“It wouldn’t be possible for us just to stand by and not participate,” Lauryn Hill said at a memorial service for Roberta Flack following the singer’s death in February
Lauryn Hill made an appearance at Roberta Flack’s memorial service, performing the late soul and R&B singer’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” accompanied by Stevie Wonder on harmonica and the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean.
Flack was honored at New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church on Monday afternoon, following the Grammy-winner’s death at age 88 in February. Over the course of the four-hour service, a number of Flack’s close friends, industry peers, and loved ones — including Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys, label executive Clive Davis, India.Arie Simpson, singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson, and actress Phylicia Rashad — paid tribute to the legendary singer.
Hill made a surprise appearance around three hours into the service, saying that although organizers didn’t ask the group to perform, “it wouldn’t be possible for us just to stand by and not participate in this home-going service for our beloved Ms. Roberta Flack.” She noted that they had just pulled together their impromptu performance in a back row of the church.
“Her existence was a form of resistance,” Hill said while holding back tears. “I adore Ms Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is legend.”
Hill performed “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song” — which won the Fugees a Grammy in 1997 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for their cover of Flack’s melancholic ballad.
Wonder accompanied the group on harmonica before performing “If It’s Magic” and “I Can See the Sun in Late December,’ which he wrote for Flack. “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.”
“I love you, Roberta. And I will see you,” Wonder added.
