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demmiblue

(39,558 posts)
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 05:47 PM 18 hrs ago

Neil Sedaka, songwriter to the stars for decades, dies at 86

Source: NBC News

Neil Sedaka, one of pop's most enduring songwriters whose career extended from after World War II to the countercultural days of Elton John, has died, his family said Friday.

Sedaka, the writer behind such songs as "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," "Love Will Keep Us Together" and dozens of other hits, was 86. His cause of death was not clear.

"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement to NBC News.

Sedaka got his start in high school, performing with a doo-wop group, the Tokens, that recorded two hit singles. Later collaboration with his young neighbor, Howard Greenfield, led to a songwriting partnership that lasted a half-century and resulted in 40 million records sold between 1959 and 1963, according to his official bio.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/neil-sedaka-songwriter-dies-86-rcna261065

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Neil Sedaka, songwriter to the stars for decades, dies at 86 (Original Post) demmiblue 18 hrs ago OP
Neil Sedaka - Bad Blood turbinetree 17 hrs ago #1
Sad... Lithos 17 hrs ago #2
Interesting, since Sedaka recorded for Elton John's Rocket Recotds label in the 1970's Wiz Imp 17 hrs ago #4
Agreed Lithos 17 hrs ago #6
Neil Sedaka - The Immigrant (1975) Wiz Imp 17 hrs ago #3
Thanks for posting MustLoveBeagles 15 hrs ago #14
Breaking Up is Hard to Do was a top 10 hit in 2 different versions 13 years apart Wiz Imp 17 hrs ago #5
tra la la la la, la la, la la happy birthday sweet 16 msongs 16 hrs ago #7
This one is my favorite Neil Sedaka song debsy 16 hrs ago #8
Mine too! llmart 15 hrs ago #13
Didn't realize his age but that would make sense BumRushDaShow 15 hrs ago #9
Such catchy tunes. llmart 15 hrs ago #12
My favorite was "Stairway to Heaven" chouchou 15 hrs ago #10
Just saw that Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin 15 hrs ago #11
... 2naSalit 13 hrs ago #15

Lithos

(26,622 posts)
2. Sad...
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:26 PM
17 hrs ago

He was a unique talent. I know he was popular to a lot of people, but the songs themselves are part of the American Songbook.

Personally, it took me years to understand that my 6th-grade music teacher preferred his music to what I wanted to listen to at the time, which was Wings and Elton John. So, I sort of despised him. Of course, it should have been directed towards her, but I was young.

Wiz Imp

(9,637 posts)
4. Interesting, since Sedaka recorded for Elton John's Rocket Recotds label in the 1970's
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:40 PM
17 hrs ago

And Elton John contributed backing vocals to his #1 hit in 1975 "Bad Blood" (which ended up being the most sucessful recording of Sedaka's career)..

Lithos

(26,622 posts)
6. Agreed
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 07:07 PM
17 hrs ago

I'm sure that was a detail my teacher was not aware of. TBH, I can see why Elton was uniquely able to see his talent. This was 6th grade after all. It was also Austin, Texas, and at the time, they had pulled all 6 graders into special 6th-grade-only magnets. (Failed experiment, but that's another story) I am fairly sure she was just an elementary school music teacher who was being asked to do extra-duty and was over her head. Time adds perspective.

L-

Wiz Imp

(9,637 posts)
3. Neil Sedaka - The Immigrant (1975)
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:29 PM
17 hrs ago
&t=98s

Still relevant today. Lyrics:
Harbors open their doors to the young searching foreigner
Come to live in the light of the big L of liberty
Plains and open skies, bill boards would advertise
Was it anything like that when you arrived?
Dream boats carried the future to the heart of America
People were waiting in line for a place by the river

[Chorus]
It was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play
They tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune, and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

Now he arrives with hopes, and his heart set on miracles
Come to marry his fortune with a hand full of promises
To find they've closed the door, they don't want him anymore
There isn't any more to go around
Turning away, he remembers he once heard a legend
That spoke of a mystical, magical land called America

[Chorus x 2]


Wiz Imp

(9,637 posts)
5. Breaking Up is Hard to Do was a top 10 hit in 2 different versions 13 years apart
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:45 PM
17 hrs ago
&list=RD7z4CLycqbbs&start_radio=1

&list=RDZnsPvqmcAyQ&start_radio=1

debsy

(861 posts)
8. This one is my favorite Neil Sedaka song
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 08:05 PM
16 hrs ago
https://m.
]

He was a true inspiration. Kind, caring, and dedicated to his life’s passion.

RIP

BumRushDaShow

(168,137 posts)
9. Didn't realize his age but that would make sense
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 08:46 PM
15 hrs ago

He did so many songs that other singers covered but I'll add to what was already noted!


(with Elton John)



R.I.P.

llmart

(17,511 posts)
12. Such catchy tunes.
Fri Feb 27, 2026, 09:14 PM
15 hrs ago

Is it sad that I know all the words to Calendar Girl? My sister and I used to listen to the radio after dinner while she washed and I dried the dishes. I'd sing harmony, she had the higher voice. We knew all the lyrics. Yeah, I'm channeling my 14 year old self.

He was one of a kind.

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