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1-13 of 13
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actress
With her sweet, captivating voice, quirky yet insightful songwriting and bubbly, upbeat, free-spirited hippie persona, pop and folk singer/songwriter Melanie totally epitomized the whole "flower power" counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s.
She was born Melanie Anne Safka on February 3, 1947, in Queens, New York, and grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. She made her first public appearance at age four, singing "Gimme a Little Kiss" on the radio show "Live Like A Millionaire." She began singing in Greenwich Village folk clubs while attending New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts and initially signed to Columbia Records in 1967. Her debut single, "Beautiful People", was a flop in America but a hit in the Netherlands. Melanie subsequently left Columbia Records and signed with Buddah Records. Her song "Bobo's Party" was a #1 hit in France in 1969. Melanie also sang "Birthday of the Sun" at the Woodstock music festival in 1969.
In 1970 she had a Top 10 hit with "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)." A powerful cover of The Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday", and "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)" likewise did well. In 1971 she scored her greatest smash success with the cute, catchy and funny "Brand New Key"; the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts for three weeks, sold over three million copies, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Boogie Nights (1997) and has been covered by such artists as Deana Carter, Cher, Rasputina and The Dollyrots (the British comedy folk group The Wurzels had a 1976 #1 UK hit with a parody version of "Brand New Key" called "Combine Harvester".) The follow-up songs "Ring the Living Bell" and "The Nickel Song" were also successful. Melanie was awarded Billboard's #1 Top Female Vocalist in 1972. She had her last Top 40 hit with "Bitter Bad" in 1973. She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for writing the lyrics to the song "The First Time I Loved Forever" for the TV series Beauty and the Beast (1987). Her children Leilah, Jeordie and Beau-Jarred are all musicians. Almost all of her albums have been produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and continues to record the occasional album and perform live all over the world.- Charles Osgood was born on 8 January 1933 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Horton Hears a Who! (2008), CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley (1979) and A Science Odyssey (1998). He was married to Jean Crafton and Theresa Audette. He died on 23 January 2024 in Saddle River, New Jersey, USA.
- Additional Crew
David Kahn was born on 7 February 1930 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He is known for U-571 (2000), The Mike Douglas Show (1961) and History's Mysteries (1998). He was married to Susanne Fiedler. He died on 23 January 2024 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.- Composer
- Producer
- Music Department
His father, a fine furrier, died as a soldier in the Second World War in Smolensk, Russia, the year he was born. Frank and his two older siblings, Hertha and Heinz, grew up with their mother in simple but sheltered circumstances. His mother Cilli, who worked as a teacher, noticed Frank's voice and had him sing in the church choir. His musical ability became apparent early on; Frank got his first guitar at the age of 12. After graduating from school, he apprenticed as a chef. This career took him from Saarbrücken via Lindau to Ettelbruck in Luxembourg. His love for rock'' n'' roll was also awakened here. Through the stationed American GI's and their parties he became aware of bands like the "Drifters", Elvis Presley and Bill Haley. Now Frank Farian hung up his chef's hat and decided to form his own rock band. He took all of his savings and bought various equipment for his band, which didn't even exist yet. He changed his name from Franz to Frankie and finally to Frank.
In 1961, his five-piece band "Frank Farian and the Shadows" was put together and they toured the bars. Two years later, in 1963, the first self-produced record was released with a print run of 1,000 copies. The "Schatten" had their first highlight in 1964. They were one of only three German groups to appear at the international rock festival in the Starclub in Hamburg. In 1967 Frank Farian got his first record deal with Ariola. The band later broke up and Farian decided to remain solo as an artist and producer. He now devoted himself more to the more lucrative hit business. This also led to an appearance on the ZDF hit parade in 1969. In 1971 a production contract was signed with Hansa-Berlin, which still exists today. Farian had his big breakthrough in 1976 with the start of the group "Boney M." The single "Daddy Cool" hit like a bomb. The hit was placed in the charts not only in Germany, but throughout Europe. "Sunny" also became a huge success and Boney M's debut album "Take The Heat Of Me" proved to be an absolute top seller. But the nerve-wracking and strenuous work also left its mark.
