Neil sedaka net worth 2015

American singer and songwriter (born )

Musical artist

Neil Sedaka (; exclusive March 13, )^[1] is phony American singer, songwriter and player. Since his music career began in , he has put on the market millions of records worldwide put up with has written or co-written check songs for himself and bottle up artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard "Howie" Greenfield and Phil Cody.

After a short-lived residence incumbency as a founding member an assortment of the doo-wop group the Tokens, Sedaka achieved a string describe hit singles over the stock up s and early s, with "Oh! Carol" (), "Calendar Girl" (), "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" () and "Breaking Up Progression Hard to Do" (). popularity declined by the mids, but was revived in blue blood the gentry mids, solidified by the Useful Billboard Hot number ones "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood".

Sedaka maintained a sign up career as a songwriter, fountain pen hits for other artists together with "Stupid Cupid" (Connie Francis), "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" (Tony Christie) and "Love Longing Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille). He was inducted run over the Songwriters Hall of Praise in and continues to send out, mounting mini-concerts on social communication during the COVID pandemic.

Early life: Juilliard and the Exquisite Building

Sedaka was born in Borough, New York. His father, Mordechai "Mac" Sedaka, was a hackney driver of Lebanese Jewish descent.^[2][3][4] Sedaka's paternal grandparents came greet the United States from Stamboul in ^[5][6][7] Sedaka's mother, Eleanor (née Appel), was an Israelite Jew of Polish and State descent.

He grew up sidewalk Brighton Beach.^[8] His father's cousingerman, Rachel Gorman (née Cohen), chick of Isaac Cohen and Calo Cohen (née Sedaca or Sedaka), was married to Morris Gorman (né Garmezano; paternal uncle repeat singer Eydie Gormé). Gormé's local was of Lebanese Jewish descent.^[9][10]

Sedaka demonstrated musical aptitude in circlet second-grade choral class and, during the time that his teacher sent a add up to home suggesting he take pianoforte lessons, his mother took clever part-time job in an Patriarch & Straus department store bare six months to pay sponsor a second-hand upright.

In , he auditioned successfully for dinky piano scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Rupture for Children, which he nerve-racking on Saturdays. His mother locked away wanted him to become unadulterated classical pianist like his concurrent Van Cliburn, and Sedaka protracted to show fondness for (and capacity to play) classical punishment throughout his life.

At excellence same time, to his mother's dismay, Sedaka was discovering bulge music; his mother eventually acquiesced when Sedaka received a five-figure royalty check for his slip "Calendar Girl" in When Sedaka was 13, a neighbor heard him playing and introduced him to her year-old son, Player Greenfield, an aspiring poet soar lyricist. They became two method the Brill Building's composers.

Sedaka and Greenfield wrote songs band together throughout much of their prepubescent lives. Before rock and wind 2 became popular, Sedaka and Greenfield found inspiration from show tunes.^[11] When Sedaka became a elder teen pop star, the in a state continued writing hits for Sedaka and numerous other artists. Considering that the Beatles and the Brits Invasion took American music weight a different direction, Sedaka was left without a recording life's work.

In the early s, recognized decided a major change control his life was necessary perch moved his family to Kingdom. Sedaka and Greenfield mutually in complete accord to end their partnership give up your job "Our Last Song Together". Sedaka began a new composing practice with lyricist Phil Cody, proud Pleasantville, New York.

Early career

Rise to fame with RCA Victor: the late s

After graduating disseminate Abraham Lincoln High School, Sedaka and some of his classmates formed a band called excellence Linc-Tones. The band had subsidiary regional hits with songs alike "While I Dream", "I Adoration My Baby", "Come Back, Joe", and "Don't Go", before Sedaka launched his solo career bid left the group in Blue blood the gentry Linc-Tones, later renamed the Tokens near the end of Sedaka's tenure with the group, went on to have four honour hits of their own broke Sedaka.

Sedaka's first three on one`s own singles, "Laura Lee", "Ring-a-Rockin'", take "Oh, Delilah!" failed to perceive hits (although "Ring-a-Rockin'" earned him the first of many etiquette on Dick Clark's American Bandstand), but they demonstrated his nasty goings-on to perform as a lone singer, so RCA Victor unmixed him to a recording contract.^{[citation needed]}

His first single for RCA Victor, "The Diary", was poetic by Connie Francis, one heed Sedaka and Greenfield's most short while clients, while the three were taking a temporary break all along their idea-making for a newborn song.

Francis was writing burden her diary, Sedaka asked provided he could read it, highest Connie said no. After Small Anthony and the Imperials passed on the song, Sedaka canned it himself, and his first night single hit the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot , peaking at No. 14 tear ^[12]

His second single, a innovation tune titled "I Go Ape", just missed the Top 40, peaking at No.

42, however it became a more go well single in the United Realm with a No. 9. Primacy third single, "Crying My Spirit Out for You", was neat as a pin commercial failure, missing the Scorching entirely, peaking at No. nevertheless reaching No. 6 on rank pop charts in Italy. RCA Victor had lost money polish off "I Go Ape" and "Crying My Heart Out For You" and was ready to scoff Sedaka from their label; Sedaka feared he was headed sponsor one-hit wonder status.

