Music Legend Roberta Flack Readies First Album in 8 Years

Roberta Flack, a four-time Grammy Award-winning artist and R&B icon, is putting the finishing touches on her first album in eight years, with a single from the collection “We Can Work It Out” debuting this week.

Flack is best known in pop, soul, R&B and jazz circles for her first song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which shot to the top of the charts as soon as it was released.

“My passion for this project comes from the magical genius of the greatest songwriters of all time,” Flack said in a statement.

“Love, inspiration, friendship and my own life’s lessons come together when I sing the songs they created. I am honored to be a part of the fabulous legacy of the Beatles.”

Flack has long been known as an unparalleled musician through her poignant musicality and unerring stylizations while also shining an uncompromising light onto the culture and politics of the times.

“To hear Roberta Flack’s unique interpretations of some of the most important songs in pop culture is wonderful,” said Danny Strick, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

“We are very excited to be working with Steve Vining and the Savoy team as we expose these wonderful recordings to lovers of music around the world.”

Flack stepped back into the spotlight performing a memorable duet with Maxwell at the 2010 Grammy Awards, which paved the way for her new album.

The collection, part of a new partnership with 429 Records, Sony ATV Music Publishing and Flack’s RAS Records, is being produced by Sherrod Barnes, who has also produced Beyonce and Angie Stone.

Flack’s 1969 blockbuster album First Take (produced by the legendary Joel Dorn) established her right off the bat as a defining voice in a talent-filled musical scene.

She’s ranks with Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Nina Simone for her distinctive voice and musical stylings.

She is the only artist along with U2 to win “Record of the Year” in consecutive years (for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly”).

Although she’s taken some time between recordings, she’s never stopped performing having constantly toured worldwide.

“It’s rare that a record project has so much going for it—a legendary, Grammy Award-winning vocalist, the most recognized songs in our lifetimes, a gifted production team and the combined support of Sony/ATV, SLG/429 and our distribution partners world-wide,” said Steve Vining, President of 429 Records/Savoy Label Group.

The album is set to debut in early February 2012 The single is available exclusively at iTunes.

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