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NeilSedaka
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

NeilSedaka(bornMarch13,1939)isanAmericanpop/rock
singer,pianist,composerandrecordproducer.Sincehismusic
careerbeganin1957,hehassoldmillionsofrecordsasanartist
andhaswrittenorcowrittenover500songsforhimselfand
others,collaboratingmostlywithlyricistsHowardGreenfield
andPhilCody.

NeilSedaka

Contents
1 Earlylife:JuilliardandtheBrillBuilding
2 Earlycareer
2.1 RisetofamewithRCAVictor:thelate1950s
2.2 Bighitsintheearly1960s
2.3 Writingforotherperformers
2.3.1 ConnieFrancis
2.3.2 JimmyClanton
2.4 Foreignlanguagerecordings
3 Mid1960s
4 Strugglesofthelate1960stoearly1970s
4.1 Australiayears
4.2 EmergenceandSolitaire
5 ReturntosuccessintheMid1970s
5.1 Newfoundsuccess
5.2 CareerwithTheRocketRecordCompany
5.3 Sedaka'sBack
5.4 Writingforartistsofthe1970s
5.5 OvernightSuccess/TheHungryYears
5.6 Steppin'Out
6 Late1970s
6.1 TransitionfromRockettoElektra
6.2 ReissueofRCAerarecordings
7 1980sand1990s
8 Othersuccesses
9 Intothe21stcentury
9.1 AmericanIdol
9.2 AmarilloGuinnessWorldRecord
9.3 Newrecordingcontract,newchartsuccess
10 Personallife
11 Discography
12 AlltimeNo.1hits
13 Filmography
14 Autobiography
15 References
16 Sources
17 Externallinks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Sedaka

Sedakain1965
Backgroundinformation
Born

March13,1939

Origin

Brooklyn,NewYorkCity,
UnitedStates

Genres

Rock,pop

Occupation(s) Singersongwriter,musician,multi
instrumentalist,recordproducer
Instruments

Vocals,piano

Yearsactive

1957present

Labels

RCAVictor,MGMRecords,
PolydorRecords,Rocket,Elektra
Records,NeilSedakaMusic,Razor
&TieRecords

Website

neilsedaka.com(http://neilsedaka.c
om)

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Earlylife:JuilliardandtheBrillBuilding
SedakawasborninBrooklyn,NewYork.Hisfather,MacSedaka,wasataxidriverandaSephardiJewofTurkish
origin[1][2]("Sedaka"and"Sadaka"arevariantsof"tzedakah",whichtranslatesinbothHebrewandArabicasthe
wordcharity).Neil'smother,Eleanor(neAppel),wasanAshkenaziJewofPolish/Russianorigin.Neil's
grandparentscametotheUnitedStatesfromConstantinople,thenthecapitalofOttomanTurkey,in1910.[3]He
grewupinBrightonBeach,ontheshoreoftheAtlanticOcean.[4]SedakaisacousinofthelatesingerEydie
Gorm.
Hedemonstratedmusicalaptitudeinhissecondgradechoralclass,andwhenhisteachersentanotehome
suggestinghetakepianolessons,hismothertookaparttimejobinanAbraham&Strausdepartmentstoreforsix
monthstopayforasecondhandupright.In1947,heauditionedsuccessfullyforapianoscholarshiptothe
JuilliardSchoolofMusic'sPreparatoryDivisionforChildren,whichheattendedonSaturdays.Hismotherwanted
himtobecomearenownedclassicalpianistlikethecontemporaryoftheday,VanCliburn,butSedakawas
discoveringpopmusic.WhenSedakawas13,aneighborheardhimplayingandintroducedhimtoher16yearold
son,HowardGreenfield,anaspiringpoetandlyricist.TheybecametwoofthelegendaryBrillBuilding's
composers.
SedakaandGreenfieldwrotesongstogetherthroughoutmuchoftheiryounglives.WhenSedakabecameamajor
teenpopstar,thepaircontinuedwritinghitsforSedakaandalitanyofotherartists.WhenTheBeatlesandthe
BritishInvasiontookAmericanmusicinadifferentdirection,Sedakawasleftwithoutarecordingcareer.Inthe
early1970s,hedecidedamajorchangeinhislifewasnecessaryandmovedhisfamilytoBritain.Sedakaand
Greenfieldmutuallyagreedtoendtheirpartnershipwith"OurLastSongTogether".Sedakabegananew
composingpartnershipwithlyricistPhilCody,fromPleasantville,NewYork.AfterSedakareturnedtotheUnited
States,theSedakaGreenfieldteameventuallyreunitedandcontinueduntilGreenfield'sdeathin1986.