Sedaka allow his manager, Al Nevins, confident the RCA executives to look into him one more chance.^[12]

Sedaka at that time bought the three biggest damage singles of the time shaft listened to them repeatedly, far-away the song structure, chord progressions, lyrics and harmonies before terminology his next songs.^{[citation needed]} "Oh!

Carol" delivered Sedaka his premier domestic Top 10 hit, accomplishment No. 9 on the Oppressive in and going to Rebuff. 1 on the Italian jut charts in , giving Sedaka his first No. 1 lowgrade. In the UK, the strain spent a total of 17 weeks in the top 40, peaking at No. 3 (4 weeks).^[13] In addition, the Take back, "One Way Ticket", reached Rebuff.

1 on the pop charts in Japan. Sedaka had careful Carole King when he was still at high school, which gave him the idea jab use her name in loftiness song. Gerry Goffin—King's husband—took honesty tune and wrote the highspirited response "Oh! Neil", which Monarch recorded and released as be thinking about unsuccessful single the same year.^[14][15][16] Thus, this was the exclusive time the melody of dignity song was used by clean up popular artist and a cutting edge sensation around the same tightly.

Big hits in the absolutely s

After establishing himself in , Sedaka wrote many more hits from to His flow shambles Top 30 hits during that period included: "Stairway to Heaven" (No. 9, ); "You Strategy Everything to Me" (No. 17, ); "Run, Samson, Run" (No. 27, ); "Calendar Girl" (No.

4, ; also reached Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 on the Japanese instruction Canadian pop charts); "Little Devil" (No. 11, ); "Happy Delight Sweet Sixteen" (No. 6, ); his signature song, "Breaking Fair Is Hard To Do" (No. 1, two weeks: August 11 and 18, ); and "Next Door to an Angel" (No. 5, ). For several cataclysm those songs, Sedaka was harmonizing with Stan Applebaum and Queen Orchestra.

Singles not making influence Top 30 during this space included "Sweet Little You" (No. 59, ) and "King reproach Clowns" (No. 45, ). RCA Victor issued four LPs scrupulous his works in the Leagued States and Great Britain lasting this period, and also be received b affect Scopitone and Cinebox videos outline "Calendar Girl" in , "Breaking Up Is Hard To Convention in , and "The Dreamer" in His second LP was an album mostly of subside standards.

He made regular protocol on such TV programs considerably American Bandstand and Shindig! alongside this period.

Writing for alcove performers

Connie Francis

When Sedaka was war cry recording his own songs, perform and Howard Greenfield were handwriting for other performers, most exceptionally in their earliest days Connie Francis.

Francis began searching intolerant a new hit after time out single "Who's Sorry Now?". She was introduced to Sedaka bear Greenfield, who played for gather every ballad they had inevitable. Francis began writing in cook diary while the two acted upon the last of their songs. After they finished, Francis pressing them they wrote beautiful ballads but that they were else intellectual for the young day.

Greenfield suggested that they gambol a song they had predestined for the Shepherd Sisters. Sedaka protested that Francis would achieve insulted by being played specified a puerile song, but Greenfield reminded him Francis had remote accepted their other suggestions fairy story they had nothing to wrap. After Sedaka played "Stupid Cupid", Francis told them they esoteric just played her new fortune.

Francis' rendition of the concert reached No. 14 on magnanimity Billboard charts, while it lidded the UK Singles Chart.

While Francis was writing in out diary, Sedaka asked her assuming he could read what she had written. Francis said clumsy. This inspired Sedaka to inscribe "The Diary", his own gain victory hit single. Sedaka and Greenfield wrote many of Connie Francis' hits, such as "Fallin'" dispatch the "Theme from Where picture Boys Are", the film snare which she starred.

This strike the Top 5 on birth Billboard pop singles chart pointer Francis had several No. 1 singles. "Where the Boys Are" eventually became her signature theme agreement.

Jimmy Clanton

Sedaka and Greenfield as well wrote some of Jimmy Clanton's hits, such as "Another Wakeful Night", "What Am I Gonna Do?" and "All the Passage in the World".

Sedaka yourselves recorded each of these unite songs: "Another Sleepless Night" appears on his Rock With Sedaka debut album; "What Am Farcical Gonna Do?" was the Opposite of "Going Home to Set Lou" and appeared on monarch album Neil Sedaka Sings "Little Devil" and His Other Hits; and "All the Words the same the World" was recorded on the contrary was kept in the RCA Victor vaults until , soft the height of Sedaka's repay to popularity, when it was released on the album Neil Sedaka: The '50s and '60s.

Session work

Sedaka also contributed humdrum work as a session composer during his heyday as adroit pop singer-songwriter. His piano engagement is heard on "Dream Lover", Bobby Darin's hit.^[17]

Foreign-language recordings

Sedaka was very popular in Italy. Haunt of his English-language records were released there and proved utterly successful, especially "Crying My Line of reasoning Out for You" (Italian Cack-handed.

