The Late Roberta Flack Sang “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” on ‘Guiding Light’

Michael Maloney February 24, 1:27 pm

Singer and songwriter Roberta Flack is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance on May 15, 1993. — John Atashian/Getty Images

Roberta Flack, best known for her chart-topping, Grammy-winning 1973 hit “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” died today, February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. The prolific singer made a number of appearances through the years — and in 1992, she played herself on the longest-running soap opera in history.

When the characters Hampton “Hamp” Speakes (Vince Williams) and Gillian “Gilly” Grant (Amelia Marshall) got married on Guiding Light on May 1, 1992, the show invited singer Flack to appear on the program. Flack, playing herself, attended the wedding reception, which was held at the Springfield Country Club, home to many of the show’s galas over the decades.

“My wife and I would like to share something with you that’s very special,” Hamp announced to his and Gilly’s many guests. “First of all, we appreciate you all being here. We’re going to dance our first dance together as a married couple to a song sung by our favorite singer, Miss Roberta Flack.”

“Thank you so much,” Flack said as she asked the bride, almost rhetorically, “What would you like to hear?”

“Anything,” Gilly warmly responded, but a smiling Flack knew that there was only one tune that was truly appropriate for the day that Gilly and Hamp’s love was being celebrated.

“I know what you want to hear and no, I never get tired of singing it,” Flack said, still smiling.

“May I have this dance, Mrs. Speakes?” Hamp asked his wife. The bride replied, “Yes, you may,” and Flack began to sing.

Flack had another important connection to GL in terms of music. She and Bill Chinnock, a singer/songwriter/composer, performed the duet “Hold On To Love.” A lyric-less version of the song was used as the show’s closing theme and a version with lyrics was used on the program over a montage of some of the show’s love stories.

Williams passed away from colon cancer in 1997 at the age of 39. Marshall left GL in 1996 and went on to appear on All My Children, Passions, and The Bay.