Singer-songwriter Melanie – born Melanie Safka in Queens, New York on February 3, 1947 - reached prominence in the early 70s with a string of hit songs within the folk, pop, and country genres. As a teenager, she started performing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village, which led to her first recording contract. Melanie had a hit with the 1969 song “Bobo’s Party,” which was a number 1 hit in France. She toured through Europe and received acclaim for her debut album, Born to Be (1968). Her second album Affectionately Melanie contained songs such as “Beautiful People” and “Johnny Boy.” In 1969, Melanie performed at the Woodstock Festival, which inspired her 1970 hit song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).” That same year, she also hit the charts with her cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and her own composition, “What Have They Done to My Song Ma.” All three of 1970 hits were included on Candles in the Rain, her most popular album. In 1971, she started her own record label, Neighborhood Records. This led to her biggest hit, the number 1 single “Brand New Key” in 1972. She continued to hit the charts with singles such as “Ring the Living Bell” (1972), “Bitter Bad” (1973), “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1973) and “Lover’s Cross” (1974), but she wasn’t able to maintain her commercial success and, by the late 1970s, she was no longer achieving chart success. However, Melanie continued recording and performing throughout the following decades, even earning an Emmy award for her contribution to the TV series Beauty and the Beast. She remained active in music, touring and recording internationally. In 2015, Melanie received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Artists Music Guild’s Heritage Awards. Melanie Safka died on January 23, 2024, less than two weeks before her 77th birthday. With a catalog that features over two dozen studio albums and nearly 60 singles, Melanie’s recorded legacy continues to be celebrated with reissues and compilations.
