Neil Sedaka, Singer Behind Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Dies Aged 86
Prolific songwriter who sold more than 50 million records remembered as a true rock and roll legend
Sedaka's family remembered him as a "true rock and roll legend" and "inspiration to millions." No cause of death was given.
Across a career spanning seven decades, Sedaka wrote and performed some of pop music's most enduring songs, including Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Oh! Carol, Calendar Girl, and Bad Blood. He also penned hits for other artists, with Stupid Cupid (recorded by Connie Francis) and Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille) among his most celebrated compositions.
Sedaka was part of the Brill Building songwriting scene in New York that shaped American pop music in the late 1950s and 1960s, alongside contemporaries like Carole King and Burt Bacharach.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Sedaka was one of the last surviving architects of the pre-Beatles American pop sound. His death marks the passing of a generation of songwriters who built the foundation of modern pop music.
Background
After initial success in the early 1960s, Sedaka's career waned during the British Invasion before a remarkable comeback in the mid-1970s with hits like Laughter in the Rain and Bad Blood. His ability to reinvent himself across decades made him a rare figure in popular music.
What to Watch
Tributes are expected from across the music industry as news of his death spreads.