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| Queensland Orchestra Announces Legendary Soul Diva Roberta The Queensland Orchestra presents Roberta Flack, this generation's legendary voice of jazz and soul, in a once-only stand-out performance, Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall. 'Roberta Flack is the voice of a generation, ' Managing Director of The Queensland Orchestra, Michael P. Smith said. 'Her haunting ballads Killing Me Softly, Feel Like Makin' Love, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Where Is the Love have become anthems and in February she will perform onstage with The Queensland Orchestra in a highlight concert for Season 2009.' Roberta Flack in Concert with The Queensland Orchestra was one of two extraordinary orchestral specials announced today at the launch of TQO's Season 2009; the second featuring one of the world's greatest tenors, Jose Carreras in Concert with The Queensland Orchestra. Mr Smith said the Roberta Flack concert would be one of our most anticipated artistic highlights for TQO's 2009 line up. 'I can think of no better way to welcome in the new year and to start our 2009 season, ' he said. 'Roberta Flack has immense appeal, not only to the baby boomers and traditional jazz and orchestral music lovers, but anyone who listens to hip-hop or R&B knows her influence is as strong today as it ever was. 'The mesmerizing and hypnotic ballad Killing Me Softly for example was beautifully resurrected by Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. Then there was Jesse, another powerful song that was unforgettably sampled by Puff Daddy.' Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Ms. Flack received a music scholarship at 15-years-old to attend Howard University. After several years as a high school English teacher, she was discovered while singing at a Washington, DC club by jazz musician Les McCann. She was signed to Atlantic Records and went on to create musical history. In 1972, a re-release of her song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, from her first LP, zoomed to number one and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year's biggest hit. What followed was a string of hits, including Where Is the Love (a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway), Killing Me Softly With His Song, Feel Like Makin' Love, The Closer I Get to You, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, and Set the Night to Music. In 1999, she received a Star on Hollywood?s legendary Walk of Fame. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |