Melanie Safka Shekeryk, better known to radio listeners of a certain age as the Woodstock-era singer ‘Melanie,’ visited Red Bank Regional for induction into the school’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Friday morning. Melanie – seen at center in the photo above and at right with school newspaper staffers Cecilia Gunderson and Amy Cavallo – graduated from the pre-RBR Red Bank High School in 1964.

A self-proclaimed square-peg teenager who has previously described her time at RBHS as “miserable,” the singer found herself surrounded by fan-dads and other admirers as she ate a breakfast prepared by RBR’s culinary arts students. “It’s wonderful what schools have now for kids,” she said.   (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

Melanie Safka Shekeryk, above, and Red Bank police Sergeant Juan Sardo are headed into the RBR Hall of Fame. (Photo from melaniesafka.com. Click to enlarge)

Folk singer Melanie, who won radio fame for her Woodstock-era hits “Brand New Key,” “Beautiful People” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” is among the next batch of inductees into Red Bank Regional’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame next week.

A graduate of the pre-RBR era Red Bank High in 1964, Melanie – also known as Melanie Safka Shekeryk – is slated to attend the April 24 induction ceremony, according to a school spokeswoman.

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