Sponsored by Pillsbury Wine Company
and Cottonwood Best Western
Melanie
Working Legend Tour
Folk Pop, Rock Singer
Woodstock Legend, Hit Singles
Friday, November 26, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 27, 7:30 pm
$30 advance, $40 priority seating, $35 door
You’ve heard her songs. She’s had numerous chart-topping hit singles. She’s played festivals and venues you may of heard of, including Woodstock, Isle of Wight, Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera House, Sydney Opera House, and the General Assembly of the United Nations. Oh, and she was the first Folk / Rock artist to perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall, wow! Guess that puts Old Town Center for the Arts in some pretty good company. Melanie, yes the original folk-pop legend – Melanie, will perform concerts at OTCA on Friday and Saturday on November 26th and 27th at 7:30 PM.
Melanie will be in Arizona as part of her “Working Legends Tour” (a phrase coined from her work with Johnny Cash), and to visit family and friends. Her daughter Jeordie, a stalwart performer on the Phoenix music scene, will open the show. Her son Beau, an incredibly talented guitarist, will also perform and join Melanie during the concert. Doors will open at 7:00 PM with a special ‘Remember When’ photo presentation by superstar photographer John Rowlands, who has taken pictures of all the famous, in his five-decade career. John will feature photos of musicians Melanie has appeared with, including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Elton John, The Doors, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
Melanie, the original ‘flower child,’ is perhaps best known for her major hits “Candles In the Rain,” What Have They Done to My Song, Ma,” “Beautiful People,” and “Brand New Key” a song that is finding it’s way back into our collective consciousness in an HP ad that is airing on all the major television networks. Have you found yourself singing the lyrics to yourself? “Oh, I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates, you’ve got a brand new key.”
Melanie’s concert at Old Town Center for the Arts will celebrate her hit songs and more.
She has been writing and performing continuously for over forty years, with over 30 albums to her credit, including the soon to be released ‘Ever Since You’ve Never Heard of Me.’ Sometimes sweet, sometimes rough and organic, Melanie’s distinctive voice represents the mood of a generation. Beyond pop stardom, Melanie sought meaning in her songwriting and a desire to make a difference. At the peak of her career she was asked to become the spokesperson for UNICEF and after accepting the position, she canceled her 18-month US tour and returned all deposits and monies collected. Melanie continues to support humanitarian efforts and throughout her career has performed her peace songs, even when it wasn’t fashionable to do so.
Melanie claims that all she ever wanted to be was somebody in the back room churning out songs for others to play. Well, those ‘others’ have included an elite list, including Ray Charles, Joe Pass, Macy Gray, Cher, Dolly Parton, Meredith Brooks, Queen Latifah, Björk, and Nina Simone, among ‘others.’ But, in spite of herself, she became the quintessential ‘singer-songwriter’ way before this term became commonplace. Yes, fate has placed her in remarkable circumstances, like when she sang “Beautiful People” at Woodstock, which inspired the first panorama of candles and cigarette lighters ever raised at a concert event. That, in turn, moved the young singer to write "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain"), which sold more than one million copies in 1970 and prompted Billboard, Cashbox, Melody Maker, Record World, and Bravo to anoint her as female vocalist of the year. Singing alongside John Lennon, in the famous peace concert at Madison Square Garden, is something that still reverberates in our memories and virally on You Tube.
Come have a present and historic moment with the legend herself, Melanie at OTCA, Friday and Saturday night on Thanksgiving Weekend. And remember something to be thankful for.
Check the new Melanie out on this web page (or just Google Melanie and have some fun).
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