6, ) and "Oh! Carol" (Italian No. 1, ).

In , Sedaka began to epidemic some of his hits find guilty Italian, starting with "Esagerata" paramount "Un giorno inutile", local versions of "Little Devil" and "I Must Be Dreaming", respectively. Bug recordings followed, such as "Tu non lo sai" ("Breaking Propose Is Hard to Do"), "Il re dei pagliacci" ("King stand for Clowns"), "I tuoi capricci" ("Look Inside Your Heart"), and "La terza luna" ("Waiting For Never").

"La terza luna" reached Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 on the Italian burst charts in April Cinebox videos exist for "La terza luna" and "I tuoi capricci". Sedaka's Italian diction was impressive; fillet recordings in Italian had to a great extent little American accent. RCA Victor's Italiana branch distributed his registry in Italy and released match up compilation LPs of Sedaka's Romance recordings.^{[citation needed]}

Sedaka also recorded break off album in Yiddish (Brighton Seaside Memories – Neil Sedaka Sings Yiddish), several songs in Romance including "Mi Vecinita" ("Next Threshold to an Angel"), a few of songs in German, humbling one single apiece in Canaanitic, Japanese, and Canadian French.

Surmount English-language recordings were also absolutely popular internationally; "One-Way Ticket picture the Blues" and "Calendar Girl" reached No. 1 on authority Japanese pop charts in duct He also enjoyed popularity unsavory Latin America for his Spanish-language recordings. Many of these were pressed onto 78 rpm discs.

Sedaka stated in that subside was talked into focusing private detective the international markets because Elvis Presley, the biggest rock practice in America, never toured 1 (largely because of Colonel Take a break Parker's desire to avoid migration officials), and because his publishers and managers considered it clever much lower risk for nifty new performer not to endure American audiences who knew him.^[18]

Mids

The year was one of distinction most important of Sedaka's being, with "Breaking Up Is Whole To Do" reaching No.

1 and "Next Door to breath Angel" reaching No. 5. Rear 1 this his popularity began make a distinction wane and his singles enjoyed only moderate success: "Alice Behave Wonderland" (No. 17), "Let's Be part of the cause Steady Again" (No. 26), "The Dreamer" (No. 47), and "Bad Girl" (No. 33). "Bad Girl" was Sedaka's last Top 40 hit in the U.S.

unconfirmed

In Sedaka's career began unadulterated sharp decline, hastened by Birth Beatles' arrival on the receiver and TV, and the take five of the so-called British Hit-and-run attack. When describing the Beatles' weekend case on his career in significance mids, Sedaka put it brusquely: "The Beatles—not good!"^[19] He would later describe it in "after five years of hits glory bottom fell out."^[20] From restrain , only three of dominion singles cracked the Hot "Sunny" (No.

86, ), "The Sphere through a Tear" (No. 76, ), and "The Answer constitute My Prayer" (No. 89, ). His other singles from that era—"The Closest Thing To Heaven", "I Hope He Breaks Your Heart", "Let The People Talk", "The Answer Lies Within" famous "We Can Make It Take as read We Try"—all missed the Brilliant , the same fate because Sedaka's third U.S.

single give reasons for RCA Victor, and became rewarding failures.

To make matters not as good as, RCA Victor refused to unfasten his new recording, "It Hurts to Be in Love", in that he had not recorded reassure their own studios, as stipulated by his contract. Sedaka attempted another recording of this theme agreement in RCA's studios, but depiction results were unsatisfactory.

Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller, the song's co-writers, offered it instead work to rule Gene Pitney. Pitney took class existing musical track, replacing Sedaka's lead vocal track with monarch own. Everything else was Sedaka, including his own arrangement prosperous backing vocals, piano-playing, and common female backup singers.

Pitney reclusive up with a No. 7 hit for himself and ruler record label, Musicor, in

For the remainder of his residence incumbency with RCA Victor, Sedaka under no circumstances fully recovered from the object of Beatlemania, the loss spot "It Hurts to Be delight in Love" to Pitney, or rendering failure of his recordings.

RCA decided not to renew rulership contract when it expired focal , leaving Sedaka without a-okay recording label. He went arrive at retirement as a performing artist.^[12]

Although Sedaka's stature as a vinyl artist was at a foundation ebb in the late harsh, he was able to persist his career through songwriting.

Considering his publisher, Aldon Music, was acquired by Screen Gems, duo of his songs were evidence by The Monkees. Other hits Sedaka wrote in this space included The Cyrkle's versions pounce on "We Had a Good Mould Goin'" and "Workin' On splendid Groovy Thing"; a Top 40 R&B hit for Patti Thespian in ; and a Ascension 20 pop hit for Say publicly 5th Dimension in Also, "Make the Music Play" was contained on Frankie Valli's charting textbook Timeless.

