Alabama Nitrogen Execution Kenneth Eugene Smith Suffers Pain And Misery ... As Horrified Family Watches

Convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed Thursday by the state of Alabama using a new deadly procedure, as his wife and pastor looked on in absolute horror at his excruciatingly painful reaction.

Smith was ushered inside the execution chamber at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, where prison staff put him in restraints and fitted a gas mask over his face to suffocate him with nitrogen hypoxia. He became the first ever inmate to be put to death utilizing this method.

Before the execution began at 8:07 PM CST, Smith made a heart sign with his left hand to his family who was present before saying his final words through his mask: "Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... I’m leaving with love, peace, and light."

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"UNBELIEVABLE EVIL"

The next 18 minutes turned into a nightmare for Smith and his two closest confidantes -- namely his wife, Deanna, and his spiritual guide, Jeff Hood, both of whom were in the witness box.

Hood later told the Daily Mail ... the execution was the "worst thing" he had ever seen, even causing prison officials to gasp while Smith died much slower than anticipated.

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The pastor also said Smith started convulsing with his body popping up on the gurney after correctional officers pumped his mask full of nitrogen hypoxia, forcing him to inhale high concentrations of the gas.

At one point, Deanna cried out for her dying husband as he grabbed at his restraints, taking his last breaths before he suffocated. Smith was sentenced to death in 1996 for killing a preacher's wife, Elizabeth Sennett, as part of a $1,000 murder-for-hire plot.

He was pronounced dead at 8:25 PM CST.

Smith was 58.

Ejecución en Alabama Kenneth Eugene Smith sufre dolor y miseria... Mientras su familia observa

El asesino convicto Kenneth Eugene Smith fue ejecutado el jueves por el estado de Alabama utilizando un nuevo procedimiento mortal. Todo esto, mientras su esposa y su pastor miraban con horror absoluto su reacción al insoportable dolor.

Smith fue introducido en la cámara de ejecución del centro penitenciario William C. Holman de Atmore, donde el personal penitenciario lo inmovilizó y le colocó una máscara de gas en la cara para asfixiarlo con hipoxia de nitrógeno. Se convirtió así en el primer recluso condenado a muerte por este método.

Antes de que comenzara la ejecución a las 8:07 PM CST, Smith hizo una señal de corazón con su mano izquierda a su familia que estaba presente antes de decir sus últimas palabras a través de su máscara: "Esta noche Alabama hace que la humanidad dé un paso atrás... Me voy con amor, paz y luz".

Los 18 minutos siguientes se convirtieron en una pesadilla para Smith y sus dos confidentes más cercanos: su esposa Deanna y su guía espiritual Jeff Hood, quienes estaban presentes.

Hood dijo más tarde al Daily Mail que la ejecución fue lo "peor'" que había visto nunca, e incluso causó el impacto de algunos funcionarios de la prisión mientras Smith fallecía, mucho más lento de lo previsto.

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El pastor también dijo que Smith comenzó a convulsionar en la camilla después de que los funcionarios le pusieron la máscara de hipoxia de nitrógeno y lo obligaron a inhalar altas concentraciones del gas.

En un momento dado, Deanna gritó por su marido mientras este se agarraba a sus ataduras, dando sus últimas bocanadas de aire antes de asfixiarse. Smith fue condenado a muerte en 1996 por matar a la esposa de un predicador, Elizabeth Bennett, como parte de un complot de asesinato por encargo valorado en 1.000 dólares

Fue declarado muerto a las 8:25 PM CST.

Smith tenía 58 años.

'Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison Trump Family Sends Condolences ... After Son's Fatal OD

Rick Harrison got a call from 2 of Donald Trump's sons after his own son, Adam Harrison, died from a fentanyl overdose.

A rep for the "Pawn Stars" patriarch tells TMZ ... Donald Jr. and Eric Trump reached out to Rick after learning of Adam's death. We're told the Trumps spoke to Rick on the phone to offer their condolences.

The Trump and Harrison families have a long relationship. Rick's been a vocal supporter of the former president for years -- at one point referring to himself as a "Trump guy."

When DT was in the White House, he and Rick met in September 2018 ... snapping a photo together with Rick's youngest son, Jake.

Even before the phone call, Don. Jr commented on Rick's tribute post to Adam, "I'm so sorry man."

TMZ broke the story ... Adam died last week from a drug overdose.

