Singer Melanie Safka, who was best known for her massively popular singles Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), Brand New Key and the Rolling Stones cover Ruby Tuesday, has died.
The songwriter’s children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau-Jarred announced that she died on January 23 at the age of 76 — here’s a look into the life and death of the award-winning singer.
Who was Melanie Safka?
Melanie Safka was born Melanie Anne Safka on February 3, 1947, in Queens, New York, and grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. She made her first public appearance at age four, singing “Gimme a Little Kiss” on the radio show “Live Like A Millionaire.”
She began singing in Greenwich Village folk clubs while attending New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts and initially signed to Columbia Records in 1967.
Her debut single, “Beautiful People”, was a flop in America but a hit in the Netherlands. Melanie subsequently left Columbia Records and signed with Buddah Records. Her song “Bobo’s Party” was a #1 hit in France in 1969. Melanie also sang “Birthday of the Sun” at the Woodstock music festival in 1969.
In 1970 she had a Top 10 hit with “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).” A powerful cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday”, and “Peace Will Come (According to Plan)” likewise did well.
In 1971 she scored her greatest smash success with the cute, catchy and funny “Brand New Key”; the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts for three weeks, sold over three million copies, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Boogie Nights (1997) and has been covered by such artists as Deana Carter, Cher, Rasputina and The Dollyrots (the British comedy folk group The Wurzels had a 1976 #1 UK hit with a parody version of “Brand New Key” called “Combine Harvester”.)
The follow-up songs “Ring the Living Bell” and “The Nickel Song” were also successful. Melanie was awarded Billboard’s #1 Top Female Vocalist in 1972. She had her last Top 40 hit with “Bitter Bad” in 1973. She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for writing the lyrics to the song “The First Time I Loved Forever” for the TV series Beauty and the Beast (1987).
When did Melanie Safka die?
Melanie Safka died on January 23, 2024 at the age of 76. News of the death came from her publicity firm, Glass Onyon PR.
What was Melanie Safka’s cause of death?
No information on the cause of death was immediately given. But Melanie — full name Melanie Safka — had been in the studio earlier this month working on a new record of cover songs, “Second Hand Smoke,” for the Cleopatra label; it would have been her 32nd album, the label said.
Her three children, Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred, posted a message on Facebook, writing: “We are heartbroken, but want to thank each and every one of you for the affection you have for our Mother, and to tell you that she loved all of you so much! She was one of the most talented, strong and passionate women of the era and every word she wrote, every note she sang reflected that. Our world is much dimmer, the colors of a dreary, rainy Tennessee pale with her absence today, but we know that she is still here, smiling down on all of us, on all of you, from the stars.”
Her children asked that tonight (Jan. 24), at 10 p.m. CT, “each of you lights a candle in honor of Melanie. Raise, raise them high, high up again. Illuminate the darkness, and let us all be connected in remembrance of the extraordinary woman who was wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so very many people.”
In their Facebook statement, the singer’s three children said, “We are planning a Celebration of Life for Mom and it 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.”
Who was melanie safka married to?
Melanie Safka was married to Peter Schekeryk, a record producer, from 1968 to 2010. He died of a heart attack in 2010.
Almost all of her albums have been produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk.
They had three children together: Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred. They are all musicians and singers like their mother.
What was her 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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, Brand New Key and the Rolling Stones cover Ruby...
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