Melanie Safka
| Melanie Safka | |
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| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | February 3, 1947 New York City, New York |
| Death: | January 23, 2024 (aged 76) |
| Occupation: | Singer-Songwriter |
| Residence: | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Media | |
| Website: | https://www.melaniesafka.com/ |
| Facebook: | |
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| YouTube: | YouTube |
Melanie Safka (born Melanie Anne Safka Schekeryk; February 3, 1947 – January 23, 2024) was an American singer-songwriter known for her performance at Woodstock and her hits like “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. Safka was a prominent figure in the music industry, recognized for her unique voice and her influence on the folk and psychedelic music scenes.
Early Life and Career
Safka 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's first public performance was of the song "Gimme a Little Kiss" on the radio show Live Like A Millionaire at the age of four. She moved with her family to Long Branch, New Jersey, where she attended Long Branch High School, and later moved to Red Bank, New Jersey to attend Red Bank High School.
Her musical career took off after her memorable performance at Woodstock in 1969. Safka released two singles with Columbia Records and later signed with Buddah Records, where she had her first European chart success with "Bobo's Party" in 1969. She founded her own label, Neighborhood Records, with her husband, Peter Schekeryk, under which she released “Brand New Key,” a song that topped the charts and became widely known as “The Roller Skate Song.”
Personal Life
Safka married record producer Peter Schekeryk in 1968, and they had three children: daughters Leilah and Jeordie, and son Beau-Jarred. The family resided in Nashville, Tennessee. Safka was actively involved in her music career until her last days, working on her 32nd album, “Second Hand Smoke,” prior to her passing in January 2024.
Safka's influence on music and culture was profound. Her songs often carried messages of freedom and peace, resonating with the counterculture of her time. On the night of her passing, her children requested that fans light candles in her memory, reflecting the impact of her song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” which was inspired by her Woodstock experience.