Singer Roberta Flack, known for songs like ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’ and ‘The Closer I Get to You’, has revealed she has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, the condition makes it impossible for Flack to continue singing. In fact, she has limited her ability to speak, according to information released by her manager.
The announcement of the diagnosis follows the launch of “Roberta”, a documentary on the life and career of the singer, directed by Antonino D’Ambrosio. The film includes several archival footage and documents the artist’s struggle with her illness. The premiere will take place at the DOC NYC documentary festival next Thursday (11/17) and will then be broadcast on TV, as part of the “American Masters” series on the US channel PBS.
She suffered a stroke in 2016 and later fell ill while attending a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America at the Apollo Theater in New York in 2018.
“It will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon,” said the artist’s manager, Suzanne Koga. In a statement, Flack’s publicist said that while she no longer sings, she “plans to remain active in her musical and creative pursuits” through her namesake foundation and other endeavors.
Throughout her long career, Roberta Flack has won numerous awards and accolades, in particular the two Grammys won in 1974 for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, for the hit “Killing Me Softly With His Song”. In 2020 she was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a tribute to all that she has accomplished in her life.
Flack will also be honored next year with a special re-release of the album “Killing Me Softly,” which turns 50 in 2023.
Recall the artist’s greatest hits below.
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Source: Terra
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
