Belle Morgan January 22, 2020
Roberta Flack will be presented with her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards ceremony and concert event, taking place April 18 in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.
This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording."I am humbled and honored to be recognized in the company of such esteemed and diverse talents," says Flack. "The dreams and love that we sing of connect our hearts -- reaching across oceans, generations, and time. Our music is the legacy we leave to our children, the world's future."
"I am humbled and honored to be recognized in the company of such esteemed and diverse talents," says Flack. "The dreams and love that we sing of connect our hearts -- reaching across oceans, generations, and time. Our music is the legacy we leave to our children, the world's future."
Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Ms. Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University. Discovered while singing at the Washington, DC nightclub, she was signed to Atlantic Records. Her string of hits include, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Where Is the Love (a duet with Donny Hathaway), Killing Me Softly, Feel Like Makin' Love, The Closer I Get to You and, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, Ms. Flack has built an impressive musical legacy.
Other 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are the late Isaac Hayes, Chicago, punk pioneer Iggy Pop, folk singer-songwriter John Prine, influential hip-hop group Public Enemy, and late gospel/blues musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Roberta Flack will also make a rare appearance at the 2020 GRAMMY Awards to be held January 26 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.