Latest news with #Fugees'
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder lead tributes to Robert Flack in memorial full of music and memories
The life of Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack was celebrated in a public memorial service that included performances by Stevie Wonder, and Lauryn Hill and Wycleff Jean of the Fugees. Flack, whose transformative covers of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' made her a global star in the Seventies, died last month aged 88. A statement from her representative said that she died at home on Monday morning (24 February) 'surrounded by her family', noting her role as a 'proud educator' as well as an artist who 'broke boundaries and records'. At her star-studded memorial service held at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York – one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the US – white and yellow bouquets adorned the venue while a screen played highlights from Flack's career. Later, it would broadcast music industry legends paying tribute to Flack, including Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India Arie and Alicia Keys. It was a fitting location, acknowledging how Flack was born to musical parents, including her mother, Irene, a church choir organist who introduced her to gospel from a young age. The programme featured a powerful quote from Flack that was repeated by many speakers during the service: 'Remember: always walk in the light,' Flack said. 'If you feel like you're not walking in it, go find it. Love the Light.' Former vice-president Kamala Harris sent a statement that was read aloud: 'Ms Flack broke down barriers, paved paths of opportunity, and fully embodied the words my mother often said to me, 'You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.' As an activist and Grammy-award winning singer, her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.' Lauryn Hill, who led the Fugees' gorgeous take on 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' in 1996, held back tears as she said Flack's existence was 'a form of resistance'. 'I adore Ms Roberta Flack,' she said. 'Roberta Flack is a legend.' She then proceeded to sing a cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', followed by 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' with Wyclef Jean, and Wonder accompanying on the harmonica. 'The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to see even better 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.' He performed his song 'If It's Magic' before taking a seat at the piano to sing a song he wrote for Flack, 'I Can See the Sun in Late December', accompanied by a harpist. 'I love you, Roberta, and I will see you,' he said at the end of the performance. Rev Al Sharpton, who gave the eulogy, said Flack put 'a soundtrack to Black dignity', as others observed that her musical genius stemmed from her ability to move seamlessly between soul, jazz, gospel and beyond. Flack demonstrated a rare ability to cross between genres with ease, whether on her tender cover of Ewan MacColl's ballad 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' or on the meltingly smooth 'Feel Like Makin' Love'. 'The reason we're here is because she made a difference,' Sharpton said. 'And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you, 'Don't just praise me, emulate me.''
Euronews
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
In Pictures: Roberta Flack's 'Celebration of Life' musical memorial
The incredibly moving service held at New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church featured musical performances and speeches. "Roberta Flack is legend," said a visibly moved Lauryn Hill. ADVERTISEMENT A public memorial service bursting with music, including planned performances by Stevie Wonder and a surprise one by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, celebrated the life and legacy of the Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack. Flack died last month aged 88 and is remembered for her ability to seamlessly move between soul, jazz and gospel, as evidenced by her transformative covers of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song'. The ceremony, 'Celebration of Life', was held Monday afternoon at New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church, a historic Harlem institution and one of the oldest Black Baptist churces in the US. It was open to the public and livestreamed on the late artist's website and on YouTube. American civil rights activist Al Sharpton gave the eulogy, saying that Flack "put a soundtrack to Black dignity,' adding: 'The reason we're here is because she made a difference. And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you, 'Don't just praise me, emulate me.'" 'Her existence was a form of resistance,' Lauryn Hill said in her speech, holding back tears. 'I adore Ms. Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is legend.' The Fugees did a masterful take on Flack's cover 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', which won the group a Grammy. Hill performed a cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' followed by 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' with the Fugees' Wyclef Jean — with Stevie Wonder joining in on harmonica. '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. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,' Wonder said. He performed his song 'If It's Magic', accompanied only by a harpist, before singing a song he wrote for Flack: 'I Can See the Sun in Late December'. Here are some pictures from the moving ceremony: 'Many of us are here today because she has touched not just our hearts but she also touched our souls,' said Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, the senior church pastor who led the service. Roberta Flack. 1937 - 2025. Rest In Peace.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder & Valerie Simpson Among Those Celebrating Roberta Flack's Legacy at Harlem Memorial