Earlycareer
RisetofamewithRCAVictor:thelate1950s
AftergraduatingfromAbrahamLincolnHighSchool,Sedakaandsomeofhisclassmatesformedabandcalled
TheTokens.Thebandhadminorregionalhitswithsongslike"WhileIDream","ILoveMyBaby","ComeBack,
Joe",and"Don'tGo",beforeSedakalaunchedoutonhisownin1957.Eventually,afterafewpersonnelchanges,
in1961,theTokenshitNo.1ontheBillboardpopchartswiththeinternationalsmash"TheLionSleepsTonight".
Meanwhile,theveryyoungSedaka'sfirstthreesolosingles,"LauraLee","RingaRockin'",and"Oh,Delilah!"
failedtobecomehits(although"RingaRockin'"earnedhimthefirstofmanyappearancesonDickClark's
AmericanBandstand),buttheydemonstratedhisabilitytoperformasasolosinger,soRCAVictorsignedhimtoa
recordingcontract.
HisfirstsingleforRCAVictor,"TheDiary",wasinspiredbyConnieFrancis,oneofSedakaandGreenfield'smost
importantclients,whilethethreeweretakingatemporarybreakduringtheirideamakingforanewsong.Francis
waswritinginherdiary,Sedakaaskedifhecouldreadit,andConniepromptlyrepliedwitha"no."AfterLittle
AnthonyandtheImperialspassedonthesong,Sedakarecordedithimself,andhisdebutsinglehittheTop15on
theBillboardHot100,peakingatNo.14in1958.
However,hisnexttwosinglesdidnotfaresowell.Hissecondsingle,anoveltytunetitled"IGoApe",justmissed
theTop40,peakingatNo.42butitbecameamoresuccessfulsingleintheUnitedKingdomwithaNo.9.The
thirdsingle,"CryingMyHeartOutforYou",wasacommercialfailure,missingtheHot100entirely,peakingat

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No.111butitalsobecameaverysuccessfulsingleonthepopchartsinItalywithaNo.6.RCAVictorhadlost
moneyon"IGoApe"and"CryingMyHeartOutForYou"andwasreadytodropSedakafromtheirlabel.But
Sedaka'smanager,AlNevins,persuadedtheRCAexecutivestogivehimonelastchance.
Knowinghewouldnotgetanotherchanceifhefailedagain,anddesperateforanotherhit,Sedakahimselfbought
thethreebiggesthitsinglesofthetimeandlistenedtothemrepeatedly,studyingthesongstructure,chord
progressions,lyricsandharmoniesandhediscoveredthatthehitsongsofthedayallsharedthesamebasic
musicalanatomy.Armedwithhisnewfoundarsenalofmusicalknowledge,hesetouttocrafthisnextbighitsong,
andhepromptlydidexactlythat:"Oh!Carol"deliveredSedakahisfirstdomesticTop10hit,reachingNo.9onthe
Hot100in1959andgoingtoNo.1ontheItalianpopchartsin1960,givingSedakahisfirstNo.1ranking.Inthe
UK,thesongspentatotalof17weeksinthetop40,peakingatno.3(4weeks).[5]Inaddition,theBside,"One
WayTicket",reachedNo.1onthepopchartsinJapan.SedakahaddatedCaroleKingwhenhewasstillathigh
school,whichgavehimtheideatousehernameinthesong.GerryGoffinKing'shusbandtookthetune,and
wrotetheplayfulresponse"Oh!Neil",whichKingrecordedandreleasedasanunsuccessfulsinglethesame
year.[6][7][8][9]Thus,thiswastheonlytimethemelodyofthesongwasusedbyapopularartistandafuture
sensationaroundthesametime.

