American Masters

The origin of Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song"

Roberta Flack discovered Lori Lieberman's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" on a plane from L.A. to New York, and made it her own. "I was not limited to just taking the song off of the page of music," said Flack. After seeing the crowd reaction to her cover of the song while on tour with Quincy Jones, Jones convinced her to record it.

The origin of Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song"

2m 27s

  • Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future [ASL + OC]: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future [ASL + OC]

    13m 31s

    This version contains on-screen ASL interpretation and open captions. An African American composer and pianist known as one of the greatest musicians of the 19th century, Thomas Wiggins (1849-1908) was blind from birth and likely autistic. Although born into slavery, Wiggins was the first African American to perform at the White House, and toured throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe.

  • Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future [Extended Audio Description + OC]: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future [Extended Audio Description + OC]

    16m 54s

    This version contains extended audio description and open captions. An African American composer and pianist known as one of the greatest musicians of the 19th century, Thomas Wiggins (1849-1908) was blind from birth and likely autistic. Although born into slavery, Wiggins was the first African American to perform at the White House, and toured throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe.

  • Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Thomas Wiggins: Composing the Future

    13m 31s

    An African American composer and pianist known as one of the greatest musicians of the 19th century, Thomas Wiggins (1849-1908) was blind from birth and likely autistic. Although born into slavery, Wiggins was the first African American to perform at the White House, and toured throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe.

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