ALS IS KILLING ROBERTA FLACK
BELOVED Killing Me Softly singer Roberta Flack’s golden voice has been silenced by cruel ALS.
The 85-year-old star was diagnosed in August with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the devastating condition that also ended the career and took the life of Yankees legend Lou Gehrig at age 37 in 1941. Earlier in 2018, Roberta collapsed and suffered a stroke while performing at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS savages the nerves in the spinal cord and brain that control muscles for walking, talking and eventually breathing. Flack, who has won four Grammys and received 14 nominations, is an icon for her classic hits including The First Time
Ever I Saw Your Face and Feel Like Makin’ Love.
While Roberta now has difficulty speaking, publicist Elaine Schock says the icon “plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits.” Meanwhile, a documentary about the star’s life, titled Roberta, premiered in New York, marking the 50th anniversary of the release of Killing Me Softly.