Neil Sedaka, pop hitmaker behind ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,’ dies at 86

From ‘Calendar Girl’ to comeback king: Neil Sedaka passes away

Neil Sedaka, the chart-topping singer-songwriter whose bright melodies and soaring soprano defined an era of early rock ‘n’ roll, has died at 86.

Sedaka passed away Friday, his family confirmed in a statement, calling him “a true rock and roll legend” and “an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.” No further details about the cause of death were immediately released.

A cornerstone of New York’s famed Brill Building songwriting scene, Sedaka rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a string of teen-pop classics, including Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, and Oh! Carol. He frequently collaborated with lyricist Howard Greenfield, crafting songs that captured the innocence of the post-Elvis, pre-Beatles era.

After a commercial lull in the late 1960s, Sedaka staged a remarkable comeback in the 1970s. His self-penned hits Laughter in the Rain and Bad Blood returned him to the top of the charts, while his song Love Will Keep Us Together became a Grammy-winning smash for The Captain & Tennille.

Born in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood, Sedaka was a Juilliard-trained pianist and the son of a taxi driver. He began performing as a teenager and maintained a rigorous touring schedule well into his 80s, often playing dozens of shows a year. Despite decades in the spotlight, he never lost his enthusiasm for performing.

“Once a performer, always a performer,” he said in a past interview, describing the rush of a standing ovation as “infectious.”

Over the course of his career, Sedaka sold millions of records worldwide. His songs were recorded by artists ranging from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to The 5th Dimension and Nickelback. He also helped launch Connie Francis’ early success with hits like Stupid Cupid and Where the Boys Are.

With a career spanning more than six decades, Sedaka remained both a working musician and a beloved figure in pop history, a songwriter whose melodies continue to echo across generations.