Rick told us fentanyl killed his 39-year-old son and added, "The fentanyl crisis in this country must be taken more seriously. It seems it is just flowing over the borders and nothing is being done about it. We must do better."

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We're told the Harrison family held a private funeral Wednesday in Las Vegas with close friends.

Rick Harrison recibe una llamada de la familia Trump Tras la muerte de su hijo

Rick Harrison recibió una llamada de dos de los hijos de Donald Trump después de que su propio hijo, Adam Harrison, falleciera de una sobredosis de fentanilo.

Un representante del patriarca del "El Precio de la Historia", le dice TMZ que Donald Jr. y Eric Trump llegaron a Rick después de enterarse de la muerte de Adam. Se nos dice que los Trumps hablaron con Rick por teléfono para ofrecer sus condolencias.

Las familias Trump y Harrison tienen una larga relación. Rick ha sido un partidario vocal del ex presidente durante años y en un momento se refirió a sí mismo como un "tipo Trump".

Cuando Donald estaba en la Casa Blanca, él y Rick se reunieron en septiembre de 2018 y se tomaron una foto juntos con el hijo menor de Rick, Jake.

Incluso antes de la llamada telefónica, Don. Jr comentó en el post de homenaje de Rick a Adam: "Lo siento mucho hombre".

TMZ publicó la historia, Adam murió la semana pasada de una sobredosis de drogas.

Rick nos dijo que el fentanilo mató a su hijo de 39 años de edad, y agregó: "La crisis de fentanilo en este país debe ser tomada más en serio. Parece que simplemente fluye por las fronteras y no se hace nada al respecto. Debemos hacerlo mejor".

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Nos dicen que la familia Harrison celebró un funeral privado el miércoles en Las Vegas con amigos cercanos.

Harry Connick Jr. Father Dead at 97 ... Controversial New Orleans D.A.

The father of singer-actor Harry Connick Jr. has died in Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.

Harry Connick Sr. passed away peacefully in his New Orleans home Thursday, the AP reported, although his cause of death was not disclosed. He was surrounded by his wife, Londa and two children, daughter Suzanna and his famous son Harry.

Connick Sr. was the New Orleans District Attorney for three decades, winning his first election in 1973 and unseating incumbent prosecutor Jim Garrison. He stayed as the city's D.A. for many years, getting reelected four times by developing biracial support among the city's politically powerful African American base.

After his retirement in 2003, Connick Sr. faced harsh criticism for allegedly hiding evidence that could have tipped the scales in favor of several defendants, who later had their convictions overturned.

In one case, John Thompson was exonerated for a murder he did not commit after 14 years on Louisiana's Death Row.

Thompson filed a lawsuit in state court against the New Orleans D.A.'s Office, accusing Connick Sr. of withholding key evidence that would have found him innocent at trial. The judge awarded Thompson $14 million, but the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the decision by a 5-4 vote.

In 2014, Connick Sr. again came under scrutiny when a judge tossed out the 1990 murder conviction of Reginald Adams.

Adams was released from prison after serving 34 years. His attorneys proved that Connick Sr. kept vital evidence under wraps during his trial.

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Later, Adams sued the D.A.'s Office, agreeing to a $1.25 million settlement.

Over the years, Connick Sr. kept silent about his controversial reign as D.A., but he finally defended his legacy in a 2012 interview with The Times-Picayune.

He was 97.

RIP

Masuimi Max muere a los 45 años

Masuimi Max -una actriz y modelo que apareció en grandes publicaciones como Playboy y Maxim- ha muerto... TMZ ha indagado.

Fuentes policiales le dicen a TMZ que recibieron una llamada justo antes de las 8:30 AM esta mañana y respondieron a la casa de Max en el área de Las Vegas, donde encontraron a Max. Nos dicen que una investigación a fondo se llevará a cabo.

No hay más detalles sobre las circunstancias de su muerte por el momento.

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Max comenzó a modelar el año 2000 según su LinkedIn, y a lo largo de los años apareció en numerosas publicaciones como Maxim, Alt Magazine, Bizarre Magazine y una serie de otros puntos de venta en los últimos años.

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Los aficionados pueden recordarla por las veces que posó para Playboy. Además participó en muchos eventos en la Mansión Playboy a finales de 2000 y principios de 2010.