Bighitsintheearly1960s
Afterestablishinghimselfin1958,Sedakakeptchurningoutnewhitsfrom1960to1962.HisflowofTop30hits
duringthisperiodincluded:"StairwaytoHeaven"(No.9,1960)"YouMeanEverythingtoMe"(No.17,1960)
"Run,Samson,Run"(No.27,1960)"CalendarGirl"(No.4,1961alsoreachedNo.1ontheJapaneseand
Canadianpopcharts)"LittleDevil"(No.11,1961)"HappyBirthdaySweetSixteen"(No.6,1961)hissignature
song,"BreakingUpIsHardToDo"(No.1,twoweeks:August11and18,1962)and"NextDoortoanAngel"
(No.5,1962).SinglesnotmakingtheTop30duringthisperiodincluded"SweetLittleYou"(No.59,1961)and
"KingofClowns"(No.45,1962).RCAVictorissuedfourLPsofhisworksintheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain
duringthisperiod,andalsoproducedScopitoneandCineboxvideosof"CalendarGirl"in1961,"BreakingUpIs
HardToDo"in1962,and"TheDreamer"in1963.(HissecondLPwastheonlyonemadeinthebigbandstyle
withsongscombinedinasinglerecord.)HemaderegularappearancesonsuchTVprogramsasAmerican
BandstandandShindig!duringthisperiod.

Writingforotherperformers
ConnieFrancis
WhenSedakawasnotrecordinghisownsongs,heandHowardGreenfieldwerewritingforotherperformers,most
notablyintheirearliestdaysConnieFrancis.Francisbegansearchingforanewhitafterher1958single"Who's
SorryNow?".ShewasintroducedtoSedakaandGreenfield,whoplayedeveryballadtheyhadwrittenforher.
Francisbeganwritinginherdiarywhilethetwoplayedthelastoftheirsongs.Aftertheyfinished,Francistold
themtheywrotebeautifulballadsbutthattheyweretoointellectualfortheyounggeneration.Sedakasuggestedto
Greenfieldasongtheyhadwrittenthatmorningforagirlgroup.Greenfieldprotestedbecausethesonghadbeen
promisedtothegirlgroup,butSedakainsistedonplaying"StupidCupid".Francistoldthemtheyhadjustplayed
hernewhit.Francis'songreachedNo.14ontheBillboardcharts.
WhileFranciswaswritinginherdiary,Sedakaaskedherifhecouldreadwhatshehadwritten.Aftersherefused
tolethimpeekinto"thatlittlebook/theonethathasthelockandkey,"Sedakawasinspiredtowrite"TheDiary",
hisownfirsthitsingle.SedakaandGreenfieldwrotemanyofConnieFrancis'hits,suchas"Fallin'"andthe
"ThemefromWheretheBoysAre",thefilminwhichshestarred.ThishittheTop5ontheBillboardpopsingles
chartandFrancishadseveralNo.1singles."WheretheBoysAre"eventuallybecamehersignaturesong.

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JimmyClanton
SedakaandGreenfieldalsowrotesomeofJimmyClanton'shits,suchas"AnotherSleeplessNight,""WhatAmI
GonnaDo?"and"AlltheWordsintheWorld."Sedakahimselfrecordedeachofthesethreesongs:"Another
SleeplessNight"appearsonhisRockWithSedakadebutalbum"WhatAmIGonnaDo?"wastheBsideof
"GoingHometoMaryLou"andappearedonhis1961albumNeilSedakaSings"LittleDevil"andHisOtherHits
and"AlltheWordsintheWorld"wasrecordedbutwaskeptintheRCAvaultsuntil1977,attheheightofSedaka's
returntopopularity,whenitwasreleasedonthealbumNeilSedaka:The'50sand'60s.

Foreignlanguagerecordings
SedakawasverypopularinItaly.ManyofhisEnglishlanguagerecordswerereleasedthereandprovedquite
successful,especially"CryingMyHeartOutForYou"(ItalianNo.6,1959)and"Oh!Carol"(ItalianNo.1,1960).
In1961,SedakabegantorecordsomeofhishitsinItalian,startingwith"Esagerata"and"Ungiornoinutile",local
versionsof"LittleDevil"and"IMustBeDreaming".Otherrecordingsweretofollow,suchas"Tunonlosai"
("BreakingUpIsHardtoDo"),"Ilredeipagliacci"("KingofClowns"),"Ituoicapricci"("LookInsideYour
Heart"),and"Laterzaluna"("WaitingForNever")."Laterzaluna"reachedNo.1ontheItalianpopchartsinApril
1963.Cineboxvideosexistfor"Laterzaluna"and"Ituoicapricci".Fromalanguagestandpoint,hisrecordingsin
ItalianhadverylittleAmericanaccent.RCAVictor'sItalianabranchdistributedhisrecordsinItalyandreleased
threecompilationLPsofSedaka'sItalianrecordings.
SedakaalsorecordedseveralsongsinSpanish,ahandfulofsongsinGerman,andonesingleapieceinHebrew,
Japanese,andCanadianFrench.HisEnglishlanguagerecordingswerealsoquitepopularinternationally"One
WayTickettotheBlues"and"CalendarGirl"reachedNo.1ontheJapanesepopchartsin1959and1961.He
enjoyedpopularityinLatinAmericaforhisSpanishlanguagerecordings.Manyofthesewerepressedonto78rpm
discs.

