Neil Sedaka, US pop ace, has died

American singer Neil Sedaka has died at 86. The news was reported by US media.

A chart mainstay between the late Fifties and early Sixties, he had penned hits like "Oh! Carol" (inspired by a young Carole King), "Calendar Girl" and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "Laughter In The Rain", "Bad Blood", "Love Will Keep Us Together". These songs established him as one of the most recognizable faces of pre-British Invasion pop, thanks to instantly catchy melodies, tight structures and a tenor voice capable of soaring falsetto flourishes, defining a style tied to the golden age of New York's Brill Building.

Born in New York in 1939 to a Jewish family, Neil Sedaka received a classical training at the Juilliard School. Still a teenager, he began his partnership with lyricist Howard Greenfield, with whom he wrote a long string of hits. His first major success came in 1958 with "Stupid Cupid" for Connie Francis. Shortly after, Sedaka also established himself as a performer, racking up a run of hits between 1959 and 1962 that culminated in the chart-topping "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do".

With the arrival of the British Invasion, his popularity in the United States dipped, and Sedaka focused more on writing for other artists. His comeback came in the early Seventies, thanks to his move to the United Kingdom and his meeting with Elton John. In 1974 "Laughter In The Rain" returned to number one in the United States, followed by "Bad Blood" in 1975. That same year, "Love Will Keep Us Together", performed by Captain & Tennille, was the best-selling single in the US and won the Grammy for Record of the Year, cementing his second wave of success.

Sedaka also had a significant bond with Italy: he recorded fourteen 45s and three albums in Italian, earning three gold records with songs written by Italian authors such as Luis Bacalov, Franco Migliacci and Gianni Meccia. He also performed classics from the Neapolitan songbook, bolstering a popularity that lasted throughout the entire decade of the Sixties in our country.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a multiple Grammy nominee, Sedaka spanned over half a century of the music industry, adapting to its shifting landscape. Married since 1962 to Leba Strassberg, he leaves behind two children and three grandchildren. Until his final years he kept performing live, championing the centrality of the song form and the solid melodic craftsmanship that defined his career.

"We are devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather," the family said in a statement released to People magazine. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, and for those lucky enough to know him, an extraordinary person who will be deeply missed."

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google