Neil Sedaka, celebrating his 84th birthday, has been happily married to the love of his life for nearly 61 years, proving that «Breaking Up is Hard to Do» isn’t part of his love story.
The charming singer, known for his iconic «down doobie do down down» tunes, radiates love for his grandchildren and proudly claims that he was «born married to his wife.»
It’s hard not to adore Neil Sedaka, a musical legend who has graced us with his incredible voice and enduring presence for many years.
A natural talent, Neil Sedaka, the composer and performer behind some of pop music’s catchiest tunes, had an unexpected start. As a child, he felt embarrassed to sing in front of an audience, despite knowing he possessed an exceptional voice. However, he overcame his shyness, as he recalled, «I knew I had a remarkable voice, but I was embarrassed because it was so high. But when I sang at my bar mitzvah, the rabbi was in tears.»
At the tender age of 13, this classically trained pianist attended a Saturday scholarship program at Juilliard’s Preparatory for Children. It was during this period that he formed a partnership with 16-year-old Howard Greenfield. Together, they composed songs for Sedaka’s school band, the Linc-Tones, which would later evolve into the Tokens.
Operating from New York’s historic Brill Building, the duo went on to craft chart-topping hits like Sedaka’s «Breaking up is Hard to Do,» Captain & Tennille’s «Love Will Keep Us Together,» and Connie Francis’ «Stupid Cupid.»
Sedaka recalled their modest beginnings, saying, «We had a cubicle with a piano and a bench but no window. You only got a room with a window after you’d had a hit song.» They were earning $50 a week, and their days were dedicated to writing and presenting their compositions to record label representatives. It was challenging but valuable training.
Sedaka made history at the Brill Building by becoming the first artist to record his own songs. He also achieved another milestone by reaching the Top 10 with his hit song «Oh! Carol» (1959), which he penned in homage to his high school sweetheart, Carole King.
Greenfield and Sedaka continued their collaboration until the mid-70s. Tragically, Greenfield, who was openly gay, succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1986.
As for Sedaka, he left The Tokens at the age of 19, just before the band’s peak of fame in 1961 with hits like «The Lion Sleeps Tonight» and «Tonight I Fell in Love.»
