flack's cover 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', which won the group a Grammy.
Hill performed a cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' followed by 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' with the Fugees' Wyclef Jean — with Stevie Wonder joining in on harmonica.
'The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,' Wonder said.
He performed his song 'If It's Magic', accompanied only by a harpist, before singing a song he wrote for Flack: 'I Can See the Sun in Late December'.
Here are some pictures from the moving ceremony:
'Many of us are here today because she has touched not just our hearts but she also touched our souls,' said Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, the senior church pastor who led the service.
Roberta Flack. 1937 - 2025. Rest In Peace.
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