♫Her Songs Tell a Story♫

Songs have a way of "hitting home" so to speak. That is why each of us has favorites...those that bring on the memories, warming the heart, piercing the soul, even some that best not be heard again for they bring on the tears. Many of these step back decades when melodies were recognized and hummed on a regular basis with most of the words to each song being sung right along, right in tune. Sometimes the song seemed like it was written and being sung just for you!

Today in Music History: March 15, 1973

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1939)

Roberta Flack one of the greatest songstresses of our time unparalleled in her ability to tell a story through her music

Roberta Flack is an American singer and musician. At the early age of 9, she became interested in the piano and by her early teens excelled at classical piano, so much so Howard University awarded her a full music scholarship. She enrolled in the university at age 15 being one of the youngest students to enter. From her early career through the 70s and 80s well into the 90s, she made a unique name for herself in the music industry. In 1999, a star with Flack's name was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is the only solo artist to have won the Grammy Award for Record of the year two consecutive times. In 1973, the Grammy was awarded for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and in 1974, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" won the Grammy. 

Her songs bring insight into our lives, loves, culture and politics, while effortlessly traversing a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz.[Source: Roberta Flack Biography]

1973 Roberta Flack was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' and Elton John had the No.1 album with 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player'.

And on this day, all in the same year...

1975 Led Zeppelin went to No.1 on the UK chart with the double album Physical Graffiti the first on their own 'Swan Song' label, the album spent six weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

1975 Olivia Newton-John went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Have You Ever Been Mellow', the singers second US No.1.

1975 The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Black Water', the group's first of two US No.1's.

 

1969 Janis Joplin was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents, (2/6). The magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, the first issue of November 9, 1967 was in newspaper format with a lead article on the Monterey Pop Festival.

 

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...