LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning musician Roberta Flack, whose hits include Killing Me Softly With His Song (1973), has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and can no longer sing, her representatives said on Monday.

ALS, a progressive disease, “has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak”, a statement from Flack’s publicists said. “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”

A documentary about Flack’s life is set to debut at a film festival in New York next week. It will air on PBS television in the United States in January. The 85-year-old is also releasing a children’s book in January.

ALS breaks down nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that make muscles work, leading to progressive paralysis and death.

Flack suffered a stroke in 2016 and recovered from a bout of Covid-19 in January 2022.

She told People magazine in February she has major plans for the future despite the health setbacks.

“The pandemic has kept most of us off the stage for two years,” she said. “I don’t know what the next two years will hold, but I hope to see my fans in person some time soon.” 

Flack had several No. 1 hits in the 1970s and produced 20 studio albums. She has won four Grammys and was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2020.

The singer also was the first artiste to win two consecutive Record Of The Year trophies, in 1973 for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and in 1974 for Killing Me Softly With His Song. REUTERS