Melanie Safka has died at age 76. Her family posted an announcement to Facebook (see below).
Melanie went by just her first name. She had a huge hit with “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain}” but her breakthrough song was “Brand New Key.” It was number 1 on and the charts for weeks.
It was Melanie’s recording of her own song, “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?” that morphed into the New Seekers’ hit “Look What They’ve Done to My Song.” In turn, it was used for Coca Cola’s most famous ad as “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” (which claims its own songwriters, weirdly.) The original was so enormous it was covered by everyone. Coke used it for years, and it was even featured in the finale of “Mad Men.” She co-wrote the song, which meant, hopefully, she made a fortune. (If she didn’t, her kids will now.)
Melanie wasn’t particularly ambitious, and left the business almost as soon as she arrived. She kept recording and releasing music to fans but Melanie was not stoking the star making machine.
Condolences to her family.
