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Melanie Safka Net Worth

Melanie Safka net worth is
$145 million

Melanie Safka Wiki Biography

Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk, best known simply as Melanie Safka, is a singer-songwriter born on 3rd February 1947 in Astoria, Queens, New York City USA. The peak of her popularity was in the late ‘60s and during the ‘70s when she released some of her most popular hits such as “Brand New Key”, “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma”, “Ruby Tuesday” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”.

Have you ever wondered how rich Melanie Safka is? According to sources it has been estimated that Melanie Safka’s overall net worth is $145 million, acquired during a long and prosperous musical career which started in the late ‘60s. Since she continues to be active to the present day, her net worth continues to be maintained.

Melanie Safka Net Worth $145 million

Melanie was born into a family of mixed descent; her father was of Ukranian ancestry and her mother, who was a jazz singer, was of Italian heritage. She made her first singing appearance when she was just four years old – performing the song “Gimme a Little Kiss” on the radio show “Live Like a Millionaire”. She was educated at Long Branch High School, and later moved to Red Bank High School in New Jersey. After matriculating in 1964, Safka performed at a coffee house in New Jersey, but at the insistence of her parent she enrolled college – the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York where she studied acting. During her studies she sang in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village, and earned her first recording contract, with Columbia Records under which she released two singles. Her next contract was with Buddah Records, and she released “Bobo’s Party” (1969) which brought her acknowledgement and popularity across Europe, reaching no.1 in France, and certainly establishing her net worth.

Melanie gained more popularity as her debut album was released, and positively reviewed by Billboard. In 1969, Safka was one of just three solo women who had a performance at the Woodstock Festival, which inspired her hit song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. The song became a hit across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, and reached the Top Ten list in America, reaching no.6 on the Billboard singles chart. Some of her later notable hits include “Peace Will Come (According to Plan)”, and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday”, which added to her net worth.

After leaving Buddah Records, Melanie formed her own label “Neighborhood Records” in 1971 and produced her biggest US hit the 1972 number one “Brand New Key” (“The Roller Skate Song”), which sold more than three million copies, despite being banned by several radio stations due to alleged sexual innuendo in the lyrics. Soon followed “Ring the Living Bell”, “The Nickel Song” and many others. Safka was voted Billboard’s no.1 Top Female Vocalist in 1972 and scored two gold albums and a gold single for “Brand New Key”. In 1973 she launched another Top 40 single “Bitter Bad”, followed by “Together Alone” and a cover of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, consistently building her net worth.

It was then that she decided to put her career on the backburner in order to raise a family. Her later career includes a 1976 album “Photograph” and writing music for theatrical musicals such as “Ace of Diamonds”. She received an Emmy Award in 1989 for the lyrics in “The First Time I Loved Forever”, which became the theme song for TV series “Beauty and the Beast”. Her more recent albums include “Paled By Dimmer Light”(2004), “Ever Since You Never Heard Of Me” (2010) and “1984”(2015). In 2015 she received the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award at the AMG Heritage Awards.

Privately, Melanie was married to record producer Peter Schekeryk from 1970 until his death in 2010. The couple had three children.


#Quote
1My idea about songs is that once you write them, you have very little say in their life afterward. It's a lot like having a baby. You conceive a song, deliver it, and then give it as good a start as you can. After that, it's on its own. People will take it any way they want to take it.
2There's nothing nicer than singing an unnecessary peace song.
#Fact
1Her favorite songs are "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding, "Down To Zero" by Joan Armatrading, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood, "Avalon" by Roxy Music, "Sea Of Love" by Marty Wilde, "I'm Going To Make You Love Me" by Diana Ross /The Supremes/The Temptations, "God Bless The Child" by Billie Holiday, "Fairytale Of New York" by Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues and "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" by Randy Newman. (Source: BBC Radio 2 "Tracks of My Years").
2She has two grandchildren.
3She has two daughters, Leilah (born October 3, 1973) and Jeordie (born March 27, 1975), and a son, Beau Jarred (born September 11, 1981).
4Member of the Libertarian Party.
5Recorded several hit records in the late 1960s and early 1970s including "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) which peaked at # six on the Billboard charts and "Brand New Key" which hit # one.
6Noted pop and folk singer, performed at the original Woodstock rock festival in 1969.

