Legend Roberta Flack Announces Album of Beatles' Classics

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberta Flack, the four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, has long been known as an unparalleled musician who effortlessly inhabits the worlds of pop, soul, R&B, jazz and folk.  From her very first recording, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" which hit #1 in the U.S. across all charts, Flack has created strong emotional bonds with her listeners through her poignant musicality and unerring stylizations while also shining an uncompromising light onto the culture and politics of the times.  Back in the spotlight after performing a memorable duet with Maxwell at the 2010 Grammy Awards, Flack is putting the finishing touches on her new album—her first in over 8 years.  Newly signed to a partnership of 429 Records, Sony ATV Music Publishing and Flack's RAS Records, the album, which was produced by Sherrod Barnes, who has also produced Beyonce and Angie Stone, with contributing producers Jerry Barnes and Barry Miles, is slated for early February 2012 release worldwide (Sony Music will release the album in Japan).  A single from the collection will be released this month—her interpretation of "We Can Work It Out".  The single will be available worldwide September 27th exclusively at iTunes.

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Since bursting onto the scene in 1969 with the blockbuster album "First Take" (produced by the legendary Joel Dorn), she's followed her fiercely uncompromising lyrical and musical muses earning her a place alongside pioneering artists such as Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Nina Simone.  A multiple Grammy winner, she is the only artist along with U2 to win "Record of the Year" in consecutive years (for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly").  Although she's taken some time between recordings, she's never stopped performing having constantly toured worldwide.  Flack, a national treasure, gives her time freely to a host of charitable and humanitarian causes--among them, the ASPCA (spokesperson of the year for 2011) and the Roberta Flack School of Music in Bronx, NY (which she founded in 2006).

Says Roberta:  "My passion for this project comes from the magical genius of the greatest songwriters of all time.  Love, inspiration, friendship and my own life's lessons come together when I sing the songs they created.  I am honored to be a part of the fabulous legacy of the Beatles."

Says Steve Vining, President of 429 Records/Savoy Label Group: "It's rare that a record project has so much going for it—a legendary, Grammy Award-winning vocalist, the most recognized songs in our lifetimes, a gifted production team and the combined support of Sony/ATV, SLG/429 and our distribution partners world-wide.  We're honored Roberta and Danny have placed their faith in our team and we all are looking forward to spreading the word about this truly extraordinary recording."

Says Danny Strick, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing: "To hear Roberta Flack's unique interpretations of some of the most important songs in pop culture is wonderful.  We are very excited to be working with Steve Vining and the Savoy team as we expose these wonderful recordings to lovers of music around the world."

About 429 Records

429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG).  SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia, the oldest music company in Japan.  The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

About Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Sony/ATV Music Publishing was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and trusts formed by Michael Jackson.  Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers over 750,000 copyrights by such artists as The Beatles, Beck, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Fall Out Boy, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Linda Perry, Richie Sambora, Kraftwerk, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Hank Williams, KT Tunstall, and Diane Warren, among others.  Sony/ATV recently acquired both the Leiber Stoller and Famous catalogues.

SOURCE 429 Records