She modified her repertoire accordingly and her reputation spread.Ī-list entertainers who were appearing in town would come in late at night to hear her sing (frequent visitors included Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Ramsey Lewis and others). Later, she performed several nights a week at the 1520 Club, again providing her own piano accompaniment.Īround this time, her voice teacher, Frederick Wilkie Wilkerson, told her that he saw a brighter future for her in pop music than in the classics. During this period, her music career began to take shape on evenings and weekends in Washington, D.C.Īt the Tivoli Club, she accompanied opera singers at the piano.ĭuring intermissions, she would sing blues, folk, and pop standards in a back room, accompanying herself on the piano. She also taught private piano lessons out of her home on Euclid St. She graduated from Howard University at 19 and began graduate studies in music, but the sudden death of her father forced her to take a job teaching music and English in Farmville, North Carolina. Her direction of a production of Aida received a standing ovation from the Howard University faculty.įlack is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and was made an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma by the Eta Delta Chapter at Howard University for her outstanding work in promoting music education. She eventually changed her major from piano to voice, and became an assistant conductor of the university choir. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Killing Me Softly with His Song, Feel Like Makin Love and Where Is the Love and The Closer I Get to You, two of her many duets with Donny Hathaway. Its parent album was Flacks biggest-selling disc, eventually earning double platinum certification. Provided to YouTube by Rhino Atlantic Be Real Black for Me Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporat.īe Real Black for Me Provided to YouTube by Rhino Atlantic Be Real Black for Me Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack Donny Hathaway 1972 Atlantic Recording Corporat.įlack, Atlantic Records: I Thank You Baby Just Another Reason with June Conquest as Donny Hathaway June Conquest, Curtom Records, 1971. Man, who cant relate to wanting that And to hear Flack and Hathaway, two of the finest singers of theirs or any generation (and genuine, loving friends, to boot) sing this song is a defiant, supremely funky revelation to behold.īe real whatever society says marks you as different, my friends. The notion that this part of you that society has said marks you as different or other, this aspect of you that evokes fear out of so many people, this thing that some believe should be the signifier of shame or is THIS that I love about you Be that. But this is an incredibly beautiful, moving love song for anyone willing to listen and consider the context in which it was made in 1972 (not that different from now, unfortunately).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |