The recent passing of the legendary Roberta Flack evoked pleasant memories from Los Angeles resident Bette Braxton, who served many years as road manager for the talented performer known worldwide for the many classics including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly,” and “Where Is the Love.”
According to Braxton, her time with the musical prodigy was filled with fun and excitement along with hard work and surprises.
Reflecting on that period in the 1970s, Braxton said the celebrity world “was very interesting” and as Flack’s first road manager, Braxton said, “We both learned the road together.”
Braxton described Flack as “a nice lady. Like any artist, she had her moments, but basically, she was very nice. She liked people and she loved animals.”
“She was a pioneer,” noted her daughter, Aleta Braxton, who is a professional opera singer. “[Roberta] had that nice folksy voice that touched everybody, and she was an amazing musician. She owned a piano – a German import – and instead of 88 keys, it had an extra five keys on either side.”
The job was Braxton’s first time as a road manager. Previously, she served as a real estate professional where she segued into business development. In fact, Braxton was likely the first female in Los Angeles – Black or white – to hold this position.
Her introduction to Flack was rather happenstance since Braxton was already employed and not seeking another job. But when a mutual friend introduced her to Flack and Flack asked her to be her road manager, Braxton decided to accept it and looking back, she’s very glad that she did.
“The road manager makes sure that you get where you’re supposed to be with everything you’re supposed to have. I remember I travelled to [Washington] DC and Roberta came in with a purse with the zipper broken and with $5,000 in cash in it. I said, ‘Yeah, you need help.’ That was my beginning with her,” Braxton shared with a laugh.
“From there, we went to get her a visa and the next day, we were on a plane to Africa with Ike & Tina Turner, The Staples Singers, Voices of East Harlem, Les McCann, Wilson Pickett, and Santana with Willie Bobo.”
Listing another responsibility of her job, Braxton said, “You also make sure everyone gets paid. One time when Roberta did the Newport Jazz Festival, that night [people] rioted, so it was a big hassle. I had to walk across a big baseball field with $5,000 in cash. It was not easy!
“They rioted the next night too. So, when I got back to the office in New York, they assumed the money was gone. But I said, ‘I got the cash.’”
While she can recall many noteworthy occasions during her travels with Flack such as touring two summers with Quincy Jones, a most memorable moment was an encounter with Muhammad Ali. Braxton had accompanied Flack to “The Flip Wilson Show” to pick up an outfit made by Wilson’s dressmaker and the great boxer was a guest on the program.
“When we went to pick it up, Muhammad Ali was on the set,” Braxton recalled. “When he saw Roberta, he grabbed her and took her back on the set and said, ‘This is the greatest singer in the world!’”
Another remarkable incident took place after Braxton missed Aleta’s high school graduation because she was in Switzerland with Flack.
Supporting her mother’s decision to travel with Flack, Aleta said at the time, “Oh mom, you’re only going to say [at the graduation], ‘Yay! She made it! So, go to Switzerland.”
When Braxton told Flack about her daughter’s response, Flack said, “I’m going to do something special for her.” Something special turned out to be a 6’4” Steinway piano that was delivered with a red ribbon on it.
But Flack wasn’t all about performing only, said Braxton. The musician was also determined to expose more children to the arts. To implement her vision, she established the Roberta Flack Foundation in 2012 to provide music education for children in underserved cities. The organization still exists and accepts donations at robertflackfoundation.org.
After her career with Roberta Flack, Braxton went on to work with jazz pianist Richard Tee and they started a music publishing company together.
“I did a lot of traveling with Richard because he worked with Lena Horne, Paul Simon, Joe Crocker, and Aretha Franklin.”
Although she’s now retired, Braxton still remembers the job and advised people aspiring to the position, “Have lots of stamina, patience and get a lot of sleep when you can. Also have diplomacy, flexibility, and smile a lot!”
