Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of our time, Roberta Flack remains unparalleled in her ability to tell a story through her music from pop to soul to folk to jazz. In 1972, a re-release of her song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” from her first LP, zoomed to number one and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year’s biggest hit. Ms. Flack followed with a string of hits, including “Where Is the Love” (a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway), “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, “Feel Like Makin’ Love”, “The Closer I Get to You”, “Tonight I Celebrate My Love”, and “Set the Night to Music.” She is joined for again for the first time in years by Peabo Bryson, and joined us for our 5GB before her show.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
Gig is a word used in the business to refer to a “job”. If your question is what is the first CONCERT I ever attended as a musician that had absolutely nothing to do with performance from me I would say a concert club performance featuring Miles Davis at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC in the 70’s.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
1985 Japan, outdoors, 25,000 people – this, however, is not a fair question as I am always striving to make each performance the best!
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
How do you see a gig?? The best performance I have seen, which involved myself, therefore, making it a “gig” for me was again in Japan when I performed with Miles Davis and the Jazz Messengers in an arena, 75,000 people! Miles was and IS worshiped as a musician in Japan.
What is the gig you would most like to play?
I am doing 3 dates at the Kennedy Center on October 25, 26, 27 with the National Symphony and I will performing songs from my new Beatles album, Let It Be Roberta, with the orchestra.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
I have already had the lineup! It included Luther Vandross (sang with me for 3 years as background vocalist), Marcus Miller (played bass those same 3 years), Phillip Hamilton (Guitar), Barry Miles and Shelton Becton (keyboards), and Pudge Tribbett (drums)..
Catch Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson, Friday June 22nd at Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
