Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind hits such as “Laughter in the Rain” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died Friday at 86.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” his family said in a statement, without providing a cause of death. “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.”
A Juilliard-trained pianist, Sedaka was born in New York to a Jewish taxi driver. He was known for his small stature, dark hair and distinctive high-pitched voice. His professional music career began in the late 1950s as a songwriter and he became a central figure at the Brill Building, the era’s songwriting hub, where he frequently collaborated with childhood friend and lyricist Howard Greenfield.
One of his early songwriting successes was “Stupid Cupid,” which became a hit for Connie Francis. As a performer, Sedaka rose to prominence in the early 1960s with a string of pop singles including “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Oh! Carol,” the latter written about a high school sweetheart. His mainstream popularity eased in the late 1960s as rock bands like the Beatles reshaped popular music, but he mounted a notable comeback in the 1970s with chart-toppers such as “Laughter in the Rain” and “Bad Blood,” adding to his earlier No. 1 with “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.”
Although his presence on the charts diminished by the 1980s, Sedaka continued to work in show business and remained active as a performer into his 80s.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery