SUMMERS: Born Melanie Safka in 1947, the singer got her start in music at a young age. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MELANIE: My entire family sang and played instruments.

50 years ago,Melanie Safka — who rose to fame simply as "Melanie" — released the irresistibly catchy "Brand New Key," which topped the charts around the world. ... but I was very young.

Melanie Safka was born in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York, on February 3, 1947. Melanie was exposed to music at a young age, as her mother, Polly, was a professional jazz singer ...

Singer Melanie Safka, known as “The First Lady of Woodstock” for playing the 1969 festival at just 22 years also, and had hits in the 1970s including “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Cand… ...

Born February 3, 1947, in New York City Safka released her debut album Born to Be in 1968. A year later, Melanie became one of the three solo female acts to perform at the Woodstock festival in 1969.

Melanie, the singer who ... Safka was born in Astoria, New York on Feb. 3, 1947 and raised in Queens. ... The singer did not lack for respect from many prominent younger performers.

Melanie, who scored hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and performed at Woodstock in 1969, has died, her children Lelilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred announced. She ...

Melanie, the singer who performed at Woodstock in 1969 and had major pop hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” in the early ’70s, died Tuesday at age 76.News of ...