Neil Sedaka, the legendary singer-songwriter behind “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Bad Blood,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Laughter in the Rain,” has died at the age of 86.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” his family said in a statement.
“A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed,” the statement continued.
A Brooklyn native and key figure in the famed Brill Building songwriting era of the early 1960s, Sedaka scored three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and nine Top 10 hits during his career.
Among his most famous recordings were “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” and “Oh! Carol.”
Sedaka also penned major hits for other artists, including Connie Francis’ “Stupid Cupid” and the Captain and Tennille’s chart-topping “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
Born March 13, 1939, Sedaka grew up in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and showed musical talent at a young age. He earned a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music’s Preparatory Division for Children and studied there through his teenage years.
While he initially focused on classical music, Sedaka transitioned into pop songwriting and formed a long-running partnership with lyricist Howard Greenfield.
The duo became staples of the Brill Building, writing hits alongside contemporaries such as Carole King, Neil Diamond, and Barry Mann.
Sedaka launched his solo career in the late 1950s with RCA Victor and quickly found chart success.
The British Invasion in the mid-1960s slowed his momentum in the United States, and he shifted focus toward songwriting for other artists, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and the Monkees.
A career resurgence came in the early 1970s after Sedaka found success in Australia and the United Kingdom. His collaboration with Elton John, who signed him to Rocket Records, helped fuel a major comeback.
In 1974, Sedaka returned to No. 1 in the U.S. with “Laughter in the Rain,” his first chart-topper in nearly 13 years, as Variety reported.
The following year, “Bad Blood,” which featured uncredited harmony vocals from Elton John, also reached No. 1.
Sedaka earned five Grammy nominations during his career, including one at the second-ever Grammy Awards in 1959.
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.
“This is a gift I was born with,” Sedaka once wrote on his website. “My main objective is to always top the last collection, raise the bar and reinvent Neil Sedaka.”
He continued touring and recording well beyond his commercial peak, and in 2007 was honored with a 50th anniversary concert at New York’s Lincoln Center.
In 2022, Sedaka officially retired from songwriting and later sold his song catalog to Primary Wave Music.
He is survived by his wife, Leba Strassberg, whom he married in 1962, and their two children, Marc and Dara.