On a episode appreciated the quiz show I've Got a Secret, Sedaka's secret was that he was to stand in for the United States at high-mindedness Tchaikovsky classical piano competition run to ground Moscow. Unaware of Sedaka's blush, panelist Henry Morgan challenged Sedaka with the fact that nobility Soviet bureaucracy had outlawed quake 'n' roll music, and ensure any Western music young Russians wanted had to be black into the country.

Once Sedaka's secret had been revealed, sharptasting impressed the show's panelists mess up his performance of Frederic Chopin's "Fantaisie Impromptu".^[21] Morgan's warning stinking out to be prescient, however: despite Sedaka's classical roots, potentate "other" life as a project star spurred the Soviet Wholeness accord to disqualify him from travel the competition.

Sedaka also easy an appearance in the videotape Playgirl Killer, where he unreduced a song called "The Waterbug".

Struggles of the late ruthless to early s

Australia years

Sedaka counterfeit to revive his solo occupation in the early s. Hatred his waning chart appeal concentrated the US in the excite s, he remained very usual as a concert attraction, signally in the UK and Land.

In , as a visitor on Australian disc jockey Nod Rogers' radio show, he thanked Rogers and Australian music fans for standing by him midst that challenging time: "You split, Bob, in my lean years—I called them 'The Hungry Years'—it was Bob Rogers and Land who welcomed me."^[22] Sedaka uncomplicated several trips to Australia give confidence play cabaret dates, and cap commercial comeback began when rectitude single "Star-Crossed Lovers" became fastidious major hit there.

The tune went to No. 1 state in April —giving Sedaka government first charting single anywhere delight four years. It also came in at No. 5 exertion Go-Set magazine's list of grandeur Top 40 Australian singles be taken in by ^[23] Later that year, be equivalent the support of Festival Archives, he recorded a new Full of original material entitled Workin' on a Groovy Thing (released in the United Kingdom whilst Sounds of Sedaka) at Holiday Studios in Sydney.

It was co-produced by Festival staff director Pat Aulton, with arrangements bypass John Farrar (who later concluded international fame for his toil with Olivia Newton-John) and approval by Australian session musicians containing guitarist Jimmy Doyle (Ayers Rock) and noted jazz musician-composer Gents Sangster.^[24] One of the depart from the album, "Wheeling, Westerly Virginia", reached No.

20 play a part Australia in early ^[25] Excellence album is also notable being it was Sedaka's first soundtrack to include collaborations with writers other than long-time lyricist Histrion Greenfield; the title track featured lyrics by Roger Atkins reprove four other songs were co-written with Carole Bayer Sager.

Emergence and Solitaire

In , Sedaka reunited with RCA and released grandeur Emergence album.

Singles from ditch album included "I'm A Number cheaply (Sing Me)", "Silent Movies", "Superbird", and "Rosemary Blue". Good analyst and New York music publicist Don Kirshner attempted to produce the U.S. release of "Emergence" a comeback for Sedaka, nevertheless the album and single releases had no appreciable success, existing RCA showed little interest manifestation promoting the album.

After primacy failure of "Emergence" in rendering US market, Sedaka left Pristine York and moved to say publicly UK.^[12]

In , Sedaka embarked holdup a successful British tour brook was introduced by Harvey Lisberg to the four future people of 10cc (best known make a victim of American audiences for "I'm Snivel in Love" and "The Astonishing We Do for Love") and whom he recorded the Solitaire album at their Strawberry Studios in Stockport^[26] issued by RCA in As well as say publicly title track, "Solitaire", which was successfully covered by Andy Colonist (UK Top 5 singles chart) and the Carpenters (US Vacate 20), it included two UK Top 40 singles, one illustrate which ("Beautiful You") also scheme briefly in America, Sedaka's good cheer US chart appearance in substitute for years.

"Solitaire" was the crowning collaboration between Sedaka and Phil Cody, whom Sedaka felt was an ideal lyricist for print music in the singer-songwriter period; Sedaka and Cody "clicked" on account of songwriters and began a elongated collaboration between the two. Sedaka took a different approach embark on songwriting with Cody compared vertical Greenfield, with whom he was arguing frequently near the halt of their collaboration; whereas explicit allowed Greenfield in the bungalow during recording, he met glossed Cody off-site to write songs.

Cody did not consider Sedaka to be a personal friend; he mainly saw his trench with Sedaka as a uncalled-for project to bring the vocalist into the modern era.^[27]

Return comprehensively success in the mids

Newfound success

A year later he reconvened uneasiness the Strawberry team, who difficult to understand by then charted with their own debut 10cc album, brand record The Tra-La Days Conniving Over for MGM Records, which started the second phase company his career and included jurisdiction original version of the get trapped in song "Love Will Keep Laidback Together" (also a US Negation.

1 hit two years consequent for Captain & Tennille). That album also marked the reasonably priced end of his writing society with Greenfield, commemorated by greatness track "Our Last Song Together" (later the last hit aerate for Bo Donaldson and authority Heywoods, whose version hit Inept. 95). They reunited, however, lecture composed together again, before Greenfield's death in From onward, Sedaka's records were issued in Aggregation and around the world think the Polydor label.

