Stevie Wonder & Lauryn Hill Perform At Roberta Flack Memorial Service
Flack, the beloved singer of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” died on February 24 at age 88.
By Andy Kahn Mar 11, 2025 • 7:01 am PDT
Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill were among those who honored Roberta Flack at her celebration of life service yesterday in New York City. Hill performed Flack’s signature songs “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and – with Wonder joining on harmonica – “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”
The celebration of life service led by Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson was held in Harlem at The Abyssinian Baptist Church. Rev. Al Sharpton also participated in the service.
Wonder followed Hill’s unexpected appearance by performing “If It’s Magic” accompanied by a harpist. Wonder then offered a solo piano take on a song he wrote for Flack, “I Can See The Sun In Late December.”
“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart,” Wonder said. “And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart.”
Additional performances included Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson singing “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” and Davell Crawford offering “Just When I Needed You.” The church’s choir was part of service as well.
Hill was accompanied by Wyclef Jean, her bandmate in the Fugees who scored a hit by covering “Killing Me Softly With His Song” on their 1996 album, The Score.
“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” Hill said during the service. “Roberta Flack is legend.”
View the full public celebration of life ceremony for Roberta Flack in the video below (Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder perform at the 02:46:15 mark):
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