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Neil Sedaka
1939-2026
Sedaka was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Beginning his music career in 1957, he sold millions of records worldwide and wrote or co-wrote over 500 songss for himself and other artists, collaborating with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody.
After a short-lived tenure as a founding member of the doo-wop group, The Tokens, Sedaka achieved a string of hit singles over the late 1950s and early 1960s including "Oh, Carol" (1959), "Calendar Girl" (1960), "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (1961) and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (1962). Sedaka maintained a successful career as a songwriter, penning hits for other artists including "Stupid Cupid" for Connie Francis and "Love Will Keep Us Together" for Captain and Tennille. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.
My favorite Sedaka song is "Laughter in the Rain". It was recorded between November and December 1973 at Clover Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The song was subsequently released in October 1974 and became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1975. The lyrics were by Phil Cody and includes a 20-second saxophone solo by Jim Horn.
Strolling along country roads with my baby. It starts to rain, it begins to pour. Without an umbrella, we're soaked to the skin I feel a shiver run up my spine. I feel the warmth of her hand in mine.
Ooh, I hear laughter in the rain Walking hand in hand with the one I love. Ooh, how I love the rainy days and the happy way I feel inside.
While Neil Sedaka had several major hits, his most iconic and popular was "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do". It hit #1 twice, first as a fast-paced pop song in 1962 and then as a slower ballard in 1975, a rare feat for any artist.
Neil Sedaka, who went from classical music prodigy to talented songwriter to teenage idol to pop music fixture in a celebrated career that spanned seven decades.
RIP Mr. Neil Sedaka
Your music filled our hearts!
"Music is what feelings sound like."
