SAT., DECEMBER 13, 1980 THE CAROLINA TIMES -9
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Wonder's New Look
Roberta & Bryson Musical Marriage A Perfect Blend
usually it's said that ideal
marriages are made in
Heaven, but Roberta Flack
and Peabo Bryson are an ex
ample of a perfect ' blend of
beautiful music made in a
recording studio.
Not since she was teamed
with the late Donny Hathaway
has Roberta established a
flawless singing rapport with
another male vocalist. And
with the release recently of
their two record album on
Atlantic records, "Live And
More," critics and fans expect
it to be one of the year's best
sellers The consummate artist
supreme singer, songwriter,
musician, producer and ar
ranger, Flack's musical stature
has approaihedCthe peak of
her career.
Going into the studio in
1969 to record her first LP,
"First Time," she's since been
the recipient of thirteen gold
records, the last being
"Roberta Flack Featuring
Donny Hathaway."
When Bryson appeared on
her concert tour early this year
as a feature artist, audiences
gave them standing ovations
when they performed as a duo.
The success of their
"togetherness" resulted in the
demand for their present LP.
On the album they col
laborated on "Only Heaven
Can Wait," "You Are My
Heaven," "Make The World
Stand Still," "Back Together
Again" and three others.
Roberta solos on three tunes
and Peabo on four of his own
compositions.
Described as a laid back
singer, Roberta brings an elec
trifying excitement to her au
diences. Sitting quietly at the
Steinway, or standing at the
mike, she gives a unique inter
pretation to lyrics that few
vocalists have mastered.
Now enjoying a super
reputation, Flack's musical in
terest gripped her when she
took up piano lessons aHathe
age of nine. Enrolled in
Howard University at fifteen
on a music scholarship, she
later upon graduation became
a teacher in a small Farmville
N.C. schoolhouse.
Returning to the nation's
capital in 1963, she gravitated
to the nightclub circuit, all the
while building a name for
herself as a performer worth
listening to. Her stardom real
ly started to rise when Les Mc
Cann entered the club one
night and was mesmerized by
her artistry at the piano and
with the words that poured
from her lips.
Brought to the attention of
officials at Atlantic Records,
she turned up for an audition
prepared to sing 600 songs she
learned. Finally the session
was narrowed to 35 songs, out
of which eight were chosen for
her first album. Of these the
big hit was "First Time I Saw
Your Face."
Probably the only artist to
be honored twice in
Washington, D.C. with a day
in her honor, she also garnered
awards from women's
organizations for her involve
ment in causes dedicated to the
imporvement of life for the
less fortunate.
Past the stage of being
merely a singer, Roberta is a
musical conveyer of joy,
sadness and beauty. Her songs
are memories that listeners
treasure long after she's left
the stage.t
History in time will measure
the true greatness of this one
'time schoolmarm. Just as
there can never be a painting
to rival the Mona Lisa nor a
baseball player to duplicate
Jackie Robinson's feat on the
baseball diamond, future
historians will no doubt say
that Roberta Flack stands une
qualled in her art.