Melanie Safka has passed away, announced by her PR firm on 23 January. Her cause and circumstances were not disclosed, and her children have also confirmed her death to various outlets.
Melanie, who has died aged 76, was a singer and songwriter who made her name at Woodstock before becoming best known for two songs, What Have They Done to My Song Ma, which was covered by a variety of musicians including Nina Simone, and Brand New Key – “I’ve got a brand new pair of roller-skates” – which was famously parodied in the Wurzels’ UK No 1 The Combine Harvester.