Roberta Flack: A classically trained musician whose songs like “Killing Me Softly” are masterclasses in restraint and melodic beauty. Her sound is sophisticated and “hushed.”
Anita Baker: The architect of “Quiet Storm.” Her deep, contralto voice and jazzy phrasing on albums like Rapture redefined R&B for a more mature audience.
Comparison: Roberta Flack is the “architect” of the soulful pop ballad. Anita Baker is the “queen” of the sophisticated R&B groove. Both prioritized emotion over vocal gymnastics.