Mid1960s
Theyear1962wasoneofthemostimportantofSedaka'scareer,with"BreakingUpIsHardToDo"reachingNo.
1and"NextDoortoanAngel"reachingNo.5.Butafter1962,hispopularitybegantowane.Hissinglesfor1963
hadmoderatesuccess:"AliceInWonderland"(No.17),"Let'sGoSteadyAgain"(No.26),"TheDreamer"(No.
47),and"BadGirl"(No.33)."BadGirl"wouldbeSedaka'slastTop40hitintheU.S.until1974.
In1964,Sedaka'scareerbeganasharpdecline,hastenedbyTheBeatles'arrivalontheradioandTV,andtherest
ofthesocalledBritishInvasion.WhendescribingtheBeatles'effectonhiscareerinthemid1960s,Sedakaputit
brusquely:"TheBeatlesnotgood!"[10]From1964to1966,onlythreeofhissinglescrackedtheHot100:
"Sunny"(No.86,1964),"TheWorldthroughaTear"(No.76,1965),and"TheAnswertoMyPrayer"(No.89,
1965).Hisothersinglesfromthisera"TheClosestThingToHeaven","IHopeHeBreaksYourHeart","LetThe
PeopleTalk","TheAnswerLiesWithin"and"WeCanMakeItIfWeTry"allmissedtheHot100,thesamefate
sinceSedaka'sthirdU.S.single,andbecamecommercialfailures.
Tomakemattersworse,RCAVictorrefusedtoreleasehisnewrecording,"ItHurtstoBeinLove",becausehehad
notrecordedattheirownstudios,asstipulatedbyhiscontract.Sedakaattemptedanotherrecordingofthissongin
RCA'sstudios,buttheresultswereunsatisfactory.HowardGreenfieldandHelenMiller,thesong'scowriters,
offereditinsteadtooneofSedaka'sfriends,GenePitney.Pitneytooktheexistingmusicaltrack,replacing
Sedaka'sleadvocaltrackwithhisown.EverythingelsewasSedaka's,includinghisownarrangementandbacking
vocals,pianoplaying,andusualfemalebackupsingers.PitneyendedupwithaNo.7hitforhimselfandhisrecord
label,Musicor,in1964.
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FortheremainderofhistenurewithRCAVictor,SedakaneverfullyrecoveredfromtheeffectsofBeatlemania,
thelossof"ItHurtstoBeinLove"toPitney,orthefailureofhisrecordings.RCArefusedtorenewhiscontract
whenitexpiredin1966.Asaresult,Sedakawasleftwithoutarecordinglabel.
AlthoughSedaka'sstatureasarecordingartistwasatalowebbinthelate1960s,hewasabletomaintainhis
careerthroughsongwriting.Becausehispublisher,AldonMusic,wasacquiredbyScreenGems,twoofhissongs
wererecordedbyTheMonkees.OtherhitsSedakawroteinthisperiodincludedTheCyrkle'sversionsof"WeHad
aGoodThingGoin'"and"Workin'OnaGroovyThing"aTop40R&BhitforPattiDrewin1968andaTop20
pophitforThe5thDimensionin1969.Also,"MaketheMusicPlay"wasincludedonFrankieValli'scharting
albumTimeless.
Ona1965episodeofthequizshowI'veGotaSecret,Sedaka'ssecretwasthathewastorepresenttheUnited
Statesatthe1966TchaikovskyclassicalpianocompetitioninMoscow.UnawareofSedaka'ssecret,panelistHenry
MorganchallengedSedakawiththefactthattheSovietbureaucracyhadoutlawedrock'n'rollmusic,andthatany
WesternmusicyoungRussianswantedhadtobesmuggledintothecountry.OnceSedaka'ssecrethadbeen
revealed,heimpressedtheshow'spanelistswithhisperformanceofFredericChopin's"FantaisieImpromptu".[11]
Morgan'swarningturnedouttobevalid,however:DespiteSedaka'sclassicalroots,his"other"lifeasapopstar
spurredtheSovietUniontodisqualifyhimfromenteringthecompetition.
Sedakaalsomadeanappearanceinthe1968moviePlaygirlKiller,whereheperformedasongcalled"The
Waterbug".

