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Melanie, Singer Who Performed at Woodstock and Topped Charts With 'Brand New Key,' Dies at 76
Had the pleasure of interviewing her once. She was an absolute delight to talk to . RIP....
Melanie, the singer who performed at Woodstock in 1969 and had major pop hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” in the early ’70s, died Tuesday at age 76. News of the death came from her publicity firm, Glass Onyon PR.
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.”
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.”
https://variety.com/2024/music/obituaries-people-news/melanie-dead-brand-new-key-singer-woodstock-1235886892/#recipient_hashed=343cd82b65085ef1666aa5d5e417dc33ae72e7edfab338feb9bf59e12dc0fa95&recipient_salt=35d10431c80f1d5601e6507a49aa52751280eac4349ec99063d09bab33090930
&pp=ygUTY2FuZGxlcyBpbiB0aGUgcmFpbg%3D%3D
35 replies
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Convention Center - August, 1971
Candles in the Rain
Another great gone.
Godspeed, Melanie!
I'm very sorry to hear it. She was one of the greats.
She did a cover of "All Along The Watch Tower" that absolutely Blew. Me. Away! I heard it on satellite radio once, and well, my jaw hit the floor. I haven't heard it since, and I cannot find it on the internet ANYWHERE. I thought no one could ever match Hendrix's version, but she came Damn Close. I would love to hear it again.
Yeah, her roller-skate song was kinda campy, but she was a hellaciously talented musician, and her music will be missed. RIP, Melanie.
July of 1974.
R.I.P. Melanie
Lay down went right into my bones when I was younger. Incredibly authentic.
Brand New Key hit #1 on the BB Hot 100.
May she RIP.