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Neil Sedaka dead at 86 [1]

['Rob Beschizza']

Date: 2026-02-27  

Neil Sedaka (previously at Boing Boing), among America's most prolific and enduring singer-songwriters, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 86.

"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 was born on March 13, 1939, and grew up in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach neighborhood. By the second grade his musical talent was apparent and his mother took a second job to pay for a second-hand piano. Classically trained at Juilliard, he found his love for rock and roll, founded a doo-wop group in his teens called The Tokens, and the rest his history: he scored hits in four consecutive decades.

1959's "Oh! Carol" topped charts across Europe, "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" gave him his first U.S. #1 in 1962, "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood" landed there in the seventies, and "Should've Never Let You Go", with Dara Sedaka, was a top 20 hit in the 80s.

Embedded below is 1961's "Calendar Girl."

All in all, he wrote at least 500 songs, many for other stars, including "Stupid Cupid" and "Love Will Keep Us Together." He even translated early ABBA lyrics into English before the Swedish band had a name. Here he is on the BBC in 1992.

TMZ was first to report Sedaka's hospitalization and death. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Leba; his daughter Dara, a vocalist; his son Marc, a screenwriter; and three grandchildren.

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