Neil Sedaka was pictured grabbing dinner just two days before his death at the age of 86.
The legendary singer-songwriter was last seen publicly on February 25th, smiling and waving as he went to dinner at Craig’s restaurant in Los Angeles.
He was said to be ‘in good spirits’ according to photographers who captured his last outing.
Sedaka was a loyal patron of the eatery, often seen stopping by for a bite to eat.
The popular singer, known for his hits in the 1960s and 70s, passed away Friday after being admitted to the hospital. His family confirmed the news to The Daily Mail.
The family of Neil Sedaka is heartbroken by his unexpected death, they shared.
He was a rock and roll icon and inspired so many people. But for those of us who knew him personally, he was an even more remarkable person, and we’ll miss him terribly.
According to TMZ, Neil Sedaka was hospitalized Friday morning after waking up feeling sick and an ambulance was called.
The velvet-voiced Grammy-nominated Sedaka got his start in the 1950s with the band The Tokens.
He’s most famous for his hit song from the 1960s, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” which he released after starting his career as a solo performer.
The singer, originally from Brighton Beach, New York, became famous for hits like “Oh! Carol” and “Calendar Girl,” which quickly became popular.
He scored two major hits in the 1970s: the popular songs “Laughter In The Rain” and “Bad Blood.” “Laughter In The Rain” especially helped to boost his career again.
He explained that the song brought him back into the spotlight, introducing him to many people who weren’t familiar with his previous work.
Neil Sedaka received five Grammy nominations and was honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.
This artist is an incredibly productive songwriter, having created or collaborated on more than 500 songs – both for his own work and for other musicians.
Neil Sedaka penned several hits for other artists, including Connie Francis’s “Stupid Cupid,” Tony Christie’s “Is This the Way To Amarillo,” and Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
He also served as a guest judge on season two of American Idol.
In a 2019 interview with The Morning Call, the artist explained that his music stood out because it blended elements of show tunes, pop, classic standards, and rock. He and his collaborators – Phil Cody, Carole Sager, and Howie Greenfield – all brought these diverse styles together.
I recently watched an interview with Stevie Wonder on TV where he was asked who inspired him. He surprisingly replied, “Neil Sedaka.” He explained that growing up in Detroit, people nicknamed him ‘Whitey’ because he loved and played Neil Sedaka’s records.
Sedaka married wife Leba Strassberg in 1962. Together they welcomed two children: Dara and Marc.
Sedaka grew up with a taxi driver father and his parents struggled to make ends meet.
His teacher recognized his musical talent in second grade, so his mother took on an extra job to afford a piano for him to practice on.
His decision proved successful. In 1947, he won a piano scholarship to the Juilliard School’s program for young students and attended classes there on Saturdays.
I’ve had a lot of musical training over many years,” he told The Morning Call. “Actually, in 1956, the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein selected me to appear on a radio program, and I won as the top pianist among New York City high school students. I was just 16 at the time.
I’ve been a fan for years, and it’s amazing to think he started writing pop songs so young! He was only thirteen when he began collaborating with a poet who lived nearby. And, of course, who could forget his first big hit, ‘Calendar Girl,’ back in 1961? It still sounds fantastic!
Other early hits were Little Devil, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and Next Door to an Angel.
1962 was a peak year for Neil Sedaka, as his song “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” hit number one and “Next Door to an Angel” climbed to number five.
He said he kept having to remind himself that the success of “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” was real, as he told Rolling Stone in 1975, according to the New York Times.
Neil Sedaka funded the creation, manufacturing, and release of new CDs, as well as the updated packaging of his older music, all through his company, Neil Sedaka Music.
In 1991, Neil Sedaka re-recorded his popular songs from the late 1950s and early 1960s due to a disagreement with RCA Records about who owned the rights to them.
Sedaka has said he lost opportunities at the beginning of his career due to his management.
Early in my career, back in 1958, I had a poor manager who cost me opportunities and potential earnings. Fortunately, my wife, Leba, later took over and has been doing a fantastic job ever since.
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2026-02-28 04:36