Death is an unfortunate part of life that, as humans, we must accept. The death of an entertainer that we admired can always cause heartbreak as well. Just because we did not know them personally does not mean that it won’t affect us.
Keep reading to know about the death of Melanie, a singer that many loved and admired.
Folk singer Melanie, who gained fame by playing at Woodstock in 1969 has passed away at the age of 76 years old. The news of her death was reported by her PR agency, Glass Onyon PR. Perhaps her most famous song was “Brand New Key.”
Melanie, whose full name was Melanie Safka had been active in the music scene just earlier this month. The cause of her death has not been revealed as yet. She was working on her latest project, Second Hand Smoke, an album set to be released by Cleopatra Label. The label confirmed that this would have been her 32nd album.
She is survived by her three children Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred. They shared their emotions on Facebook. The post about their [mother’s] death read, “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.”
They also asked fans to honor their mother’s family by lighting a candle on the January 24th, at 10 p.m. Central Time. Their message reads, “Raise, raise them high, high up again. Illuminate the darkness, and let us all be connected in remembrance of the extraordinary woman who was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a friend to so many.”
Melanie’s first big musical hit was “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” a gospel-influenced track she made with Edwin Hawkins Singers. This song rose to number 6 on the Hot 100 chart in 1970. Following this, in 1971, she released a song that made a big mark on the world, “Brand New Key.” The song was even interpreted by some as a children’s melody. But others also interpreted it as a song filled with sexual undertones. It soared to number 1 on the charts, marking her only other top 10 hit in the U.S. In the UK, she also gained significant recognition with her rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.
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