Tiene algunos créditos en IMDb, aunque en su mayoría películas de serie B como "Cornman: American Vegetable Hero" y "Giantess Battle Attack". Tuvo un papel no acreditado en "xXx: State of the Union" protagonizada por Samuel L. Jackson y Ice Cube donde interpretó a la novia de Zeke, el papel del rapero Xzibit en la película.

Los últimos años se ha dedicado sobre todo al modelaje alternativo... gravitando hacia espectáculos de terror/cabaret cargados de maquillaje y videos de YouTube. Había acumulado una sólida base de fans en línea, con más de 300k seguidores en Instagram.

Masuimi tenía 45 años.

RIP

Kurt Cobain Se filtra supuesta autopsia... Con detalles del suicidio

Kurt Cobain murió hace casi 30 años, pero un hombre ha estado siguiendo el caso desde entonces, y publicó lo que él dice corresponde al informe oficial de su autopsia, la que no se ha visto públicamente hasta ahora.

Un investigador privado llamado Tom Grant publicó este PDF en su cuenta de Twitter el miércoles, escribiendo: "Descarga una copia gratuita del informe de la autopsia de Kurt Cobain en: http://cobaincase.com/Cobain Autopsy.pdf  Copia y pega el link completo, incluyendo 'Autopsy.pdf' en tu navegador. Esta es la primera vez que este informe se hace público".

Por lo que parece, Tom tiene su propio sitio en el que ha ido registrando a modo de crónica su investigación sobre la muerte de Kurt Cobain, la que se remonta a 1994 cuando se quitó la vida. Parece que Tom Grant ha llegado a sus propias conclusiones sobre el asunto, pero lo más importante aquí es este documento que ha publicado.

Él dice que es el verdadero, aunque no explica cómo lo obtuvo. La autopsia de Kurt nunca fue publicada en su momento, debido a unas leyes del estado de Washington que impiden la divulgación de ese tipo de información. Aunque liberaron estos documentos a la familia.

De todos modos, puedes echar un vistazo al supuesto informe porque, vamos a admitir, si es real, sin duda es una lectura interesante para los fans de Nirvana o de otro tipo.

No vamos a entrar en el meollo del asunto porque es bastante gráfico, pero lo que vamos a decir es que el supuesto informe pretende confirmar lo que casi todo el mundo ha sabido acerca de su muerte durante año. Es decir, que murió trágicamente a causa de un suicidio y que utilizó una escopeta para ello.

También hay información sobre lo que los profesionales médicos encontraron en su cuerpo en el momento, y parece que había una mezcla de diferentes sustancias. Hemos tratado de verificar la autenticidad de este informe, pero los funcionarios del Condado de King no quisieron hacer comentarios y citaron nuevamente la ley de Washington.

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Kurt dejó a su esposa, Courtney Love, y a su hija Frances Bean. Solo tenía 27 años.

Si tú o alguien que conoces está luchando o en crisis, la ayuda está disponible. Llama o envía un mensaje de texto al 988 o chatea con 988lifeline.org.

Kurt Cobain Purported Autopsy Leaks Details About Suicide Death

Kurt Cobain died nearly 30 years ago -- but one man has been following the case since, and published what he claims is the official autopsy report ... unviewed publicly until now.

A private investigator named Tom Grant threw up this PDF on his Twitter account Wednesday -- writing ... "Download link for a free copy of the Kurt Cobain Autopsy Report at: http://cobaincase.com/Cobain Autopsy.pdf  Copy/paste the entire link, including 'Autopsy.pdf' into your browser window). This is the first time this report has been made public."

From the looks of it ... Tom has his own site that's been chronicling his investigation into the death case -- dating back to when Kurt took his own life in 1994 -- and it seems TG's come to his own conclusions about it all ... but the bigger point is this document he's published.

He claims it's the real deal, although ... he doesn't explain how he obtained it. Kurt's autopsy was never released back then -- and it all had to with some Washington state laws that prevent the disclosure of that type of info. They do release these docs to family though.

Anyway, you can take a look at the purported report yourself if you want ... because, we'll admit, if it is real -- it most certainly is an interesting read, for Nirvana fans or otherwise.

We won't get into the nitty-gritty of it all, because it's quite graphic ... but what we will say is that the alleged report purports to confirm what most everyone has known about his death for years -- namely, that he tragically died by suicide, and that he used to a shotgun on himself.

