Radio Free Phoenix has partnered with the grassroots effort, created by Worldwide fans of "Melanie" to gather signatures on an online petition that will be presented to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, to include and induct Melanie Safka Schekeryk ("Melanie") into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Authored by William Herrick, the petition is already gaining momentum. "The good word has been spreading rapidly. People are signing the petition and showing their support from all over the World; from Russia, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and numerous States across the U.S., including; Texas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Colorado, California, Florida and Washington…..The list just keeps growing and growing…and it’s only been live-online just a few shorts days!" said Herrick.
Born February 3rd, 1947, Melanie Safka began performing professionally at the age of four. A student of New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Melanie began singing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village and signed her first recording contract in 1967-68.
1968 showed the year of Melanie’s first release "Born To Be" (My First Album). Billboard Magazine gave rave reviews stating: "Melanie’s voice is wise beyond her years!"
In 1969 Melanie was one of the performers at the legendary Woodstock Festival. Her signature classic "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" apparently arose from the Woodstock audience lighting candles during her set, hence creating the now routine act of signaling an Artist for an encore by holding up some form of light (then it was a candle, which emerged to lighters, and now it’s cellular phones!).
1971 brought Melanie her first #1 hit "Brand New Key" (I’ve Got A Brand New Pair of Roller Skates). The hit was not only #1 in the U.S., but also Canada, Australia and South Africa!
Soon after that, Melanie’s career began to skyrocket: Melanie was honored as the top selling recording artist in the world in 1971, and Billboard‘s #1 top female vocalist in 1972! UNICEF appointed Melanie as their official Ambassador and spokesperson in 1972!
Melanie has sold more than 80 million records, been awarded two gold records, received an Emmy in 1989 for television’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ along with other accolades, far too numerous to mention here! (Other statistics can be viewed via the petition’s link.)
She still performs to this day, having just completed her European Spring Tour in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Late last summer she spent many weeks in South Korea on her "Tour for Peace". She also still tours the U.S.A. with new cities being added to her schedule virtually every month.
Herrick said: "The dedication and loyalty of her fans prompted my implementing and authoring of this petition drive. So many fans were asking the question ‘How do we get Melanie inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?’. So, I did some research into how to create and host an online petition, and I launched it on May 1st. It’s been meeting with great success and I hope to be able to present 1,000 signatures to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation" in the very near future!"
The "Induct Melanie into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Petition" is available for signing here
