Neil Sedaka, Hitmaker Behind ‘Calendar Girl’ and ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,’ Dies at 86
The prolific singer-songwriter behind tunes such as “Laughter in the Rain” came to fame in the ’60s.
Neil Sedaka, the prolific singer-songwriter whose catalog shaped generations of pop music — from “Calendar Girl” to “Laughter in the Rain” — has died at 86. His decades-long career left an unmistakable mark on the soundtrack of American life
A representative confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly on Friday and provided a statement from Sedaka’s loved ones.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” the statement said. “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.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sedaka learned to play music as a child and was such a talent that he won a scholarship to attend the Juliard School of Music. He was 13 when he began a decades-long partnership with friend Howard Greenfield, who was a lyricist. The two began to hit up music companies, and by 1958 they had their first hit, “Stupid Cupid,” as recorded by Connie Francis.
Sedaka was, of course, a singer himself, and he signed to be the one behind the microphone at RCA in 1959, per his official bio from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Beginning that year, Sedaka was second to Elvis Presley in terms of records sold for five years, selling a staggering 40 million records.
His biggest early hits included classic songs such as “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.”
He had a career resurgence in the mid-70s. He performed 1974’s “Laughter in the Rain,” then collaborated the next year with Elton John on the track “Bad Blood” and co-wrote the popular song “Love Will Keep Us Together,” which was made famous by Captain & Tennille.
Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and nominated for five Grammys over his career. Fans have lamented for years that he hasn’t been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Sedaka’s survivors include his wife since 1962, Leba Strassberg, and their two children, Marc and Dara.