There's also info in here about what medical professionals say was found to be in Kurt's system at the time -- and it looks like there was a mix of substances. We've attempted to verify the authenticity of this report ... but King County officials wouldn't comment, and again cited the Washington law.

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Kurt left behind his wife, Courtney Love, and his daughter Frances Bean. He was only 27.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Masuimi Max Playboy & Maxim Model Dead at 45

Masuimi Max -- an actress and model who appeared in big publications like Playboy and Maxim -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops got a call just before 8:30 AM PT this morning and responded to Max's Las Vegas-area home where they found Max. We're told no foul play is immediately suspected ... though a thorough investigation will be conducted.

No further details about the circumstances of her death were immediately available.

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Max started modeling back in 2000, according to her LinkedIn ... over the years she appeared in numerous publications like Maxim, Alt Magazine, Bizarre Magazine and a number of other outlets over the years.

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Fans may remember her from the times she posed for Playboy -- MM also hit up events at the Playboy Mansion throughout the late 2000s/early 2010s.

She's got some credits on IMDb ... though mostly B-movies like "Cornman: American Vegetable Hero" and "Giantess Battle Attack." She did have an uncredited role in "xXx: State of the Union" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Ice Cube ... where she played the girlfriend of Zeke -- rapper Xzibit's role in the movie.

She's mostly been into alternative modeling in recent years ... gravitating toward make-up-heavy horror/cabaret shows and YouTube videos. She'd amassed a solid fanbase online, with more than 300k dedicated IG followers.

Masuimi was 45.

RIP

Porn Star Jesse Jane Dead at 43 After Apparent OD ... Cops Find Her, BF During Welfare Check

Jesse Jane -- a well-known porn star from the 2000s -- has died alongside her boyfriend, who also passed away, and it sounds like their death is drug-related ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the famed adult film actress was found dead at a home Wednesday in Moore, OK -- where we're told police responded to this residence on a welfare check ... and when they got there, our sources say officers discovered both Jesse and her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, deceased.

We're told the welfare check request was actually placed by Brett's employer, who hadn't heard from him in a few days. At the moment, we're told this appears to have been a drug overdose of some sort.

Unclear how long exactly Jesse and Brett might've been dead at the house, and an exact cause of death isn't known at this point either. An investigation is underway, and the Medical Examiner will make a final determination.

Jesse was one of the biggest porn stars in her day -- she started out with Digital Playground in 2002 ... and shortly thereafter, started to make appearances on Showtime's 'Family Business' -- and from there, her career in the industry took off.

She starred in a number of well-known adult films and adult film series -- including the 'Pirates' flicks ... notably the sequel in "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge," which reportedly cost around $8 million to make and is considered one of the most expensive pornos to date.

Eventually, Jesse made her way over to Playboy ... serving as a host for a popular live show called 'Night Calls,' and even hosting Playboy TV's 'Naughty Amateur Home Videos.'

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Jesse became a huge fixture in the porn world -- she hosted several award shows, including the AVN Awards multiple times, and she launched successful sex toy lines as well.

Outside of adult entertainment ... Jesse made some appearances in mainstream films as well, including 'Starsky & Hutch,' a guest role on 'Entourage,' and even an appearance on 'The Bad Girls Club.' In 2009, she was part of a CNBC doc called 'Porn: Business of Pleasure' -- which showed what her life was like behind the scenes, and away from cameras.

She survived by her one son. Jesse was 43.

RIP

Estrella del porno Jesse Jane Muere a los 43 años tras una aparente sobredosis

Jesse Jane, una conocida estrella del porno de la década de los 2000, ha muerto junto a su novio, quien también falleció, y parece que su muerte está relacionada con las drogas, según ha indagado TMZ.

Fuentes policiales nos dicen que la famosa actriz del cine para adultos fue encontrada sin vida en una casa de Moore, en Oklahoma, el miércoles. La policía fue a la residencia para chequear si todo estaba bien y cuando llegaron nuestras fuentes dicen que los oficiales encontraron tanto a Jesse como a su novio, Brett Hasenmueller, muertos.

Nos dicen que la solicitud de control fue solicitada por el empleador de Brett, ya que no había escuchado hablar de él en unos días. Por el momento, nos dicen que esto parece haber sido una sobredosis de drogas de algún tipo.

No está claro cuánto tiempo exactamente podrían haber estado Jesse y Brett sin vida en la casa y la causa exacta de muerte tampoco se conoce en este momento. Una investigación está en curso y el médico forense hará una determinación final.

