She attended the Manhattan School of Music and Arts and learned to play the Piano and Harpsicord. Her father is a Basson player in the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In the early 1970s, Melissa studied songwriting at the University School of the Arts in New York City, under the direction of Paul Simon and, at 15, she was recording commercial jingles. She was only one of nine applicants accepted at Simon's class out of over 100 applicants. She also sang with Bette Midler and was also her backup before going solo. She is married to Kevin De Remer and, in 1982, won the best female vocalist of the year award.