Legendary American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for classic hits including Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Oh! Carol, Calendar Girl and Laughter in the Rain, has died at the age of 86.
His family confirmed his passing in a statement, describing the loss as devastating.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,” the statement said. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”
Sedaka, a skilled pianist and five-time Grammy nominee, enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades, during which he wrote and performed numerous chart-topping songs and collaborated with several major artists.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sedaka studied at the prestigious Juilliard School before entering the music industry. In the late 1950s, he was a founding member of the doo-wop group The Tokens.
He rose to prominence in the early 1960s with a string of pop hits, including Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, which became one of the defining songs of the era.
Sedaka also wrote music for other performers. One of his earliest successes came when singer Connie Francis recorded Stupid Cupid in 1958, a song he wrote with a neighbour while still a teenager.
Although his popularity declined in the United States during the late 1960s amid the British Invasion, Sedaka later staged a successful comeback. In 1975, he returned to the Billboard Top 10 after writing Love Will Keep Us Together, recorded by the duo Captain & Tennille.
During the 1970s, he also released several albums under Elton John’s record label, further reviving his career and introducing his music to new audiences.
In a 2012 interview with the BBC while visiting London to perform a piano concerto at the Royal Albert Hall, Sedaka spoke about his love for classical music alongside his pop career.
“It’s wonderful for the soul to be able to play classical music,” he said. “But to travel around playing your own lyrics and music is a very rewarding feeling, and I have no regrets.”
Sedaka’s family did not disclose the cause of death or where he died. His legacy, however, endures through the timeless songs that helped shape modern pop music.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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