About Melanie (singer)
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (February 3, 1947 – January 23, 2024), professionally known as Melanie or Melanie Safka, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Melanie is widely known for the 1971–72 global hit "Brand New Key", her 1970 version of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday", her composition "What Have They Done to My Song Ma", and her 1970 international breakthrough hit, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", which was inspired by her experience of performing at the 1969 Woodstock music festival. == Early life == Melanie Anne Safka was born February 3, 1947 in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Her father, Frederick M. Safka, was of Ukrainian ancestry, and her mother, Pauline "Polly" Altomare, was a jazz singer of Italian heritage. She had one younger sister, Stephanie. 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". After her parents' divorce when she was five, she was raised by her mother rin Long Branch, New Jersey, and attended Long Branch High School. Disturbed that she was rejected by her schoolmates as a "beatnik", she ran away to California. After her return to New Jersey, she transferred to Red Bank High School in Red Bank, New Jersey. She graduated in 1966, although she was prevented from attending her graduation ceremony because of an overdue library book.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.