Roberta Flack

Killing Me Softly

First released1973

Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song" was recorded in 1973 and became one of her signature songs, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The track was produced by Jerry Ragavoy and Lita Stithian, with arrangements by Arif Mardin, who was known for his sophisticated orchestral approach at Atlantic Records. The song featured a lush string arrangement and Flack's intimate vocal performance, recorded at Atlantic Records' studios in New York. The production exemplified the sophisticated soul sound of the early 1970s, blending jazz elements with pop sensibility. The song's success helped establish Flack as a major artist and became a standard in popular music, winning Grammy Awards including Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.