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!"
