Brand New Key
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.[3][4]
Melanie was born and raised in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Her father, Frederick M. Safka (1924–2009), was of Russian–Ukrainian ancestry,[5][6] and her mother, jazz singer Pauline “Polly” Altomare (1926–2003), was of Italian heritage.[6][7] 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”.[8] She moved with her family to 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. She was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 2014.[9]