Jesse fue una de las mayores estrellas del porno en su época. Empezó con Digital Playground en 2002 y poco después empezó a hacer apariciones en "Family Business" de Showtime. A partir de ahí, su carrera en la industria despegó.

Protagonizó una serie de conocidas películas y series para adultos, incluyendo "Pirates", en particular la secuela "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge", que al parecer costó alrededor de $8 millones y es considerada uno de los filmes más caros del porno hasta la fecha.

Con el tiempo, Jesse hizo su camino hasta Playboy. Fue anfitriona de un popular programa en vivo llamado "Night Calls" e incluso como anfitriona de Playboy TV "Naughty Amateur Home Videos".

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Jesse se convirtió en una figura importante en el mundo del porno: fue anfitriona de varias galas de premios, incluidos los AVN Awards en varias ocasiones, y también lanzó exitosas líneas de juguetes sexuales.

Fuera del entretenimiento para adultos, Jesse hizo algunas apariciones en películas convencionales, incluyendo "Starsky & Hutch", como invitada en "Entourage" e incluso tuvo una aparición en "The Bad Girls Club". En 2009, participó en un documental de la CNBC titulado "Porn: Business of Pleasure", que mostraba cómo era su vida entre bastidores y lejos de las cámaras.

Le sobrevive un hijo. Jesse tenía 43 años.

Que en paz descanse.

Warriors Touching Tribute To Dejan Milojević ... Players Fight Back Tears

The Golden State Warriors honored late assistant coach Dejan Milojević with a beautiful tribute on Wednesday ... and the ceremony had the entire arena emotional -- including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.

The team returned to compete against the Atlanta Hawks at the Chase Center ... their first game since Deki's tragic death last week.

The beloved former European pro received a proper sendoff before tipoff ... with a video tribute, speech from Steve Kerr, jerseys featuring coach's last name, and t-shirts branding the word "brate," which means "brother" in Russian.

Milojević's wife and children were also present ... with cameras showing them during the special moment.

Curry and Thompson embraced each other as well ... and the latter was visibly crying while sitting on the bench.

The team also set up a display on the sidelines ... putting a shirt and a flower at Deki's seat.

As we previously reported, Deki suffered a medical emergency during a team dinner in Salt Lake City last week. The team stated he had a heart attack and passed away a day later.

Deki was highly respected throughout the NBA ... and it's a loss the basketball community is still struggling to comprehend.

Actor de "Deliverance" Herbert Coward muere en un accidente vehicular en Carolina del Norte

Herbert Coward, el actor que interpretó al infame Hombre sin dientes de la película, "Deliverance", murió en un accidente de carro en Carolina del Norte junto a una amiga y sus queridas mascotas, TMZ ha confirmado.

Coward estaba haciendo un giro a la izquierda fuera de un estacionamiento tras una cita médica en el condado de Haywood el miércoles, cuando su Nissan plateado fue golpeado por otro vehículo que trató de evitarlo, según la Patrulla de Carreteras de Carolina del Norte.

El actor y sus tres ocupantes, Bertha Brooks, un chihuahua y una ardilla, quedaron atrapados entre los restos del vehículo y tuvieron que ser sacados del carro por los primeros auxilios, según la policía. Los cuatro murieron en el lugar.

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El otro conductor, de 16 años, sufrió heridas leves y fue trasladado a un hospital local por precaución. Los investigadores no presentaron cargos contra el adolescente porque determinaron que no se había cometido ningún delito.

En el clásico thriller de 1972 "Deliverance", Coward interpretó el aterrador papel de un aldeano pobre al que le faltaban los dientes delanteros, conocido como el "Hombre sin dientes". En una de las terroríficas escenas de la película, el personaje de Coward y sus compinches en la montaña sodomizaban a un hombre delante de su amigo, que estaba atado a un árbol en el bosque.

Coward tenía 85 años.

Que en paz descanse.

'Deliverance' Toothless Man Actor Herbert Coward Killed In NC Crash ... Friend, Squirrel, Chihuahua Also Dead

Herbert Coward -- who played the infamous Toothless Man from the film, "Deliverance," was killed in a car crash in North Carolina along with his friend and beloved pets, TMZ has confirmed.

