In 1970, Melanie was the only artist to brave the court injunction banning the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, playing for the crowd on a homemade stage powered by Mister Softee trucks. Later hits included "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday." "Lay Down" became Melanie's first Top Ten hit in America, peaking at #6 on the Billboard singles chart and achieving worldwide success.
The B-side of the single featured Melanie's spoken-word track, "Candles in the Rain." The recording became a hit in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States in 1970. She also performed at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and the inspiration for her signature song, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," apparently arose from the Woodstock audience lighting candles during her set (although most of the "candles" were actually matches or lighters). Later in 1969, Melanie had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People." Her non-conformist approach to the selections on this LP make her a new talent to be reckoned with." Her debut album received rave reviews from Billboard which heralded her voice as ". Subsequently she signed with Buddah Records and first found chart success in Europe in 1969 with "Bobo's Party," which reached #1 in France. Initially signed to Columbia Records, Melanie released two singles on the label. Born Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk, Melanie is known for her hits "Brand New Key," "Ruby Tuesday," "What Have They Done To My Song Ma" and "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)."īorn and raised in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City, Melanie made her first public singing appearance at age four on the radio show Live Like A Millionaire, performing the song, "Gimme a Little Kiss." She attended Red Bank High School in Red Bank, New Jersey, graduating in 1966.Īfter school, her parents insisted that she go to college, so she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she began singing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village and signed her first recording contract.
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