Neil Sedaka, who has been in a nearly 61-year relationship with his soul mate, doesn’t have a lot of experience to draw from when he sings, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do.”. ”.
The endearing “down doobie do down down” performer recently turned 84 years old, is smitten with his grandchildren, and exclaims that he was “born married to his wife.”. ”.
Neil Sedaka has given us much over the years, delighting us with his voice and presence. Who wouldn’t love Neil Sedaka?
Although he has a natural talent and has written and performed some of the most iconic songs in music history, Neil Sedaka once acknowledged that he was initially shy to sing in front of an audience.
Even though Sedaka acknowledged that his voice was excellent, the fact that it was so high made him feel self-conscious. When I sang at my bar mitzvah, however, the rabbi was in tears. ”.
Together with Howard Greenfield, then 16 years old, the classically trained pianist, who was only 13 years old and attended the Julliard Preparatory for Children on a Saturday scholarship program, wrote songs for Sedaka’s school band, the Linc-Tones, which would later change its name to the Tokens.
During their time working out of New York’s renowned Brill Building, the pair went on to write top-charting singles for artists like Sedaka’s “Breaking up is Hard to Do,” Captain and Tenille’s “Love will keep us Together,” and Connie Francis’ “Stupid Cupid.”.
We had a piano and a bench in our cell, but there was no window. Sedaka asserted that after a song became popular, you could only get a room with a window and that the two were earning $50 per week. We would compose and perform our work for representatives from record labels every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
It was difficult, but great practice nonetheless.
The first song in the building to make it into the Top 10, his well-known song “Oh! Carol” (1959), was inspired by his high school sweetheart Carole King. He was the first to capture his music on tape.
Sedaka and Greenfield collaborated up until the middle of the 1970s. Greenfield, an openly gay man, died of AIDS-related complications in 1986.
Meanwhile, Sedaka left The Tokens when he was 19 years old, just as the band was at the height of its success in 1961 with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Tonight I Fell in Love.”. ”.
Despite the fact that his first three solo albums didn’t do well on the charts, one song earned him a spot on American Bandstand with Dick Clark, and not long after that, he signed a recording contract.
Sedaka’s first significant success came in 1958 when “The diary,” a song he genuinely wanted to “look into that little book,” peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top 100.
It was inspired by Connie Francis’ diary.
When Sedaka released “Calendar Girl” in 1960, his sixth hit in just two years, his popularity reached its peak.
In 1962, after having met while playing at the now-defunct Esther Manor resort in the New York Catskill Mountains, he married Leba Strassberg.
Leba’s mother, Esther, was a co-owner of the resort and a successful businesswoman who didn’t like to see her daughter courted by a mediocre musician.
Despite Esther’s disapproval, the couple persisted in their union while dealing with Eleanor Sedaka, another interfering mother.
Eleanor previously acknowledged riding roller coasters while anticipating him to cause a miscarriage. She also pushed her child to pursue a career as a classical pianist as opposed to a pop star.
Sedaka stated, “My father was a taxi driver and never made more than $10,000 a year. He made the mistake of giving the money to my mother, who later controlled most of my rights as an artist, including my royalties and finances. When I received a royalty check for “Stupid Cupid” for $62,000, she quickly changed her mind.
“I also became aware of and accepted him because of my father after the initial shock. I suppose I even comprehended it. The other man bought her jewelry and furs and took her to beautiful places, but my dad was very frugal, and my parents shared two rooms with nine other family members. Only they, he claimed, were living it up on my dime. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. I couldn’t pay anything—not even my taxes. My wife and I had to start from scratch. ”.
Eleanor Eleanor nearly overdosed on sleeping pills “because she couldn’t stand to see her son and her lover at odds,” according to Sedaka, who kicked her mother’s boyfriend out of the house. She claimed to be ignorant of their use of my funds. I avoided her for an entire year.
His devoted wife then became his new manager, replacing him.
The Beatles arrived and completely derailed Sedaka’s career just as it was about to take off.
Despite his declining U.S. chart success, he continued to compose songs for other people.
He decided to move Leba and their children, Marc and Dara, to London, the center of hit makers.
In response to a question about whether he had once been Neil Sedaka, Sedaka recalled, “Well, I used to walk down the street and people would ask, “Didn’t you use to be Neil Sedaka?”. You haven’t heard the last of me, I replied. I remain Neil Sedaka. My strategy had to change. In the early 1970s, I had my first encounter with Elton John. Have you ever heard of him?
Sedaka, who met “I’m Still Standing” singer at a London party, claimed he was persuaded to sign with the Rocket Record Company, which was John’s previous record label.
With the 1974 release of “Sedaka’s Back,” the first of three albums he co-wrote with Elton John, Sedaka’s career took off, and the singer was once more enjoying success on the American charts.
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 following his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He was a guest judge on American Idol in 2003 when the season two runner-up Clay Aiken later recorded and released “Solitaire,” a song by Neil Sedaka from 1972, which went on to become the best-selling single of the following year.
During COVID, Sedaka started sharing mini-concerts on social media to keep fans entertained, and last September, in celebration of his 60th wedding anniversary with Leba, he released a special concert that featured three songs he wrote especially for her.
The tender ode begins, “I’d like to dedicate today’s mini-concert to my beautiful wife, Leba.”. September will mark the 60th anniversary of our founding.
These three songs were made especially for Leba, and they are presented here.
Beginning in May, Sedaka posted a video on Facebook announcing his association with Cameo. He declared that he would be delighted to accept requests for birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special event where he could deliver a tailored message.
He concluded the brief piece with a few bars of “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” drawing applause from his audience. One person said, “I’ve been a fan of your music since I was a teenager, and I’m 75 now. Please don’t stop.
A heartfelt message from another fan that Neil received read: “Dear Neil, your songs brighten the day. I often find myself singing the melodies you wrote. They appear to have merged with me. I value the joy you spread throughout the world. ”.
Although Sedaka’s wife and family are his top priorities, he still manages to make people smile with his music.
The devoted grandfather of three kids, including a set of twins, Sedaka said, “If you’re fortunate enough to have a friend who takes care of it for you, that’s a wonderful gift.”.
Regarding their kids, Marc (born 1967) writes and edits for TV and movies, and Dara (born 1963) is an actress and singer well-known for movies like Where the Boys Are.
Sedaka reflected on his burgeoning career, saying, “I could have been bigger, but I wasn’t controversial enough. I kept away from drugs and wrecking balls. Nothing controversial happened in my personal life. You can’t say that because I was talented and eager to succeed, I didn’t become famous.
It is very admirable that Neil Sedaka and Leba have been together for so long and haven’t let fame ruin their blissful union.
His music is truly gifted, and it will undoubtedly have an impact on coming generations. We appreciate you sharing a little bit about your life and music with us. Which of his songs, whether he composed or performed them, is your favorite?