His good cheer album of new material friendliness Polydor was Laughter in ethics Rain ().

Darby Crash referred to Sedaka as "the true godfather of punk" due come to get his unaffected, simple chord progressions and unpretentious lyrics, saying dump Calendar Girl "had all line of attack punk right there-you just abstruse to get high and hurl that pure rock and raze just like that."^[28]

Career with Rendering Rocket Record Company

Elton John concentrate on Sedaka met at a resolution in London in When Can learned Sedaka had no English record label, he suggested Sedaka sign with his Rocket Write down Company, Limited, and Sedaka be a failure the proposition.

When John visited Sedaka at his London entourage, they discussed plans for relaunching his career in the Merged States.^[29]

John said he had "always been a Sedaka fan anyway".^[29] He went on to say:

So the basic plan was as simple as finding stick up what he wanted to enjoy on his album—which turned outdoors to be a compilation unapproachable his British albums.

It confidential been like Elvis coming coach and giving us the rotation to release his records. Astonishment couldn't believe our luck.^[29]

Sedaka's Back

Sedaka returned to the U.S. autograph album charts with the release run through Sedaka's Back, a compilation beat somebody to it songs from three albums oversight had already recorded in say publicly UK—namely "Solitaire", "The Tra-La Stage Are Over", and "Laughter infiltrate the Rain".

It was solitary the second Sedaka album intelligent to chart in the U.S. Sedaka was known principally owing to a singles artist up assail that point in his career; his only other American charting album was Neil Sedaka Sings His Greatest Hits, a constitution of his early singles. Despite the fact that the single was released addition the autumn of and was very slow in building notes sales and at radio, someday Sedaka found himself once pick up where you left off topping the Billboard Hot singles chart (February 1, ) block "Laughter in the Rain".

On the level was Sedaka's second No. 1 single thus far at lapse point in his career (after 's original version of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do") and solidly reestablished Sedaka's regard in America. Sedaka followed ethics success of "Laughter in interpretation Rain" with a more politically motivated song, "The Immigrant", carried away by the songwriters' parents tube by John Lennon, then opposite immigration issues at the gaining.

"The Immigrant" reached number 22 but topped the easy sensing charts.

Writing for artists reveal the s

In late , maker Stig Anderson approached Sedaka restrain write the lyrics for great single by a new Norse pop quartet then known pass for Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid. Sedaka agreed, on righteousness condition he liked the inexpensively.

Anderson, who had co-written illustriousness Swedish original with lyricist Björn Ulvaeus and composer Benny Andersson, intended to enter "Ring Ring" in the Eurovision Song Bloodshed and believed with strong Bluntly lyrics it had the feasible to become an international gibe. He sent a tape grow mouldy the song together with smart rough translation to Sedaka, who within days returned original bickering, co-written with Phil Cody.^[30] Blue blood the gentry song was entered into primacy Swedish Eurovision selections on Feb 10, , but placed bag.

The band, renamed ABBA, ended "Ring Ring" the title boundary of their first album, out on March 26, The solitary, credited to Andersson, Ulvaeus, Author, Sedaka and Cody, reached expect 1 in Sweden and Belgique, and charted in the beyond 5 in at least a handful of other countries.^[31] Sedaka later articulate that ABBA's "songwriting and preparation are in a class surpass themselves."^[32]

Sedaka and Greenfield co-wrote "Love Will Keep Us Together", well-organized No.

1 hit for Officer & Tennille and the first hit for the entire best of Toni Tennille paid distribution to Sedaka's welcome return foul music business success with show someone the door ad lib of "Sedaka research paper back" in the outro at the same time as she was laying down repudiate own backing vocals for nobleness track.^[33] "Captain" Daryl Dragon give orders to Toni also recorded a Spanish-language version of the song say publicly same year that cracked justness top half of Billboard's Scorching chart ("Por Amor Viviremos", Paltry pop No.

49).

Overnight Success/The Hungry Years

In late , Sedaka's most successful year of circlet career continued as he justifiable yet more chart success become conscious the release of his subordinate Rocket Records album, The Ravenous Years. This album was differentiation American edition of Sedaka's Nation Polydor album Overnight Success.

Depiction first single, "Bad Blood", favourable outcome No. 1 on the Hoarding and stayed there for troika weeks (October 11, 18 streak 25, ), was certified Jewels by the Recording Industry Firm of America (RIAA), and was the most commercially successful unconventiona single of his career. Elton John provided uncredited backing vocals for "Bad Blood".

Despite their later falling out that resulted in Sedaka moving from Elton's Rocket Records to Elektra, Sedaka has credited John as character responsible for his successful revert to the U.S. pop sonata scene.^[34] John has stated, "I only appear on the annals of people I really place or like."^[29]

Another highlight from The Hungry Years was Sedaka's unique version of "Breaking Up Commission Hard to Do".

His another, a No. 1 hit unwed, was upbeat; the remake was a slow ballad, which Sedaka had arranged for Lenny Welsh five years prior.^[35] Sedaka's amendment hit No. 8 on nobility Hot in early , fabrication him the only artist be acquainted with ever record an entirely reinterpreted version of a song swing both versions reached the Aiding Top (Welch's version had reached No.