Strugglesofthelate1960stoearly1970s
Australiayears
Neilworkedtorevivehissolocareerintheearly1970s.DespitehiswaningchartappealintheUSAinthelate
1960s,heremainedverypopularasaconcertattraction,notablyintheUKandAustralia.In2010,asagueston
AustraliandiscjockeyBobRogers'radioshow,hethankedRogersandAustralianmusicfansforstandingbyhim
duringthatchallengingtime:"Youknow,Bob,inmyleanyearsIcalledthemTheHungryYearsitwasBob
RogersandAustraliawhowelcomedme."[12]SedakamadeseveraltripstoAustraliatoplaycabaretdates,andhis
commercialcomebackbeganwhenthesingle"StarCrossedLovers"becameamajorhitthere.Thesongwentto
No.1nationallyinApril1969givingSedakahisfirstchartingsingleanywhereinfouryears.Italsocameinat
No.5inGoSetmagazine'slistoftheTop40Australiansinglesof1969.[13]
Laterthatyear,withthesupportofFestivalRecords,herecordedanewLPoforiginalmaterialentitledWorkin'on
aGroovyThing(releasedintheUnitedKingdomasSoundsofSedaka)atFestivalStudiosinSydney.Itwasco
producedbyFestivalstaffproducerPatAulton,witharrangementsbyJohnFarrar(wholaterachieved
internationalfameforhisworkwithOliviaNewtonJohn)andbackingbyAustraliansessionmusiciansincluding
guitaristJimmyDoyle(AyersRock)andnotedjazzmusiciancomposerJohnSangster.[14]
Oneofthetracksfromthealbum,"Wheeling,WestVirginia,"reachedNo.20inAustraliainearly1970.[15]The
LPisalsonotablebecauseitwasSedaka'sfirstalbumtoincludecollaborationswithwritersotherthanlongtime
lyricistHowardGreenfieldthetitletrackfeaturedlyricsbyRogerAtkinsandfourothersongswerecowritten
withCaroleBayerSager.

EmergenceandSolitaire

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In1971,SedakareunitedwithRCAandreleasedtheEmergencealbum.Singlesfromthatalbumincluded"I'mA
Song(SingMe),""SilentMovies,""Superbird,"and"RosemaryBlue."Thefollowupalbum,Solitairewasissued
byRCAin1972.GoodfriendandNewYorkmusicimpresarioDonKirshnerattemptedtomaketheU.S.releaseof
"Emergence"acomebackforSedaka,butthealbumandsinglereleaseshadnoappreciablesuccess,andRCA
showedlittleinterestinpromotingthealbum.Afterthefailureof"Emergence"intheUSmarket,SedakaleftNew
YorkandmovedhisfamilytotheUK.
In1972,SedakaembarkedonasuccessfulEnglishtourandwasintroducedbyHarveyLisbergtothefourfuture
membersof10cc(bestknowntoAmericanaudiophilesfor"I'mNotinLove"and"TheThingsWeDoforLove")
withwhomherecordedtheSolitairealbumattheirStrawberryStudiosinStockport.[16]Aswellasthetitletrack,
"Solitaire",whichwassuccessfullycoveredbyAndyWilliams(UKTop5singleschart)andtheCarpenters(US
Top20),itincludedtwoUKTop40singles,oneofwhich("BeautifulYou")alsochartedbrieflyinAmerica,
Sedaka'sfirstUSchartappearanceintenyears.However,thealbum'sminorperformancegeneratedlittleinterest
inrestartingSedaka'scareer.

ReturntosuccessintheMid1970s
Newfoundsuccess
AyearlaterhereconvenedwiththeStrawberryteam,whohadbythen
chartedwiththeirowndebut10ccalbum,torecordTheTraLaDaysAre
OverforMGMRecords,whichstartedthesecondphaseofhiscareerand
includedhisoriginalversionofthehitsong"LoveWillKeepUsTogether"
(alsoaUSNo.1hittwoyearslaterforCaptain&Tennille).Thisalbum
alsomarkedtheeffectiveendofhiswritingpartnershipwithGreenfield,
commemoratedbythetrack"OurLastSongTogether."Theywouldreunite,
however,andbegincomposingtogetheragainbeforeGreenfield'sdeathin
1986.From1974onward,Sedaka'srecordswereissuedinEuropeand
aroundtheworldonthePolydorlabel.Hisfirstalbumofnewmaterialwith
PolydorwasLaughterintheRain.