Coward was making a left turn out of a parking lot after a medical appointment in Haywood County Wednesday, when his silver Nissan was struck by another vehicle that tried to avoid him, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

The actor and his 3 occupants -- Bertha Brooks, a chihuahua and a squirrel -- were trapped inside the wreckage and had to be extracted from the car by first responders, police said. The four died at the scene.

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The other motorist, 16, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital out of an abundance of caution. Investigators did not charge the teenager because they determined no crime was committed.

In the classic 1972 thriller "Deliverance," Coward played the frightening role of a hillbilly with missing front teeth known as the "Toothless Man." In one of the movie's horrific scenes, Coward's character and his hillbilly sidekicks sodomized a man in front of his friend, who was tied to a tree in the forest.

Coward was 85.

RIP

Melanie Safka muere a los 76 años

Melanie Safka, también conocida como "Melanie", ha muerto... según su equipo.

La triste noticia llegó por cortesía de la empresa de relaciones públicas de la cantante, la cual anunció su muerte el martes, pero no reveló ninguna causa oficial o las circunstancias exactas. Sus hijos también confirmaron su muerte a varios medios de comunicación.

Melanie es, quizás, más famosa por haber cantado en el Woodstock del 69, donde cantó como una de las pocas solistas femeninas de ese año y dejó una gran impresión en el público. De hecho, su experiencia en Woodstock inspiró más música.

Una de las canciones que acabó escribiendo a raíz de aquello fue "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", y al parecer tenía que ver con la gente que hacía exactamente eso en la histórica reunión.

Un par de años después de su gran concierto en Woodstock, Melanie lanzó un sencillo que la situó en el mapa, llamado "Brand New Key", el cual se convirtió en su mayor éxito.

A lo largo de los años, la canción apareció en diversos medios, sobre todo en "Boogie Nights", durante la audición porno de Dirk Diggler con Rollergirl. Si has visto la película, probablemente la recuerdes bien... dejó huella.

La canción también se escuchó en "Jackass 3-D", así como en programas como "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "The Bridge" y "Doctor Who" por no hablar de los programas nocturnos, además de "American Idol" y "The Voice". De hecho, fue muy popular a lo largo de las décadas.

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Otros temas por los que será recordada... "What Have They Done to My Song Ma", "Ruby Tuesday", "The Saddest Thing", "Bitter Bad", "Ring the Living Bell", "The Nickel Song" y más.

Melanie siguió trabajando en el mundo de la música hasta bien entrada su vida, incluso conociendo a estrellas como Miley Cyrus y otras cantantes de folk/rock contemporáneas que continuaron la tradición.

Se dice que Melanie estaba trabajando en un nuevo álbum este mismo mes, en el que haría versiones. Tenía 76 años.

RIP

Melanie Safka 'Brand New Key' Singer ... Dead at 76

Melanie Safka -- otherwise just known as "Melanie" -- has died ... according to her team.

The sad news came courtesy of the singer's PR firm, which announced her death on Tuesday -- but which didn't disclose any official cause, or the exact circumstances. Her children also confirmed her passing to various outlets.

Melanie is, perhaps, most famous for singing at the OG Woodstock back in '69 ... where she crooned as one of just a few solo female performers that year, and left quite an impression on the audience. In fact, her experience at Woodstock went on to inspire more music.

One song she ended up writing in the wake of that was 'Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)' -- and it apparently had to do with people doing exactly that at the historic gathering.

A couple years after her big Woodstock gig ... Melanie came out with a single that put her on the map, and it was called 'Brand New Key,' which went on to become her biggest hit.

The song ended up being featured across a number of different mediums over the years -- most notably in 'Boogie Nights' during Dirk Diggler's porn audition with Rollergirl. If you've seen the movie, you probably remember this well ... it left an impression.

'BNK' was also heard in 'Jackass 3-D' ... as well as on shows like 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' 'The Bridge' and 'Doctor Who,' -- not to mention on late-night shows, plus 'American Idol' and 'The Voice.' Indeed, it was very popular through the decades.

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Other tracks she'll be remembered for ... 'What Have They Done to My Song Ma,' 'Ruby Tuesday,' 'The Saddest Thing,' 'Bitter Bad,' 'Ring the Living Bell,' 'The Nickel Song,' and more.

Melanie continued working in and around music late into her life -- including meeting up with stars like Miley Cyrus and other contemporary folks/rock singers who carried on the torch.

Word is ... Melanie was actually working on a new album as recently as this month, one in which she'd be doing covers. She was 76.

RIP

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