Neil Sedaka, the iconic singer-songwriter whose career spanned decades and whose hits include “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Calendar Girl,” passed away on Friday at the age of 86, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to ABC News. Sedaka’s family expressed their deep sorrow in a statement, saying, “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. 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.”
Sedaka rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a string of hits that included “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Oh! Carol,” but it was “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” that became his signature song, topping the charts in 1962. He revisited the song in 1975 with a slower version that became a top 10 hit in 1976 and earned him a Grammy nomination.
Though his popularity as a recording artist declined in the mid-1960s due to the rise of The Beatles and the British Invasion, Sedaka continued to thrive as a songwriter for other major acts, including Frank Sinatra and The Monkees. He also found continued success in the United Kingdom, releasing the albums Emergence, Solitaire, and The Tra-La Days Are Over, which caught the attention of Elton John. John signed Sedaka to his Rocket Records label, revitalizing his career in the United States.
During this resurgence, Sedaka released Sedaka’s Back, featuring the No.1 hit “Laughter in the Rain,” and The Hungry Years, which included another chart-topper, “Bad Blood,” with uncredited backing vocals from Elton John. Beyond his own performances, Sedaka penned songs that became massive hits for other artists, most notably “Love Will Keep Us Together” performed by Captain and Tennille, which earned him and co-writer Howard Greenfield a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Over the course of his career, Sedaka received numerous accolades, including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. He remains celebrated for his contributions to pop and rock music, and his influence continues to resonate with artists and fans worldwide.
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