Roberta Flack, the legendary voice behind timeless classics like Killing Me Softly with His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, was not only a musical icon but also a woman with a deeply personal life that was largely kept away from the public eye. While her career was filled with accolades, including four Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award, her family life was relatively quiet compared to her chart-topping success.
Flack was born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, to Laron Flack, a Veterans Administration draftsman, and Irene Council Flack, a church organist. Her early years were steeped in music, with her mother’s influence guiding her to classical piano. By 15, she had earned a full scholarship to Howard University, making history as one of the youngest students to attend the prestigious institution. But while her academic and musical pursuits were well-documented, her personal relationships were far more private.
Roberta Flack’s Husband: She Was Married to Steve Novosel for 6 Years
In 1966, at the age of 29, Roberta Flack married Steve Novosel, a talented jazz bassist known for his work with legends like David “Fathead” Newman and Chet Baker. Their marriage coincided with the early days of her music career, a time when she was performing in Washington, D.C., clubs before being discovered by Les McCann. However, as her star began to rise, her marriage began to falter. In 1972, just as The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was becoming a nationwide sensation thanks to Clint Eastwood’s film Play Misty for Me, Roberta and Steve officially divorced.
Despite their separation, Roberta spoke fondly of her ex-husband Steve in later years. In a 2020 interview with Closer Weekly, she reflected on their relationship, saying, “Steve and I remain fast friends to this day. Our love endures, although its form has changed.” Their friendship endured even as her career took her to international fame and cemented her place in music history.
Roberta Flack’s Children: She Never Had Kids of Her Own (Bernard Wright Was Not Her Biological Son)
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Roberta Flack’s personal life is the claim that she had a son. Many believed that Bernard Wright, a funk and jazz musician who found success in the 1980s, was her child. The truth, however, is that Bernard was her beloved godson, not her biological son.
Born in 1963, Bernard was a musical prodigy who toured with Tom Browne before launching his own career with hits like Who Do You Love. Tragically, he passed away on May 19, 2022, at the age of 58 after being struck by a car in Dallas, Texas. Roberta mourned his loss publicly, sharing an emotional tribute: “Last night, my godson and former musical director, Bernard Wright, passed away suddenly. I loved Bernard very much and believed deeply in his talent. His loss is heartbreaking.”
While she never had children of her own, Flack found a deep sense of family in her extended network. She was particularly close to her niece, Rory Flack, a trailblazing figure skater who made history as the first African American woman to perform a backflip on ice in professional competition. Additionally, she had a unique connection to the Lennon family. For years, she lived in The Dakota, the famed New York apartment building where John Lennon and Yoko Ono also resided. Their son, Sean Lennon, fondly referred to her as “Aunt Roberta,” highlighting the warm and affectionate relationships she cultivated outside of her immediate family.
Flack’s dedication to nurturing young talent extended beyond her family ties. She was the founder of The Roberta Flack School of Music, an initiative aimed at providing free music education to underprivileged students in the Bronx, New York. She often spoke about her passion for teaching, a role she embraced before her music career took off. Even in her final years, she remained committed to education, ensuring that the next generation had access to the same opportunities that had shaped her own musical journey.
Her later years were marked by health struggles, beginning with a stroke in 2016 that affected her ability to perform. Then, in 2022, she revealed her diagnosis with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which ultimately led to her retirement from music. On February 24, 2025, Roberta Flack passed away at the age of 88. Initial reports stated that she died at home surrounded by family, but her manager later clarified that she suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital in Manhattan.
