Neil Sedaka, ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do’ Singer and Pop Song Hitmaker, Dies at 86

Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind enduring hits like “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Oh! Carol,” and “Calendar Girl,” has died at the age of 86. His family confirmed his death on Friday, describing him as a “true rock and roll legend” and “an inspiration to millions.”

Sedaka passed away after being hospitalized in Los Angeles, though the cause of death has not been disclosed The Guardian.

A Brill Building Pioneer

Born in 1939, Sedaka was a child prodigy, receiving a scholarship to the Juilliard School in Recent York at age nine The Guardian. He became a key figure in the Brill Building songwriting scene, collaborating with lyricist Howard Greenfield to create a string of hits that captured the innocence of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Among their collaborations were “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Oh! Carol,” a song inspired by Carole King, a high school sweetheart The Guardian. Sedaka also contributed to the careers of other artists, writing “Stupid Cupid” for Connie Francis and “Where the Boys Are” for the film soundtrack of the same name USA Today.

A Career Renaissance

After a period of relative quiet, Sedaka experienced a career resurgence in the 1970s. His collaboration with Elton John on “Bad Blood” proved successful, and the Captain & Tennille’s cover of his song “Love Will Keep Us Together” topped the Billboard charts in 1975, earning them a Grammy Award USA Today. The song even included a shout-out to Sedaka from Toni Tennille at its conclusion: “Sedaka’s back!”

Throughout his decades-long career, Sedaka amassed over 700 songwriting credits and continued to perform dozens of concerts each year, even into his 80s USA Today. He expressed gratitude for his enduring voice, noting in a 2012 interview that it had remained strong despite his age The Guardian.

“It’s nice to be a legend, but it’s better to be a working legend,” Sedaka said.

Legacy

Neil Sedaka’s songs have been covered by a diverse range of artists, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The 5th Dimension, and Nickelback The Guardian. His contributions to popular music have left an indelible mark, and he will be remembered as a true icon of rock and roll.