One of only three female performers at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, Melanie Safka went on to record over 28 studio albums in her long career and was reported working on a new album at the time of her death…
OBITUARY By Ian Woolley
Her three children released the news of their mother’s death on social media saying “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″.
Melanie in 1975
“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, and every note she sang reflected that. Our world is much dimmer, the colours 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.”
Melanie
She was only 22 when she appeared at Woodstock along with Janis Joplin and Joan Baez, amongst an all-male line-up. Inspired by the crowd waving candles during her performance, she wrote “Laydown (Candles In The Rain)”. She later performed at the Isle Of White Festival.
Although many of her own penned songs have been covered by other artists like the Wurzels and New Seekers, it was her interpretation of the Rolling Stones song “Ruby Tuesday” which helped her gain worldwide attention. It became her first UK chart hit when it made the top 10, as did her debut album “Candles In The Rain”.
A versatile writer of songs, she also interpreted children’s songs, including “Alexander Beetle” and “Christopher Robin”.
A free spirit who sang with raw emotion, she rebelled against record companies by founding her first record label, which was unique at the time. She also defied court orders to perform at the 1970 Powder Ridge Rock Festival a year after Woodstock. Better known as the Roller Skating Song, the catchy “A Brand New Key” went on to top the US Billboard charts. She also disregarded radio bans on her big hit “Brand New Key” due to supposed ‘suggestive’ lyrics which she always denied. The song had a second run in 1997 when it was featured in the film Boogie Nights.
Melanie was Jane’s cuppa guest in the Beat
Melanie was one of Jane Quinn’s cuppa guests in the Beat
She was 76 at the time of her death and lived in Nashville, Tennessee and leaves behind three children who have all followed their mother into the music business.