Melanie, renowned for “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” and a Woodstock performer in 1969, has passed away at 76, as disclosed by her children Lelilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred.
The musician, Melanie Safka, known for hits like “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” passed.
In a poignant Facebook announcement, Melanie’s children express the difficulty of sharing the news: “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 children express profound gratitude amid heartbreak: “We are heartbroken but want to thank 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.”
In their statement, Melanie’s children reflect on the somber impact of her absence: “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.”
No immediate details on the cause of Melanie’s death were provided, though Cleopatra referenced an “illness” in their statement.
Melanie’s children pay tribute to their mother, urging fans to honor her by lighting a candle at 10 PM CT on Wednesday.
Born on Feb. 3, 1947, in Astoria, New York, Melanie embarked on her singing career while also studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1967, a fateful encounter led her to her future manager, producer, and husband, Peter Schekeryk.
Following her signing with Columbia Records, Melanie released two singles, “Beautiful People” and “Garden in the City.” In 1968, she departed from Columbia Records, later joining Buddah Records. It was with Buddah Records that she released her debut LP, according to her most recent record label, Cleopatra.
At 22 years old, the singer, Melanie, delivered a memorable performance at Woodstock in the following year, sharing the stage with iconic artists like Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead.
In 2019, Melanie shared with the Associated Press, “The terror kept building in me. The thought of me performing in front of all of those people and that huge stage — I was all by myself. Then it started to rain, and I truly believed that everyone was going to get up and go home. It’s raining, I’m free, I’ll go back to life as it was. Maybe I will be an archaeologist; maybe I will join the Peace Corps. That’s when they said, ‘You’re next.’”
In 1971, Melanie earned the title of the year’s biggest-selling female artist in the U.S. according to Billboard. Her chart-topping success followed the release of several hits, including “Lay Down” and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.”
Following her success, Melanie took charge by forming her record label, Neighborhood Records. Under this label, she achieved another chart-topping milestone with the release of her single “Brand New Key.”
Before her passing, Melanie was actively engaged in her musical craft, working on her 32nd album. Titled “Second Hand Smoke,” the tribute album featured renditions of songs like Morrissey’s “Ouija Board Ouija Board,” Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” Radiohead’s “Creep,” and more.
In collaboration with the Cleopatra label, Melanie was actively involved in reissuing her albums from the period after she departed Buddah in 1971. The reissue campaign was set to commence with her 1984 live album, “One Night Only.” Posthumously, Melanie’s three children will oversee the project’s execution.