Farian suffered a heart attack at the age of just 36, but that didn't stop him from producing one mega-success after another. "Boney M." had 38 top ten hits between 1975 and 1988, including 15 No.1 placements in Germany, 22 top ten hits in England, five of which were No.1 placements. Three titles by Boney M. grace the all-time bestseller list in England: "Mary's Boychild", "Rivers Of Babylon" and "Brown Girl In The Ring". Frank Farian didn't just concentrate on "Boney M.", in 1977 he helped the group "Eruption" into the top ten. In 1978, Farian's entry into the Guinness Book of Records followed: 175,000 singles of "Mary's Boychild" sold in just one day and 2.2 million within four weeks, which was a world record. He was also awarded the "Carl Allen Award" and Queen Elizabeth II received "Boney M." as the most successful pop group in England. Frank Farian's name was now in high demand on the international music scene. Big stars produced in his Rosbach studio, including Stevie Wonder, who recorded his global hit "I just called to say I love you" with Farian in 1982.
His instinct for talent and trends is also undisputed. He discovered, among others, Terence Trent D''Arby and helped him launch his career. In 1988, Farian achieved another milestone. With Milli Vanilli's "Girl you know it's true", the single and album were number one on the charts for six weeks. Milli Vanilli even reached platinum in the USA. In 1989 they received a Grammy for "Best New Act". Farian was honored with two 10x platinum diamond LPs in 1991 for Milli Vanilli and "Boney M." albums. This award made him the most successful producer in pop history. In the same year the Milli Vanilli scandal broke out. It turned out that the two actors had never sung themselves; Milli Vanilli was purely a studio production. The fans were outraged. Farian didn't allow himself to be irritated any further and devoted himself to new projects, including the formation "La Bouche" from 1994 and the group "No Mercy", with which he also celebrated global success. In 1997, Farian was awarded the "Echo" for his life's work.
It made its debut as a car in 2004 with the title "Stupid This Bohlen". The book is Farian's answer to Bohlen's "Behind the Scenes". The title is a reference to Michael Moore's "Stupid White Man", which accuses George W. Bush of not telling the truth. All proceeds from "Stupid This Bohlen" will go to the Nordhoff/Robbins Foundation, which aims to help autistic children with music therapy.- Producer
- Additional Crew
Margaret Riley was born on 9 December 1965 in California, USA. She was a producer, known for Love & Other Drugs (2010), Bombshell (2019) and An Invisible Army. She died on 23 January 2024 in Brentwood, California, USA.- In 1965 at age 24 Dick Traum was crushed between two cars at a gas station and had to have his right leg amputated. Undaunted, Traum, who had always been an athlete and had wrestled in college, learned how to walk and eventually run with a prosthetic leg. In 1976 Traum became the first amputee to successfully complete the New York City Marathon. In 1983 Traum founded the Achilles Track Club, an organization for disabled athletes that later became known as Achilles International. Six members of the club completed the New York City Marathon that same year. In 1984 a Vermont chapter of the Achilles Track Club was founded while the first international chapter was founded in New Zealand the following year. In 1988 the first Achilles Handicap 10k Race was held in Central Park. Moreover, that same year Traum became the first amputee to finish a 100 km ultra event in Poland. Achilles International hosted its first annual tribute dinner in 1991. Achilles Kids was founded in 1991 and kicked off with the Race Around New York virtual marathon. This was followed by the inaugural Achilles Marathon in Brooklyn in 2001. Achilles International launched the Hope & Possibility 5 mile run in 2003. In 2004 Traum persuaded 34 wounded war veterans to participate in the Hope & Possibility run. Traum was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on April 18, 2010. Traum has a BS, MBA, and Ph.D. from New York University. He lives in Manhattan.
- Anders Sandberg was an actor, known for Rednex: The Chase (2001) and Rednex: Cotton Eye Joe 2002 (2002). He died on 23 January 2024 in Sweden.
- Harold Hogue was born on 13 November 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for WCW Monday Nitro (1995), WCW Thunder (1998) and WCW Saturday Night (1985). He died on 23 January 2024 in the USA.
- Filimon was born in 1932 in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. He died on 23 January 2024 in Greece.
- Additional Crew
Jean-Marie Villégier was born on 4 July 1937 in Orléans, Loiret, France. He is known for Le malade imaginaire (1990), Rodelinda (1998) and Alcina (1990). He died on 23 January 2024 in Brest, Finistère, France.- Charles Fried was born on 15 April 1935 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czechia]. He was married to Anne Summerscale. He died on 23 January 2024 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
- Additional Crew
Ildikó Kaszás was born on 3 January 1941 in Budapest, Hungary. Ildikó is known for Az életbe táncoltatott leány (1964) and Musical TV Theater (1970). Ildikó died on 23 January 2024.- Black Kappa was an actor, known for Seeed feat. Black Kappa: Dickes B (2001). He died on 23 January 2024 in Berlin, Germany.