The origin of Flack's hit 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' | Roberta Flack | American Masters | PBS

Roberta Flack discovered Lori Lieberman's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" on a plane from L.A. to New York, and made it her own. "I was not limited to just taking the song off of the page of music," said Flack. After seeing the crowd reaction to her cover of the song while on tour with Quincy Jones, Jones convinced her to record it.

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Now in its 37th season on PBS, American Masters was recently nominated for an IDA Award and a Critics Choice Documentary Award. The series illuminates the lives and creative journeys of those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape—through compelling, unvarnished and impactful stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim and 28 Emmy Awards—including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special—14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast American Masters: Creative Spark, educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.

[aultraman]

A beautiful song. With all due respect to Lori Lieberman, I think Roberta Flack put it in a different level. It's like...she turbo charged it.

[-relentlessxchaos-]

That's a super interesting fact to learn. I remember hearing Lauryen Hill do a version for the Fugees "The Score" when I was a kid in the 90's (absolutely 10/10 album worth a listen, one of my all time favorites).

[musiclover-cntb]

Beautiful the book supreme sirens paid her some dues she's amazing.

[mrjacksonSEDC]

Mr. Henry's on Penn Ave in SE, DC sent me here

[rustybearden]

Why have I heard (or possibly misunderstood) an urban legend about this song as being inspired by a performance by Don McLean? Don't know where or when this urban legend backstory originated but I've always remember that. Absolutely lovely song and another example of a singer/performer finding a song written by someone else and making it their own via a magical rendition.

[JUSAGUYNKY]

I have always thought KMS was an RF original 🤷🏼‍♂️

[lightuponlight]

A legendary song sung by an icon. Roberta Flack