Melanie Anne Safka (1947 - 2024)

Born 3 Feb 1947 in Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Peter D. Schekeryk — married about 31 Dec 1968 (to 26 Oct 2010) in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Died 23 Jan 2024 at age 76 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Notables Project WikiTree [send private message] and David Randall [send private message]

Melanie Safka is notable. Join: Notables Project Discuss: notables

Biography

Melanie Anne Safka was born February 3, 1947 in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City, and was the daughter of Frederick M. Safka (1924-2009) and Pauline Altomare Safka-Bertolo (1926–2003)

She got into singing at a very early age and later studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She went on to sing at the folk clubs of Greenwich Village in New York and later signed her first recording contract with Columbia Records.

Melanie Anne Safka married Peter D Schekeryk (1942-2010) in 1968 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.^[1]

Professionally known as Melanie, she was one of only three solo women to perform at the Woodstock festival in 1969.

She released two singles on this label and then, went on to sign with Buddah Records, where she first became popular in Europe with her song "Bobo's Party" in 1969. She would release other songs like "Beautiful People," "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," and "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)," before hitting big in 1972 with her song "Brand New Key." This song would hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in late 1971 and early 1972 and sell three million records. The song also earned her the 1972 Billboard's Top Female Vocalist Award. After releasing another Top 40 single "Bitter Bad" in 1973, she continued to release songs and perform well into the 21st Century.

She died January 23, 2024 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018"
   New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan
   Ancestry Record 61406 #904436255 (accessed 26 January 2024)
   Melanie A Safka marriage to Peter D Schekeryk in 1968 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
2. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #263349245 for Melanie Anne (Safka) Schekeryk, b: 03 Feb 1947 Astoria, Queens County, New York, USA; d: 23 Jan 2024 Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA; as burial unknown

See Also;

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_(singer)

• https://www.melaniesafka.com/bio

• "Melanie-Brand New Key (Audio)", YouTube,
  YouTube Audio File, accessed 2024-01-25
  LegacyRecordingsVEVO, Music video by Melanie performing Brand New Key (audio). (C) 2016 Sony Music Entertainment