Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka (March 13, 1939 — February 27, 2026) 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 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly 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). His popularity declined by the mid-1960s, but revived in the mid-1970s, solidified by the 1975 US Billboard Hot 100 number ones "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood".
Sedaka maintained a successful career as a songwriter, penning hits for other artists, including "Stupid Cupid" (Connie Francis), "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" (Tony Christie), and "Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille). As a performer, he had ten No. 1 hits and four as a songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and continued to perform, mounting mini-concerts on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sedaka was hospitalized in Los Angeles after experiencing an undisclosed medical emergency and later died on February 27, 2026, aged 86.
Photos
Films (18)
ABBA Silver, ABBA Gold
2023 · Himself - singer-songwriter
Kylie Minogue V The Bee Gees
2022 · Self (archive footage)
ABBA: In Their Own Words
2020 · Self
ABBA Forever: A Celebration
2019 · Self
Neil Sedaka - Legends in Concert
2015 · Self
Neil Sedaka: King of Song
2014 · Self
Neil Sedaka: That's When the Music Takes Me
2010
Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On
2006
Food Rocks
1994 · Neil Moussaka (uncredited), Songs
Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need Is the Music
1983
Neil Sedaka: Live in Concert at the Jubilee Hall
1981 · Himself
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
In Concert: Neil Sedaka
1975
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1974 · Self
Playgirl Killer
1967 · Bob
Sting of Death
1966 · Songs
Instant Love
1964 · Himself
Festival in Rhythm
1960 · Himself
Séries (31)
This Is Pop
2021 · Self
Good Morning Britain
2014 · Self
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
2007 · Self
Legends
2006 · Self
The Tony Danza Show
2004 · Self
American Idol
2002 · Self - Guest Judge
The King of Queens
1998 · Neil Sedaka
The Heaven and Earth Show
1998
The Garden Party
1998
The View
1997 · Self
The Music Biz
1995 · Self
Later... with Jools Holland
1992
Pebble Mill
1991 · Self
Surprise, Surprise
1984 · Self - Performer
Na sowas!
1982 · Self
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
1979 · Theme Song Performance
The Sonny and Cher Show
1976
Donny & Marie
1976 · Self
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Musical Guest
Tony Orlando and Dawn
1974 · Self
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest
1972 · Self
Musikladen
1972 · Self
Ein Kessel Buntes
1972 · Self
Look - Mike Yarwood!
1971
The Carol Burnett Show
1967 · Self
Shindig!
1964 · Self - Singer / Pianist, Self - Singer
The Tonight Show avec Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Guest Co-Host, Self
The Dick Clark Show
1958 · Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self