24 January 2024 , 22:44
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Folk musician Melanie Safka has died at the age of 76, her family has confirmed.
The singer was best known for her hit tune Brand New Key. She is said to have died "peacefully" on Tuesday. Her label, Cleopatra Records, also paid tribute to her. No cause of death has yet been given.
On Facebook, Melanie's children released a joint tribute to honour their mum's passing. Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred wrote: "We are heartbroken, but want to thank each and every one of you for the affection you have for our mother, and to tell you that she loved all of you so much.
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Melanie Safka's children paid tribute to their mum"She was one of the most talented, strong and passionate women of the era and every word she wrote, every note she sang reflected that. Our world is much dimmer, the colours of a dreary, rainy Tennessee pale with her absence today, but we know that she is still here, smiling down on all of us, on all of you, from the stars."
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Melanie rose to fame and sang at huge concerts and festivals, such as Woodstock and Glastonbury. Her tunes Brand New Key and Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) were her biggest hits. She had also been in the studio earlier this month working in a new album of cover songs.
The album, which was to be titled Second Hand Smoke, would have been her 32nd album.
Speaking about her past success with Brand New Key, Melanie once called it the "bane of my existence". In the Guardian interview in 2021. The hit was perceived by many to be a novelty song because of its childlike tone, but the singer said it was composed as a blues tune and had been sped up in search of greater commercial appeal.