Neil Sedaka, ‘Calendar Girl’ Singer, Dies at 86

Neil Sedaka, the singer and songwriter whose signature hits include “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease on February 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 86. Kidney failure was listed as a contributing factor, according to his death certificate as reported by People magazine.

A Career Spanning Decades

Born March 13, 1939, in New York City, Sedaka began his music career in 1957 according to his Wikipedia entry. He achieved initial success in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a string of hit singles, including “Oh! Carol” (1959), “Calendar Girl” (1960), “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” (1961), and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” (1962).

His popularity waned in the mid-1960s, but experienced a resurgence in the mid-1970s with the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits “Laughter in the Rain” and “Awful Blood” as detailed on Wikipedia.

Beyond Performance: A Prolific Songwriter

Sedaka was not only a successful performer but also a prolific songwriter, penning or co-writing over 500 songs for himself and other artists. He frequently collaborated with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody as noted in his Wikipedia biography. His songwriting credits include hits for Connie Francis (“Stupid Cupid”), Tony Christie (“(Is This the Way to) Amarillo”), and Captain & Tennille (“Love Will Keep Us Together”) according to Wikipedia.

A Lasting Legacy

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” 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.” Rolling Stone reported.

Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and received five Grammy nominations throughout his career as reported by Yahoo Entertainment. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded in 1978 according to Yahoo Entertainment.