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MELANIE: Rock Legends Live!
March 4 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Cinema Arts Centre and the Folk Music Society of Huntington will co-present a Rock Legends Live! tribute to the legendary singer Melanie, featuring numerous rare concert performances, on Monday, March 4, at 7:30pm, at the Cinema Arts Centre (423 Park Avenue, Huntington).
Tickets are $16 ($10 for Cinema Arts Centre/FMSH members) and can be purchased online at cinemaartscentre.org or at the box office now through the evening of the event.
Melanie Safka began her career as a folk singer-songwriter in the mid-60s. Blessed with a powerful voice and strong guitar playing, she began performing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village.
Signed to Buddah Records in 1968, Melanie found success with her original song, “Beautiful People.” After several more singles, her big break came when she was invited to play the 1969 Woodstock Festival. After that performance, she had a hit with “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain),“ written about the audience raising candles to honor her during her set. It established her with worldwide success, and more concerts at the Isle Of Wight and Glastonbury Festival followed. Other hits followed, including “Peace Will Come (According To Plan),“ and an acoustic version of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.”
In 1971, Melanie formed her own record label, Neighborhood Records, which produced the classic, “Look What They’ve Done To My Song, Ma!” In 1972 she wrote her biggest hit, with the #1 gold song, “Brand New Key.” Often interpreted as being sexually suggestive, the novelty song was banned by a wide number of radio stations, but sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Melanie was awarded Billboard’s No.1 Top Female Vocalist Award for 1972.
Melanie continued a busy schedule of touring and recording throughout the Disco era 70s, while also finding time to begin raising a family. She continued to have sold out concerts into the 1980s, and in 1989 won an Emmy Award for writing the theme song to the television show, Beauty and the Beast in 1989, as well as a musical about Annie Oakley, which she performed at Lincoln Center in New York City. In later years she often toured and performed with her son, guitarist Beau-Jarred. Melanie passed away in her sleep on January 23, 2024.
This Rock Legends tribute will honor the great folk performer with rare concert footage, television performances, interviews from around the world.
Presented by Shelley Archives Inc.
Approximately 90 minutes
Guest Speaker: Bill Shelley