Multi-Grammy award winner Roberta Flack has passed away at 88. Her approach and sound were a unique combination of soul, folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop and musicianship, and arranging skills so broad she had had a lasting impact on future artists. Her sustained career laid a foundation for pop and neo-soul artists Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Solange, J Dilla, Flying Lotus, and D’Angelo. This week our resident musicologist Dr Sheldon Rocha Leal pays tribute to Flack, looking back at her illustrious career.