Neil Sedaka, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Laughter in the Rain” Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 86

Neil Sedaka, the Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter and pianist who topped the charts with hits like 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,' 'Laughter in the Rain,' and 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 86, according to his family. 'Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,' his family said in a statement. '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's career spanned decades and showcased remarkable resilience, beginning with his first hit in 1958 when Connie Francis recorded 'Stupid Cupid,' a song he wrote with lyricist Howard Greenfield, his neighbor in their Brooklyn apartment building. Together they crafted an impressive string of hits including 'Oh! Carol,' 'Calendar Girl,' and 'Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen,' with 10 consecutive hits between 1958-1962 selling 25 million records. Despite waning popularity in the mid-1960s amid the British music invasion, Sedaka experienced a spectacular comeback in the 1970s after signing with Elton John's Rocket Record Co. In 1974, his album 'Sedaka's Back' featured the chart-topping 'Laughter in the Rain,' followed by another No. 1 with 'Bad Blood' in 1975. His songwriting prowess reached new heights when Captain & Tennille recorded 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' which became the best-selling single of 1975 and won a Grammy for Record of the Year. Born in Brooklyn on March 13, 1939, Sedaka displayed musical talent from an early age, winning a scholarship to Juilliard's School of Music's Preparatory Division at age 8. Though his mother encouraged a career as a classical pianist, Greenfield convinced him to pursue pop songwriting, leading to a legendary partnership that produced countless hits. Sedaka's legacy includes being a five-time Grammy nominee and member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, with a career that demonstrated both musical genius and remarkable adaptability across changing musical landscapes.