Classically trained at Julliard School of Music
from the age of eight, Neil Sedaka was well on
his way to a career in music . Luckily for radio
listeners, it turned out to be as a songwriter
of pop tunes that mixed Sedaka’s unique
voice with an ear for melody. Up-tempo hits like “Calendar
Girl” and “Breaking Up is Hard To Do” rode
the airwaves like sunbeams. Fresh and dazzling
bits of melodic fun became his signature sound.
Still an energetic performer after decades at
the keyboards, Neil Sedaka will knock out a few
of his famous tunes this Saturday, July 24, at
The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville.
Sedaka’s first hit, “Stupid Cupid” written
when he was just 18 brought him instant acclaim
when Connie Francis recorded the song for him.
Sedaka and his song writing partner, Howard Greenfield
created another Connie Francis classic, “Where
the Boys Are.” The team of Sedaka and Greenfield
turned out hit after hit during their 30-year
partnership. Many of them, Sedaka made distinctly
his own. “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and “Next
Door to an Angel” just wouldn’t sound
the same without Neil’s voice.
In the early 70s, Sedaka’s career was recharged
when he signed to Elton John’s Rocket record
label and struck gold again with “Bad Blood” and
the wonderful “Laughter in the Rain.” He
proved that once you’ve got it, you never
lose it. Sedaka went on to help launch the Captain
and Tennille’s career by writing “Love
Will Keep Us Together”, a number one hit
which became Grammy Record of the Year.
Author of over 1,000 songs, it seems pretty
clear that Neil Sedaka has the music in him.
He was just honored with the Songwriter Hall
of Fame Lifetime Achievement award July 18. He
has had a street named after him in Brooklyn
and given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