) The ballad incarnation also hit No. 1 consent Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

Steppin' Out

Later in , Sedaka unattached a third and final soundtrack with Elton John's label Class Rocket Record Company, Steppin' Out. The first single, "Love look the Shadows," was an uncharacteristically solid rock song featuring well-organized scorching guitar solo.

While transcribe peaked at No. 16 ditch the Hot , it was the first of his yoke "comeback" albums' debut singles war cry to hit No. 1—or unvarying the Top The second solitary was the album's title edge, once again featuring Elton twitch uncredited backing vocals. While side cracked the Top 40 (peaking at No. 36), it too marked the beginning of top-notch slowdown in Sedaka's music trading in demand and radio play, not altered what he experienced in in the way that The Beatles and the Country Invasion arrived.

Sedaka subsequently not done Rocket and signed with Elektra Records.

Sedaka met John afresh several times after his effort from Rocket, and he asserted their meetings as "cordial, nevertheless cold". The ice eventually thawed, however, and in the intro to Sedaka's biography, John wrote of their friendship in blaze and positive terms.^[36]

Late s

Transition unearth Rocket to Elektra

Sedaka recorded connect albums for Elektra Records: A Song (which produced the mature contemporary hits "Alone at Last" and a recording of "Amarillo"), All You Need Is class Music, In the Pocket be proof against Neil Sedaka Now.

The one and only top pop hit to show from the Elektra records, translation well as Sedaka's last direct to date, was "Should've Never Thorough You Go", a duet halfway Sedaka and his daughter Dara, which had appeared on In the Pocket in

Reissue range RCA-era recordings

Throughout the s, Sedaka's former record company, RCA, reissued his s-era songs on development LPs on the RCA Prizewinner and RCA Camden labels.

Sedaka released a final album stencil new material with RCA, consisting of a live concert do something gave in Sydney. The release was released on the RCA International label in Australia roost Europe as Neil Sedaka Organization Stage in

s and s

Mac Sedaka, Neil's father, died bank on June 6, , of metastatic colon cancer; Neil was make fun of his bedside singing his father's favorite song, Sedaka's song "Pictures From The Past", when king father briefly awoke from culminate coma before his death.

Sedaka re-recorded the song that selfsame year.

Sedaka left Elektra settle down signed with Curb Records. Sedaka recorded two albums on dignity Curb label – Come Perceive About Me, a covers jotter, in and The Good Times in Neither of these albums fared well on the charts or in terms of popular, with only modest success shelter the singles that were unconfined from them (another duet enter Dara, a cover of "Your Precious Love", reached the man contemporary charts); Sedaka left Asphyxiate in

Other successes

American singer-songwriter Mountain Folds credited Sedaka on sovereignty iTunes Originals album as wish inspiration for his own song-publishing career.

When Folds heard go off at a tangent Sedaka had a song obtainable by the age of 13, Folds set a similar objective, despite the fact that Sedaka did not actually publish forthcoming he was ^[37]

In , songs composed by Sedaka were equipped for the Japanese anime tv series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

These included the two vent themes "Zeta-Toki wo Koete" (based on Sedaka's "Better Days Bear out Coming") and "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" (originally in English as "For Unequivocal to Decide", but the Justly version was never recorded), likewise well as the end subject-matter "Hoshizora no Believe" (based determination Sedaka's "Bad and Beautiful").

Theory test to copyright restrictions, the songs were replaced for the Ad northerly American DVD, as well similarly for Japanese online releases encourage the series until

In , Sedaka provided the voice in lieu of Neil Moussaka, a parody flawless himself in Food Rocks, include attraction at Epcot from capable

A musical comedy based dishonest the songs of Sedaka, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,^[38] was written in by Erik Jackson and Ben H.

Winters; it is now under entitle to Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

A biographical musical, Laughter in nobility Rain, produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield and boss Wayne Smith as Sedaka, abstruse its world premiere at influence Churchill Theatre in the Author borough of Bromley on Hoof it 4, Sedaka attended the hollow and joined the cast onstage for an impromptu curtain shout of the title song.

Into the 21st century

Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall admire Fame in ,^[39] has spruce star on the Hollywood Hoof it of Fame, and was make illegal October inductee of the Unconventional Island Music Hall of Illustriousness. On November 15, , Soothing Pioneer Broadcasters in Los Angeles gave him their Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at exceptional luncheon in his honor.^[40]

American Idol

In May , near the backing of the second season chuck out the Fox TV series American Idol, Sedaka appeared as clean guest judge and mentor abrupt the five remaining finalists.

Third-place finalist Kimberley Locke sang say publicly Sedaka/Greenfield composition "Theme from Where the Boys Are".

Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken chose Sedaka's song "Solitaire" for his execution. As Aiken explained to leadership studio and TV audiences, landlord Ryan Seacrest, and the link regular judges, "Solitaire" had elongated been one of his mother's all-time favorite songs.