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016
Atop the Fourth Wall2008-2015TV Series writer - 8 episodes
Northern Soul2014performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key"
The Little Death2014performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka
The BridgeTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
Hell on Wheels Gang Girls Forever2012Short writer: "Brand New Key" - as Safka, Melanie
Carmina o revienta2012performer: "I Will Survive" - as Melanie Safka
Diddy Movies2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
A Few Best Men2011writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka
Raising Hope2011TV Series writer - 1 episode
DoctorsTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
Jackass 3D2010Documentary performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka
Hung2010TV Series writer - 1 episode
Wer hat Angst vor Wilhelm Reich?2009TV Movie documentary lyrics: "Beautiful People" - as Melanie Safka
Taking Woodstock2009performer: "Beautiful People" / writer: "Beautiful People" - as Melanie Safka
Die Anruferin2007performer: "Beautiful People" / writer: "Beautiful People"
Doctor Who2006TV Series writer - 1 episode
Cold CaseTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2006 writer - 1 episode, 2006
Evil Aliens2005writer: "Combine Harvester Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka
Inside Deep Throat2005Documentary performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka
Imaginary Heroes2004writer: "Tonight's the Kind of Night" - as Melanie Safka
Kuka lohduttaisi Viiviä?2001TV Movie writer: "Mulla on uudet rullaluistimet Brand new key" - as Safka Melanie
Mystery Science Theater 30001998TV Series writer - 1 episode
Chicago HopeTV Series performer - 1 episode, 1997 writer - 1 episode, 1997
Boogie Nights1997performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as M. Safka
Household Saints1993performer: "Lay Down Candles in the Wind" / writer: "Lay Down Candles in the Wind"
Woodstock: The Lost Performances1990Video documentary performer: "Birthday of the Sun" - as Melanie Schekeryk / writer: "Birthday of the Sun" - as Melanie Schekeryk
Beauty and the Beast1989TV Series lyrics - 1 episode
Helsinki Napoli All Night Long1987"To Be A Star"
John Wilson's Mini-Musicals1981Video writer: "Brand New Key"
The Brady Bunch Variety HourTV Series writer - 2 episodes, 1977 performer - 1 episode, 1977
Top of the Pops1976TV Series writer - 5 episodes
Dolly1976TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Ernie Sigley Show1974TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Hitler's Harlot1973writer: "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma" - uncredited
The Graham Kennedy Show1973TV Series writer - 2 episodes
R.P.M.1970performer: "Stop! I Don't Wanna' Hear It Anymore", "We Don't Know Where We're Goin'" / writer: "We Don't Know Where We're Goin'"
The Johnny Cash Show1969TV Series performer - 1 episode

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Beauty and the Beast1989TV Series 1 episode
All the Right Noises1971

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
All the Right Noises1971composer: songs / singer: songs

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Singer-Songwriters at the BBC2016TV Mini-SeriesHerself
The Artists Music Guild Presents: The 2015 AMG Heritage Awards 5th Year Spectacular2016TV MovieHerself - Performer
Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation2012DocumentaryHerself
Music Interview Corner: Webisodes2012TV SeriesHerself - Panalist
Die ultimative Chartshow2009TV Series documentaryHerself
Woodstock Diary1994TV Movie documentaryHerself
Woodstock: The Lost Performances1990Video documentaryHerself
20 Years After: A Woodstock Reunion1989VideoHerself
The Mike Douglas Show1970-1978TV SeriesHerself - Vocalist / Herself
NBC Special Treat1977TV SeriesHerself
The Midnight Special1977TV SeriesHerself
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour1977TV SeriesHerself
New American Bandstand 19651970-1977TV SeriesHerself
In Concert1973TV SeriesHerself
Glastonbury Fayre1972DocumentaryHerself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1969-1972TV SeriesHerself
Top of the Pops1972TV Series
In Concert1972TV SeriesHerself
The Ed Sullivan Show1970-1971TV SeriesSinger
The David Frost Show1971TV SeriesHerself
The Johnny Cash Show1969-1970TV SeriesHerself / Herself - Singer
Disco 21970TV SeriesHerself
The Everly Brothers Show1970TV SeriesHerself
Beat-Club1969TV Series

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1989Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Music and LyricsBeauty and the Beast (1987)

Known for movies


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