An unexpected appearance by Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean was just one of the many riveting moments at the celebration of life honoring the legendary Roberta Flack inside Harlem, New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church on Monday (March 10). Among the additional stars, executives, friends and family lifting up their voices in tribute to the pioneering singer-songwriter-musician-activist were Stevie Wonder, Valerie Simpson, Phylicia Rashad, Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys, Peabo Bryson and Clive Davis. Flack died on Feb. 24 at age 88. More from Billboard Forever No. 1: Roberta Flack's 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' See j-hope Cozy in Bunny Slippers for First Solo 'Tonight Show' Performance: Photos Selena Gomez Celebrates Benny Blanco's Birthday With Romantic Post: 'Damn Am I Glad You Were Born' Before segueing into a beautiful and measured take on the Flack classic 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' an emotional Hill sniffled her way through reflections about her late idol. 'We weren't formally asked to do this because I think they were a little shy in asking us to attend,' Hill began. 'So we kind of bum-rushed the service because it really wouldn't be possible for us to just stand by and not participate. 'The artistry of Ms. Roberta Flack was beyond trailblazing,' Hill continued in part. 'Like Nina Simone, she carved out for me a pathway of soulful Black intellectual sublime beauty that not only spoke to Black resistance directly in lyric and statement, but was Black resistance to racism, bigotry and limitations by virtue of its existence. … She didn't just write about the beauty; she was the beauty. She didn't just write about resistance; her existence was a form of resistance. She wrote our stories in forms the established authorities of the time could not deny; compositions wrapped with graceful classical forms and nuances that would not nor could not be dismissed. … I thank my parents for introducing me to her masterful music. Thank you to our Father in Heaven, to our God on high for blessing and enriching all of our lives with her presence and undeniable gifts. Roberta Flack is legend.' Met with resounding applause, cheers and a standing ovation inside the packed church, Hill and Jean — accompanied by a pianist and three backing vocalists — launched into a sing-along of the Fugees' hit reinterpretation of the Flack gem 'Killing Me Softly With His Song.' Adding an extra touch to the performance: Wonder standing in the church aisle playing the harmonica. Following next on the program, Wonder prefaced his musical contribution with insightful comments that touched on Flack's artistry as well as her commitment to activism. 'The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity in being able to see even better with your heart,' he shared. 'So I knew how beautiful Roberta was. I celebrate that because I see that so much of the world and yes, this nation too, must be blind at this point … and it breaks my heart. And Roberta, I want to just say to you in spirit, I thank you for letting me hear your voice, letting me know your spirit, letting me know your heart and letting me be able to share with you songs that I was writing.' One of those songs was 'If It's Magic.' Accompanied solely by a harpist, Wonder delivered a piercing take on the track, which is featured on his award-winning double album Songs in the Key of Life. Joined afterwards by the harpist and a conga player as he sat at the piano, Wonder performed a song that he wrote for Flack, 'I Can See the Sun.' Noted Wonder at the end, 'She spread love all over this world.' Songwriter Hall of Fame member Valerie Simpson (along with late husband Nick Ashford) also sat down at the piano for an improvised take on one of Ashford & Simpson's signature hits 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing,' in salute to Flack's artistic authenticity. Among the other memorable performances was famed backing vocalist Lisa Fischer's searing and soaring version of 'Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)' from West Side Story. Also sharing their reflections and memories were actress Phylicia Rashad, Flack's cousin Carol Flack, Flack's longtime manager/friend Suzanne Koga and family friend Santita Jackson. Jackson, a singer who once toured with Flack, said her father Rev. Jesse Jackson wanted her to remind attendees of one important fact: that Flack 'was the perfect blend of soul and science; she put her ego to the side and just sang the song. A pure genius.' Rounding out Flack's celebration of life were video clips featuring reflections from a diverse range of artists and industry personages such as Clive Davis ('There will never be another Roberta Flack'), Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Peabo Bryson, Dionne Warwick, Les McCann and Yoko Ono. Letters from former vp Kamala Harris and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. were read as well. Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy; presiding over the memorial service was Abyssinian Baptist Church's Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson. The celebration program also noted that donations in Flack's memory can be sent to the Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pras Voices Hope for Pardon From President Trump in Federal Fraud Case: ‘I Hope He Turn an Eye on Me'
Prakazrel 'Pras' Michel was found guilty in his 2023 federal fraud case, and he's looking for President Trump to grant him a pardon. The Fugees rapper is accused of participating in multimillion-dollar political conspiracies that have spanned the last two presidencies. More from Billboard Facing Decades in Prison, Fugees' Pras Michél Speaks Out in First Post-Conviction Interview: 'Never Wanted to Be a Spy' Tori Amos Has a New Children's Book: Here's How to Buy 'Tori and the Muses' Online After Years of Antisemitic Rhetoric, Ye Now Declares 'My New Sound Called Antisemitic' TMZ caught up with Pras earlier this week while riding around in his Lamborghini, and he looked to bring Trump's attention to his fraud case. 'It's not a secret we're working on a pardon. My team, we're hopeful we're gonna prevail,' he said. 'When you talk about lawfare and selective prosecution, [Trump and I] probably have that in common. The last Justice Department was probably a little bit egregious. That's what we have justice for. You just got to trust the process.' Pras continued with a message for Trump: 'All we can do is wish the best for him. We all gotta play our part… Obviously, I hope he turn an eye on me. Nonetheless though, it's only been 60-something days.' Prosecutors alleged that Pras was funneling money from a Malaysian financier through straw donors to Barack Obama's 2012 campaign and influence an extradition case involving China during the Trump administration. Pras was convicted in 2023 on 10 counts, including charges for conspiracy, witness tampering, concealment of material facts and not registering as an agent of a foreign power. He faces up to 22 years in prison and is awaiting sentencing. The 52-year-old also shined a spotlight on Tory Lanez's legal situation and called for the Canadian singer's freedom in his 2020 felony shooting case against Megan Thee Stallion. Pras hopes to see California Governor Gavin Newsom pardon Lanez in the future. 'Free Tory Lanez,' he said. Lanez was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in 2023. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Washington Post
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Legendary British funk band Cymande is back, with new stories to tell
Even if you think you've never heard Cymande's music, you almost certainly have. Maybe it was as key samples in De La Soul's 'Change in Speak' or the title track to the Fugees' album 'The Score.' Perhaps it was in Spike Lee's post-9/11 masterpiece '25th Hour,' or during a party scene in the acclaimed film 'The Worst Person in the World.'
