Rock Legends Live!
MELANIE (1947 – 2024)
Monday, March 4 at 7:30pm
$16 Public | $10 Members
Join us for a lively
tribute to the legendary singer Melanie, featuring numerous rare concert
performances. Co-Presented by the Folk
Music Society of Huntington
Melanie Safka began her career as a folk
singer/songwriter in the mid-60s. Blessed with a powerful voice and strong
guitar playing, she began performing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village.
Signed to Buddah Records in 1968, Melanie found success with
her original song, Beautiful People. After several more singles,
her big break came when she was invited to play the 1969 Woodstock Festival. After
that performance, she had a hit with Lay Down (Candles In The Rain),
written about the audience raising candles to honor her during her set. It
established her with worldwide success, and more concerts at the Isle Of Wight
and Glastonbury Festival followed. Other hits followed, including Peace
Will Come (According To Plan), and an acoustic version of the Rolling
Stones’ Ruby Tuesday.
In 1971, Melanie formed her own record label, Neighborhood
Records, which produced the classic, Look What They’ve Done To My Song,
Ma! In 1972 she wrote her biggest hit, with the #1 gold song, Brand
New Key. Often interpreted as being sexually suggestive, the novelty
song was banned by a wide number of radio stations, but sold over 3 million
copies worldwide. Melanie was awarded Billboard’s No.1 Top Female Vocalist
Award for 1972.
Melanie continued a busy schedule of touring and recording
throughout the Disco era 70s, while also finding time to begin raising a family.
She continued to have sold out concerts into the 1980s, and in 1989 won an Emmy
Award for writing the theme song to the television show, Beauty and the
Beast in 1989, as well as a musical about Annie Oakley, which she
performed at Lincoln Center in New York City. In later years she often toured
and performed with her son, guitarist Beau-Jarred. Melanie passed away
in her sleep on January 23rd, 2024.
This Rock Legends tribute will honor the great folk
performer with rare concert footage, television performances, interviews from
around the world.
Presented by Shelley Archives Inc.
Approximately 90 minutes.
Guest Speaker: Bill Shelley
