Melanie (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie
Melanie in 1975
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Anne Safka
Born	(1947-02-03)February 3, 1947 New York City, U.S.
Died	January 23, 2024(2024-01-23) (aged 76)
Genres	Folk pop country
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1967–2024
Labels	Buddah Records Neighborhood Records Atlantic

Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947 – died January 23, 2024), known professionally as Melanie or Melanie Safka, was an American singer and songwriter. She became famous for her hit songs and unique voice.

Some of her most well-known songs include "Brand New Key" (a global hit in 1971–72), her version of "Ruby Tuesday" (originally by the Rolling Stones), and her own song "What Have They Done to My Song Ma". She also had a big international hit in 1970 with "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", which was inspired by her performance at the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

Early Life and Beginnings

Melanie was born and grew up in Astoria, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City. Her father, Frederick M. Safka, had Ukrainian family roots. Her mother, Pauline "Polly" Altomare, was a jazz singer with Italian heritage.

Melanie first sang in public when she was only four years old. She performed on a radio show called Live Like A Millionaire. Later, her family moved to Long Branch, New Jersey. She went to Long Branch High School and then Red Bank High School, graduating in 1964.

Starting Her Music Journey

In the 1960s, Melanie began performing at a coffee house called The Inkwell in Long Branch. After high school, her parents wanted her to go to college. She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. While there, she started singing in folk clubs in Greenwich Village, like The Bitter End. This is where she signed her first music contract.

She first signed with Columbia Records in the United States. Later, she joined Buddah Records. She found success in Europe in 1969 with her song "Bobo's Party," which became a number one hit in France. Her first album received good reviews, with Billboard magazine praising her voice.

Melanie's Rise to Fame

In 1969, Melanie had another hit song in the Netherlands called "Beautiful People." She was one of only three solo women who performed at the famous Woodstock festival in 1969. Her experience at Woodstock, where the audience lit candles during her performance, inspired her first big hit song, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)".

This song became a hit in many countries, including Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States in 1970. "Lay Down" was Melanie's first top ten hit in America, reaching number 6 on the Billboard singles chart. Other popular songs from this time included "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and her cover of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday".

Festival Performances

Melanie was known for her performances at major music festivals. In 1970, she played for a crowd at the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, even though it was officially canceled. She performed on a stage powered by Mister Softee ice cream trucks!

She also performed at the Strawberry Fields Festival in Canada and the Isle of Wight Festival in England in 1970. At the Isle of Wight, she received four standing ovations. In June 1971, she sang to welcome the summer solstice at Glastonbury Fayre (now the Glastonbury Festival) in England. She returned to perform at Glastonbury again in 2011.

Creating Her Own Label and Big Hits

Melanie decided to leave Buddah Records because they wanted her to make albums too quickly. In 1971, she started her own record label called Neighborhood Records. She created it with her husband and producer, Peter Schekeryk.

Her biggest American hit came from her own label: the fun song "Brand New Key" in 1972. This song is often called "The Roller Skate Song." "Brand New Key" sold over three million copies worldwide and was even featured in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.

After "Brand New Key," her next single was "Ring the Living Bell." At the same time, her old record company released "The Nickel Song," which she had recorded earlier. Both songs became top-40 hits while "Brand New Key" was still popular. This made Melanie the first female artist to have three top-40 hits at the same time!

In 1972, Billboard magazine named her the No. 1 Top Female Vocalist. She received two gold albums and a gold single for "Brand New Key." Melanie also became an official UNICEF ambassador in 1972, helping to raise money for the organization.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1976, Melanie released an album called Photograph with Atlantic Records. The New York Times praised it as one of the best albums of the year.

Writing and Awards

In 1983, Melanie wrote the music and lyrics for a musical called Ace of Diamonds. It was based on letters written by the famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

In 1989, Melanie won an Emmy Award! She won it for writing the lyrics to "The First Time I Loved Forever," which was the theme song for the TV series Beauty and the Beast.

Her husband, Peter Schekeryk, produced most of her albums. He passed away suddenly in 2010. Melanie's three children, Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau-Jarred, are also musicians. Beau-Jarred is a guitarist and often played with his mother on tour.

Recent Years

One of Melanie's later albums, Paled By Dimmer Light (2004), was co-produced by her husband and son. In 2007, Melanie performed at the Meltdown Festival in London. Her sold-out show received great reviews. The concert was filmed for a DVD called Melanie: For One Night Only.

In 2012, Melanie was a main performer at the 15th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, celebrating the life and music of Woody Guthrie. Also in 2012, Melanie worked on a musical about her love story with her husband, Peter, called Melanie and the Record Man. She performed in the musical and was the narrator.

In 2014, she toured Australia for the first time since 1977. In April 2015, Melanie was honored and inducted into her old high school's "Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame." She also received the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2015.

On New Year's Eve 2019, she performed on the BBC show Jools' Annual Hootenanny. At the time of her death in 2024, Melanie was working on a new album called Second Hand Smoke.

Personal Life

Melanie married record producer Peter Schekeryk in 1968. They had three children: daughters Leilah (born 1973) and Jeordie (born 1975), and son Beau Jarred (born 1980). When Leilah and Jeordie were young, they even released a song called "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" that was popular in Canada. Peter passed away in 2010.

Melanie lived in the Nashville, Tennessee area. She died on January 23, 2024, at the age of 76.

Discography

Images for kids

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  Melanie on the cover of Cash Box, July 11, 1970

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  Melanie on the "Mr Softee" free stage, August 1, 1970

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  Billboard advertisement, October 23, 1971

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  Melanie performing in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Melanie Safka para niños