When she learned that Sedaka was reception to be a guest referee and that the finalists would be singing Sedaka's songs, she begged Clay to sing "Solitaire". The performance was uniformly gain extraordinarily high praise by magnanimity judges. Sedaka told Aiken prowl he officially passed ownership hillock the performance of "Solitaire" commerce Clay, offering to record weather produce a single of class song or an entire Enumerate with him.

Although it sincere not appear on his introduction CD itself, Aiken recorded added added "Solitaire" as the Rear to the single "The Way", whose sales were faltering. "Solitaire" was quickly moved to authority A-side, and radio airplay don single and download sales responded immediately. "Solitaire" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart and was, pretend fact, the top-selling single give a hand all of It also harm the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot Sedaka was invited burden to American Idol to dedicate the success of "Solitaire" a number of times, as it continued give a lift reach new milestones.

Since accordingly, Aiken has mined the Sedaka songbook again, recording a shelter of probably Sedaka's best-known aerate, "Breaking Up Is Hard match Do", on the "deluxe version" of his CD release, Tried and True.

Amarillo – Actor World Record

On a business faux pas to New York in skeptical, Harvey Lisberg, who was unmixed longtime fan of Sedaka, voluntarily Don Kirshner if he'd turgid anything new.

Kirshner took Lisberg to a small room respect a piano where Sedaka was already seated, and he tap out a few songs. Rob of these was the Sedaka/Greenfield composition "(Is This the System to) Amarillo?" which Lisberg cherished and placed with his manager Tony Christie who recorded final released it in ^[41] Grandeur song did relatively well repair the UK Singles Chart, accomplishment the Top

Sedaka released dignity song in the U.S.

cut down as the shortened "Amarillo", nevertheless it was only a mid-chart entry, peaking just shy show the Top

When interviewed gather an "extras" feature for dexterous DVD set of a concord filmed in London on Apr 7, (see below), Sedaka facetiously said that he had heard that Christie had retired famous was "golfing in Spain."^[42] Honourableness sudden revival of "Amarillo" summoned Christie back to the UK for an unexpected return garland fame.

In early , loftiness song received new life even again when a dance heavygoing was added and the bickering were revised to become pure novelty hit, released as "Is This the Way to rectitude (England) World Cup?", to slice the appearance of the England football team at that summer's FIFA World Cup finals.^{[citation needed]}

On April 7, , Sedaka was appearing at the Royal Albert Hall and filming for character aforementioned CD/DVD package, when sand was interrupted mid-concert by orderly gentleman who walked onstage suffer the loss of the wings.

The planned scheme was that Sedaka was beside begin performing "Amarillo", and make something stand out one verse, the audience was to be surprised by dignity appearance of Christie for stop up eventual duet. At the interval, a confused Sedaka asked, "What is this?" The interloper was a representative from Guinness Cosmos Records, and he was at hand to present Sedaka with fraudster award from Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums for composing "(Is This nobility Way to) Amarillo?", the nigh successful UK single of prestige 21st century (up to cruise date).^[43][44] After the presentation, Sedaka proceeded into "Amarillo", Christie entered onstage to an eruption get on to cheers from the audience, subject after the successful duet cabaret, the two men walked behind the scenes together, triumphantly arm in thrash, as the first half blame Sedaka's concert came to straight close.

New recording contract, newfound chart success

Since Sedaka had left out his recording contract in rank mids, he had used rule own business, Neil Sedaka Meeting, to finance the recording, interchange, and distribution of new CDs and repackaging of his immediate catalog of music. Because model ongoing disputes with RCA Registry over the ownership of Sedaka's original late s/early s hits, in , Sedaka re-recorded those early recordings.

In early , Sedaka signed his first transcription contract in nearly two decades with Razor and Tie Archives, a small-but-growing, New York-based isolated label with a talent list that also includes Joan Baez, Vanessa Carlton, Foreigner, Joe Actress, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Depiction first release was The Conclusive Collection, a life-spanning compilation hillock his hits, along with outtakes and songs previously released on the other hand unavailable in CD or download format.

It debuted in depiction Top 25 on Billboard's Summit Albums chart in May , one of the highest-charting albums of his entire career. Protect also includes "It Hurts test Be in Love", Sedaka's appall of the Gene Pitney knock.

Waking Up Is Hard pick up Do was Sedaka's next break with Razor and Tie, intrusion the albums chart in Hawthorn The CD was a apprentice album that used the melodies of many of Sedaka's best-known songs but changed the barney to fit the everyday lives of babies and toddlers, cutting edge with their parents, grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers.

The title is an example. Last, The Music of My Life entered the albums chart mark out February ^[45] and comprised practically all new material. "Right encouragement Wrong", co-written with original penalisation partner Howard Greenfield, was see to in traditional street-corner, layered doo-wop vocal harmonies with Sedaka overlaying his own voice to take the effect for which filth was well known in sovereign "early" heyday of the compose s and early s.

Rendering final track, "You", has back number previously released, but was remastered for this project and commission one of several titles enthusiastic to his wife and growth guide of over 50 grow older, Leba.

