Music legend
Woodstock made her famous: US singer Melanie died
US singer Melanie Safka has died at the age of 76. photo
© Yui Mok/PA Wire/dpa
At just 22, Melanie took the stage at the Woodstock Festival, where greats like Jimi Hendrix played. This would change the singer’s career forever. She has now died at the age of 76.
The US singer and songwriter Melanie, one of the discoveries of the legendary Woodstock Festival, is dead. She died on January 23rd, her children announced on the verified Facebook page of the New York-born artist. She was 76 years old. According to US media reports, her record company and management confirmed the musician’s death. She was ill, they said.
The singer, who comes from the folk genre with the distinctive smoky voice, was thanks to her became known to a larger audience at the Woodstock performance in August 1969. At just 22 years old, she was one of only three artists who took to the stage as soloists at the festival in New York State, as the “New York Times” wrote.
She once said that performing in the pouring rain inspired her first big hit, “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” from 1970. With “Brand New Key” she reached the top of the US charts the following year. Her cover version of the Rolling Stones classic “Ruby Tuesday” is also well known.
The singer, whose full name was Melanie Safka, was in the studio working on a new record called “Second Hand Smoke” at the beginning of the month, it was said. It should therefore be their 32nd album.