Peter Schekeryk was a Polish-born American record producer and manager, best known for his work with his wife, the singer-songwriter Melanie. He was also the co-founder of Neighborhood Records, an independent label that gave Melanie artistic freedom and produced some of her biggest hits, such as “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. He died unexpectedly on October 26, 2010, at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy of music and love.
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A Life Dedicated to Music and Melanie
Peter Schekeryk was born in Poland in 1941 or 1942, and immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1949, when he was seven years old. He grew up in New York City and developed a passion for music. He started his career as a member of The Balloon Farm, a psychedelic rock band that had a minor hit with “A Question of Temperature” in 1967.
He met Melanie Safka in 1968, when she was a budding folk singer signed to Columbia Records. He became her producer and manager, and helped her achieve international fame with her performance at the Woodstock festival in 1969. He also fell in love with her, and they married in 1970. They had three children: Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred, who are all musicians as well.
Peter Schekeryk was instrumental in creating Melanie’s distinctive sound and style, blending folk, pop, country, and rock influences. He also supported her artistic vision and independence, and encouraged her to form her own label, Neighborhood Records, in 1971. He produced most of her albums and singles, and also wrote some songs for her, such as “The Nickel Song” and “Together Alone”.
He was also Melanie’s constant companion and partner on the road, as they toured extensively around the world for over four decades. They shared a deep bond of love and respect, and often expressed their affection for each other in public and in their songs. Melanie once said: “Peter is my soul mate. He’s my best friend. He’s everything to me.”
A Sudden and Tragic Loss
On October 26, 2010, Peter Schekeryk and Melanie were on their Working Legend Tour, performing in Massachusetts. They had checked into a hotel in Framingham, and Peter went to buy a new phone at Best Buy. He dropped Melanie off at a Whole Foods store, where she waited for him to return.
He never did.
Peter Schekeryk suffered a massive heart attack in his car, and died before he could reach the hospital. Melanie was notified by the police, who found her sitting on a haystack outside the store. She was devastated by the news, and could not believe that her husband of 45 years was gone.
She wrote on her website: “Peter where are you? A man walked across the parking lot, no that’s not him. Another car like ours then no it’s not… then two police cars pulled up ~ why two police cars? Nothing bad is happening at Whole Foods… ‘Are you Melanie Schekeryk?’ ‘Is he all right?’ I knew. ‘No,’ the policeman replied ~ I think he was experienced in this. I kept crying No no it’s not possible ~ the police said ‘my son was being picked up to go to the hospital.’ Beau was in the hotel room alone expecting our call when he was told by a doctor.”
She added: “I went into the hospital and Beau was brought from the other direction and there was the old Peter the Great. His shell, the energy container he was nowhere to be seen or felt.”
A Legacy of Music and Love
Peter Schekeryk’s death shocked and saddened many fans and friends of Melanie, who paid tribute to him online and offline. He was remembered as a talented producer, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a kind person.
Melanie continued to perform and record music after his death, but she admitted that it was very hard to cope without him. She said: “I don’t know how to do this without him. He was my everything.”
She also dedicated some songs to him, such as “I Tried To Die Young”, which she wrote shortly after his passing. She sang: “You were always there beside me / You were always on my side / You gave me wings / You let me fly / You let me try / To die young.”
Peter Schekeryk’s cause of death was a heart attack, but his legacy lives on through his music and his love for Melanie. He will always be remembered as a vital part of her life and career, and as a man who gave his all for his family and his art.