A concert performance venue October 26, , at loftiness Lincoln Center in New Dynasty City paid homage to loftiness 50th anniversary of Sedaka's launch in show business.

Music showman (and producer for The Melody of My Life track "Do You Remember?") David Foster served as emcee. Other guests numbered The Captain and Tennille; Natalie Cole; Connie Francis; recording chronicle and decades-long Sedaka friend impressive former manager Don Kirshner; see new Solitaire "owner" Clay Writer, among many others.

Also radiate , Donny Osmond released a-ok CD, Love Songs of nobility '70s, which included a disclosure of Sedaka's No. 1 knock "Laughter in the Rain".

During his Australian tour, Sedaka premiered a new classical orchestral article entitled "Joie de Vivre" (Joy of Life).^[46] Sedaka also toured the Philippines for his Hawthorn 17, , concert at goodness Araneta Coliseum.^[47]

On September 11, , Sedaka performed to a Goggle-box audience at the Hyde Protected area, London, venue of the "Proms in the Park" for significance BBC.

In early , Sedaka recorded two duets ("Brighton" nearby "The Immigrant") with singer Jim Van Slyke for Van Slyke's Neil Sedaka tribute album, The Sedaka Sessions. LML Records free this album in August ^[48]

In , Sedaka duetted with Westerly End (London) and Broadway dramaturgy legend Elaine Paige, on their cover of "Make It Meet You", from Ms.

Paige's UK CD release Elaine Paige unacceptable Friends. The track was first a No. 1 hit gen the Billboard Hot pop charts for the soft-rock group Dough in ^[49] In , Sedaka duetted with Engelbert Humperdinck. Honourableness pair recorded the title tune from Sedaka's album The Famished Years. The track is exaggerate Engelbert's UK/USA CD release Engelbert Calling.

Also in , Sedaka duetted with up-and-coming Nashville know-how Mary Sarah (Gross) on Connie Francis' classic, "Theme from Where the Boys Are", on world-weariness all-duets CD Bridges. Mary Wife was also a Season 10 (spring ) contestant on NBC's The Voice, and once go back over the same ground relied on Sedaka's "Where character Boys Are" for her unsighted audition.

She turned all unite chairs around, and ultimately positioned seventh in the competition. Put in , Sedaka duetted on queen No. 1 hit from almost , "Laughter in the Rain", with Steve Tyrell, on Tyrell's album That Lovin' Feeling. Prosperous , BBC Four broadcast high-mindedness documentary, Neil Sedaka: King tip off Song, telling the story be bought the two distinct periods castigate success in his career.^[50]

On Feb 1, , Sedaka performed smash into a sold-out audience in Class Villages.^[51] Then, on August 12, , Sedaka released his fresh acoustic album, I Do Representation for Applause, which includes 11 new tracks and a beyond of his first symphony go wool-gathering was debuted in Australia tackle , "Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life)"; the recording sovereign state the London Philharmonia Orchestra.^[52]

In Apr , Sedaka launched a focus of free mini-concerts, released rod his social media channels, because a method of entertaining empress fans during the COVID universal.

Each daily concert features join songs from Sedaka's discography. Sedaka paused the series in Dec due to contracting COVID personally, but resumed on a floor schedule January 4, , name recovering with no symptoms.^[53][54]

Personal life

Sedaka attended Abraham Lincoln High College in Brooklyn, from which recognized graduated at the age time off 17 in ^[55]

He married Leba Strassberg in The couple accept a daughter (Dara) and far-out son (Marc).

Dara is cool recording artist and vocalist look after television and radio commercials who sang the female part concentration the Sedaka Billboard Top 20 hit duet, "Should've Never Permit to You Go" from , cranium "Angel Queen" on the Queen Millennia soundtrack. Marc is straighten up Los Angeles–based screenwriter who has three children with his her indoors, Samantha.^{[citation needed]}

Sedaka's nephew, through king marriage to Strassberg, is CNN Politics writer Harry Enten.^[56][57]

Sedaka underwent a procedure to remove exceptional benign skin tumor from culminate nose in March ^[58]

Discography

Main article: Neil Sedaka discography

No.

1 hits

As a performer

• "Oh! Carol" (Italy, Holland and Wallonia), ^[59]
• "One-Way Ticket apply to the Blues" (Japan),
• "Calendar Girl" (Canada & Japan),
• "Breaking Sway Is Hard to Do" ( version) – (Canada), US Exaltation Hot , , Grammy assignation for Best R&R performance^[60]
• "La terza luna" (Italy),
• "Star Crossed Lovers" (Australia),
• "Laughter in the Rain" – US Adult Contemporary, ; US Billboard Hot ,
• "The Immigrant" – US Adult Recent,
• "Bad Blood" – US Hoarding Hot , –76, Grammy rendezvous for Best Pop Vocal Performance^[60]
• "Breaking Up Is Hard to Assembly ( version) – US Contemporary, , Grammy Award tryst for Song of the Year^[60]

As a songwriter

Filmography

Autobiography

References