Who was Melanie Safka?
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk professionally known as Melanie or Melanie Safka, was an American singer-songwriter who died on January 23, 2024.
She is best known for the 1971–72 global hit “Brand New Key”, plus her 1970 version of “Ruby Tuesday”, which was originally written and recorded by the Rolling Stones.
Additionally her composition “What Have They Done to My Song Ma”, and her 1970 international breakthrough hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” (inspired by her experience of performing at the 1969 Woodstock music festival).
Melanie Safka cause of death
The songwriter’s children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau-Jarred announced that she died on January 23 at the age of 76.
‘Dear ones,’ they began, using a greeting that their mother often favored when writing to fans, ‘This is the hardest post for us to write, and there are so many things we want to say, first, and there’s no easy way except to say it… Mom passed, peacefully, out of this world and into the next on January 23rd, 2024.’
Her cause of death was not immediately released.
Melanie’s children praised her as ‘one of the most talented, strong and passionate women of the era,’ noting that ‘every word she wrote, every note she sang reflected that.’
They urged her fans to light a candle in honor of their mother on Wednesday, January 24, at 10 p.m. Central Time.
‘Our world is much dimmer, the colors of a dreary, rainy Tennessee pale with her absence today,’ they continued,’ but we know that she is still here, smiling down on all of us, on all of you, from the stars.’
Melanie Safka age
Melanie who died at the age of 76 was born and raised in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Her father, Frederick M. Safka (1924–2009), was of Ukrainian ancestry, and her mother, jazz singer Pauline “Polly” Altomare (1926–2003), was of Italian heritage.
Melanie made her first public singing appearance at age four on the radio show Live Like A Millionaire, performing the song “Gimme a Little Kiss”. She moved with her family to Long Branch, New Jersey, and attended Long Branch High School.
Bothered by being pegged by her classmates as a “beatnik” in school, she ran away to California and, after her return to New Jersey, transferred to Red Bank Regional High School in Red Bank, New Jersey; she graduated in 1964, though she was blocked from attending her commencement exercise due to an overdue library book.
In the 1960s, Melanie started performing at The Inkwell, a coffee house in the West End section of Long Branch. After high school, her parents insisted that she go to college, so she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she began singing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village, such as The Bitter End, and signed her first recording contract.
Melanie Safka husband
Melanie Safka was married to Peter Schekeryk, a record producer, from 1968 to 2010. He died of a heart attack in 2010.
Melanie Safka children
Melanie Safka had three children with her late husband Peter Schekeryk, who was a record producer. Their names are Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred. They are all musicians and singers like their mother.
Her children – Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred – shared that information about a celebration of life would be forthcoming. The event “will be open to all of you who want to come and celebrate her.
The details will be announced as soon as they are in place. We look forward to seeing you there,” the post reads.
Melanie Safka net worth
According to Idol net worth, Melanie Safka had an estimated net worth of $145 million, prior to her death.
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