Stevie Wonder and Rev. Al Sharpton were among the speakers and performers Monday at Grammy-winning soul singer Roberta Flack’s public memorial service in Manhattan.
Flack, who died last month at the age of 88, became a star in the ’70s on the success of songs like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Lauryn Hill made a surprise appearances to sing covers of both songs. Hill and her band The Fugees won the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 1997 Grammy Awards for their cover of “Killing Me Softly.”
Former bandmate Wyclef Jean joined her in the performance, with Wonder accompanying on harmonica.
“Her existence was a form of resistance,” Hill said. “I adore Ms. Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is legend.”
The “Celebration of Life” memorial was live-streamed at www.RobertaFlack.com and on YouTube from The Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the U.S.
As a child, Flack began playing piano in the choir at the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia.
“Many of us are here today because she has touched not just our hearts but she also touched our souls,” Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson, the senior church pastor, said during the service.
Phylicia Rashad fondly remembered first seeing Flack perform when she was a student at Howard University.
“She wore [her genius] a loose fitting garment and lived her life attending to that which she cared for most: music, love and humanity,” Rashad said.
Wonder gave short speech before performing two songs during the service.
“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.
Wonder performed “If It’s Magic” and “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” a song he wrote for Flack.
“I love you, Roberta. And I will see you,” Wonder said after the second song.
Sharpton delivered the eulogy.
The singer “put a soundtrack to Black dignity,” Sharpton said.
“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.”
Berklee College of Music’s Nebulous String Quartet, Valerie Simpson and a choir also performed.