OBERTA LACK
FOR ITSELF
LET HER MUSIC SPEAK
by bill biss
“Class—Class!” ”Johnny, I can see that iPod sticking out of your ear and Cynthia, quit your texting!
We have a very important speaker for this interview in The Rage Monthly. Those
of you who may be too young to remember, please review the syllabus—or if need be, just speak with your parents. This legendary singer only has a short while to visit, but in the history of popular
music, Ms. Roberta Flack has hit the musical bulls-eye every time. In my classroom, we don’t need to mention all of her achievements… of which there have been many.
Johnny, dial her up on your iPod after class and Cynthia, give me your cell phone—now!” “Pay attention!” As Ms. Roberta Flack shares her life experiences and her
motivation for interpreting several of The Beatles’ classic compositions on her lat- est, Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles, due out on February 7 and what she has in store for her upcoming concerts in Costa Mesa at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts from Thursday, February 9 through Saturday, February 11.
I’m really excited that you are releasing an interpretive col- lection of Beatles songs in February. Not as much as I am. (Laughter) I am excited.
What were some of your initial thoughts about doing this? Was it something you have wanted to do for some time? You know, I’ve been out here for a minute or two… needless to say and I’m grateful to be able to say that. In the process of making the transition from classi- cally trained pianist with an ambition to performing that kind of solo-piano music, Chopin, Brahms and folks like that, who I still love and adore. I made that transition to an opera restaurant in Georgetown. I’m just giving you a little quick overview here. When the Kennedys were in office… people used
to come to this opera restaurant. They would expect to hear arias from Aida and all of the popular operas. So, I cut my teeth on hearing people sing great songs and beautiful melodies. Though most of the words
for the songs; for the arias were in a language other than English… the meaning was so apparent. I got so involved. Then, one day, I was playing piano in the opera
restaurant during the Christmas holiday. The owner was very strict about it and he had people lined-up around Wisconsin Avenue, to come in for the second show. He said, “Listen. We’ve got to get these people out of here.” They served pasta and wine and stuff like that. I’m trying to make this short… but I can see myself seeing this place and I want to tell you the whole story. That’s quite alright. I wound up singing “The Christmas Song” with
the audience. The owner said, “Sing some Christmas songs.” When you sing Christmas music or something other than opera to a group of people who have been in there for almost two hours, drinking wine…
FEBRUARY 2012 | RAGE monthly 51
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