Melanie Safka comes to Sheffield

Jun 1 2009 By Katie Campling

Melanie Safka

FEMALE singer-songwriter Melanie will be appearing at Sheffield City Hall this weekend.

New York-born Melanie Safka - best known by her first name only - has been making hits since the Sixties but is still going strong.

She may not be a household name in the UK but is among the most respected female songwriters, like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.

She was just 21 when she performed at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969, a gig which inspired one of her hits Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), after the Woodstock audience lit candles during her set.

Her other hits include Beautiful People and 1972 song Brand New Key, which sold over three million copies worldwide and was featured in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.

In 1971 she had left her label Buddah Records because they insisted that she produce albums on demand. She formed her own label, Neighborhood Records, with her producer/husband Peter Schekeryk.

When she became an official UNICEF ambassador in 1972 she agreed to forgo a world tour in favour of raising money for the organisation.

In 1973 Melanie started to retreat from the spotlight to begin a family. Her daughter Leilah was born that same year.

Melanie has, on average, released around one album a year since 1969. With one exception, her albums have been produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk. Her three children — Leilah, Jeordie and Beau-Jarred — are also musicians. Beau-Jarred is a guitarist and accompanies his mother on tour.

Melanie's most recent album, Paled by Dimmer Light, was released in 2004. It was co-produced by Peter and Beau-Jarred Schekeryk and includes the songs "To Be the One", "Extraordinary", "Make It Work" and "I Tried to Die Young".

In 2007, Melanie was invited by Jarvis Cocker to perform at the Meltdown Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Her sold-out performance received critical acclaim.

Now 62, she has sold more than 25 million records.

She is leaving her home in Nashville, Tennessee for a tour and will pay a rare visit to the UK, when she performs at Sheffield City Hall on June 7.

Tickets cost £22 and are available frm the box office on 0114 2 789 789. For online bookings go to http://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/events/Melanie