Roberta Flack was a child piano prodigy
Clip: 1/24/2023 | 2m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Growing up, Roberta Flack was known as a piano prodigy who "could play anything."
Growing up, Roberta Flack was known as a musical prodigy who "could play anything" on the piano. She grew up in the church, where her mother was an organist, and started studying classical piano repertoire at just nine years old.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation,...
Support provided by:
Roberta Flack was a child piano prodigy
Clip: 1/24/2023 | 2m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Growing up, Roberta Flack was known as a musical prodigy who "could play anything" on the piano. She grew up in the church, where her mother was an organist, and started studying classical piano repertoire at just nine years old.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch American Masters
American Masters is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Buy Now
A front row seat to the creative process
How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Clint Eastwood loved "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
Video has Closed Captions
Clint Eastwood loved Roberta Flack's song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." (2m 42s)
How Roberta Flack created soul with "getting-togetherness"
Video has Closed Captions
Roberta Flack performed with all of that soulful "getting-toggetherness." (2m 43s)
The origin of Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song"
Video has Closed Captions
How Roberta Flack made "Killing Me Softly With His Song" her own. (2m 27s)
Video has Closed Captions
Discover music icon Roberta Flack’s rise to stardom and triumphs over racism and sexism. (35s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Support for American Masters is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation,...