Melanie Safka

Melanie Safka Schekeryk, also known as Melanie (born February 3, 1947), is a U.S. singer-songwriter.

Born in Astoria, New York, she made her first recording, "Gimme A Little Kiss", at the tender age of five. The title was sung à la Shirley Temple.

Europe first recognized her as an extraordinarily talented singer-songwriter. Her song "Bobo's Party" was a #1 hit for several weeks in a row in France in 1969. Later that year she had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People" (" ... you ride the same subway as I do every morning, that's got to tell you something, we got so much in common ...").

Melanie performed at Woodstock. During her performance, for the first time in pop history, candles were lit (and thus began a tradition). Inspired by this, Melanie wrote "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", which was a hit all over Europe and the USA. Her biggest hit in the USA was "Brand New Key", also known as "The Roller Skate Song". She has been awarded three gold albums.

Since 1969 Melanie has made a record annually. They are all produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk. The couple has three children who are also musicians, Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau "Virtuoso" Jarred Schekeryk. They also have two grandchildren.

The 2003 Australian hip-hop track "The Nosebleed Section" by The Hilltop Hoods sampled extensively from Melanie's "People In The Front Row".

Beau Jarred is an extraordinary guitar player who accompanies his mother on tours in Europe and the USA. Melanie has a loyal following. It is as she says on her latest album, Crazy Love: "If you let my voice in, we will have a relationship forever".

In 2004 Melanie came out with the long awaited CD Paled by Dimmer Light which is a coproduction of Peter and Beau Jarred Schekeryk. The CD contains 16 songs that are a combination of inventive music and strong lyrics. Highlights are "To be the one", "Extraordinary", "Make it work", and "I tried to die young".