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Roberta Flack can NO LONGER SING after ALS diagnosis, fans say it's 'unfathomably cruel'

'Thank you Roberta and all of us are behind you. You got this,' said a fan

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: R&B singer Roberta Flack has some disappointing and pressing news for her fans. The iconic singer, prominently known for her works in the '70s and '80s, has just announced on Monday, November, 14, that she has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and can no longer sing, concerning the fans. The news also comes right before the premiere of a documentary about her life called 'Roberta'. 

The 85-year-old singer is currently battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and according to her manager, the situation is bleak as she cannot even sing. Flack’s manager, Suzanne Koga, explained that the disease "has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak, but it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon." The four-time Grammy winner and the singer of evergreen songs like 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' and 'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' will now "stay active in her musical and creative pursuits" through her eponymous foundation and other avenues. Back in 2016, the singer suffered a stroke as well. The disappointing news sent a wave of concern among the fans. 

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'You can't think of 1970s R & B without saying Roberta's name'

One concerned fan tweeted, "The universe is indifferent to us, but can still feel so unfathomably cruel in situations like this." Another fan remembered their first time hearing Flack and shared the experience, "A Legend. The first time, I ever heard Roberta Flack sing this song, I felt my heart tremble like the heart of a captured bird … she has made our world a better place and that will never change. …" 

One disappointed and concerned fan wrote, "Ms Flack will always be my first love… what a beautiful lady, artist, icon, and voice that captured and moved a generation. To this day, Killing Me Softly is my favorite" Another user said, "My heart is broken! "First Take" was like no other album my Harlem teen self had ever heard and immediately went on rotation. "I loved you in the morning our kisses sweet and warm." All her music from then on was sung solely to me."

One fan congratulated Flack on her journey and wrote, "I've loved Roberta Flack's masterpieces for so many years. This is such heartbreaking news. Overjoyed that she enjoyed great success!" Another fan tweeted, "Prayers up for Roberta Flack. While she can't sing anymore due to ALS she has given us enough great songs to last a lifetime... You can't think of 1970s R & B without saying Roberta's name. Thank you Roberta and all of us are behind you. You got this"

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