A friend tipped me to this delightful story and suggested it as a blog entry: sometime in the late 60s, early 70s, a young singer by the name of Lori Lieberman saw Don McClean perform the song “Empty Chairs” live. She was so moved by the experience that she wrote a poem called “Killing Me Softly with His Blues.” Songwriters Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel composed “Killing Me Softly with His Song” around her poem with Lieberman in mind. She released the song on her 1971 debut album of the same name. The single had very little success until it was covered by the singer Roberta Flack.
Roberta Flack is virtuosic performer and one that I’ve enjoyed since childhood. I had the honor of attending a concert of hers in early 2009 and meeting her afterwards. She’s a class act. Regardless, the Grammy-winning “Killing Me Softly” is probably her greatest contribution to the world, and she takes the prize as having the definitive version. Ms. Flack commented at the concert that she really likes Lauryn Hill’s version.
Roberta Flack: I was unable to find a video of the studio version that wasn’t skank. But this live version is enchanting as well :)
The Fugees
The original:
The song that started it all: “Empty Chairs” by Don McLean
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