NeilSedakain1974

CareerwithTheRocketRecordCompany
EltonJohnandSedakametatapartyinLondonin1973.WhenJohnlearnedSedakahadnoAmericanrecord
label,hesuggestedSedakasignwithhisRocketRecordCompany,Limited,andSedakaacceptedtheproposition.
WhenJohnvisitedSedakaathisLondonapartment,theydiscussedplansforrelaunchinghiscareerintheUnited
States.[17]
Johnsaidhehad"alwaysbeenaSedakafananyway".[17]Hewentontosay:
Sothebasicplanwasassimpleasfindingoutwhathewantedtohaveonhisalbumwhichturnedouttobe
acompilationfromhisBritishalbums.IthadbeenlikeElviscomingupandgivingusthechancetorelease
hisrecords.Wecouldn'tbelieveourluck.[17]

Sedaka'sBack
SedakareturnedtotheU.S.albumchartswiththereleaseofSedaka'sBack,acompilationofsongsfromthree
albumshehadalreadyrecordedintheUKnamely"Solitaire,""TheTraLaDaysAreOver,"and"Laughterinthe
Rain."ItwasonlythesecondSedakaalbumevertochartintheU.S.Sedakawasknownprincipallyasasingles
artistuptothatpointinhiscareerhisonlyotherAmericanchartingalbumwasNeilSedakaSingsHisGreatest
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Hits,acompilationofhisearlysingles.Althoughthesinglewasreleasedintheautumnof1974andwasveryslow
inbuildinginsalesandatradio,eventuallySedakafoundhimselfonceagaintoppingtheBillboardHot100singles
chart(February1,1975)with"LaughterintheRain."ItwasSedaka'ssecondNo.1singlethusfaratthatpointin
hiscareer(after1962'soriginalversionof"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo")andsolidlyreestablishedSedaka's
popularityinAmerica.
OneofSedaka'smostwellreceivedcompositionsduringthisperiodwasthesecondsingle,"TheImmigrant"(US
popNo.22,USACNo.1).Criticshaileditsbeautifulorchestrationandevocativelyrics:wistful,nostalgic,andno
doubtenhancedandembellishedbybothprideanddisillusionwiththecontemporarystateofaffairsintheUnited
States.ThethirdconsecutiveBillboardTop30hitfromSedaka'sBackwastheuptemporocker"That'sWhenthe
MusicTakesMe"(USpopNo.27,USACNo.7),originallyfromthe1972Solitairealbum.Thissongwasararity
atthetimeasitwasoneofthefewsongsSedakahadwrittenbyhimself,withoutacollaborator.Itremainstoday
hisstandardcurtaincallconcertcloser.IntheUS,Sedaka'srecordswereissuedfirstontheRocketlabel(197477)
andontheElektralabel(197781).

Writingforartistsofthe1970s
SedakaandGreenfieldcowrote"LoveWillKeepUsTogether,"aNo.1hitforCaptain&Tennilleandthebiggest
hitfortheentireyearof1975.ToniTennillepaidtributetoSedaka'swelcomereturntomusicbusinesssuccess
withheradlibof"Sedakaisback"intheoutrowhileshewaslayingdownherownbackgroundvocalsforthe
track.[18]"Captain"DarylDragonandTonialsorecordedaSpanishlanguageversionofthesongthesameyear
thatcrackedthetophalfofBillboard'sHot100chart("PorAmorViviremos,"USpopNo.49).
In1975,SedakawastheopeningactforTheCarpentersontheirworldtour.AccordingtoTheCarpenters:The
UntoldStorybyRayColeman,managerSherwinBash"deliberately"firedSedakaattherequestofRichard
Carpenter,allegedlybecauseSedakawasbecomingmorepopularthantheCarpenters.Thefiringresultedina
mediabacklashagainstTheCarpentersafterSedakapubliclyannouncedthathewasoffthetour.Thiswasbefore
KarenandRichardrecordedSedaka's"Solitaire,"whichbecameaTop20hitfortheduo.RichardCarpenterdenied
thathehadSedakafiredfor"stealingtheirshow,"accordingtothewidelyspreadrumor.RichardCarpenter
respondedthatheandKarenwereproudofSedaka'ssuccess.BashwasfiredasTheCarpenters'managershortly
thereafter.AccordingtoTheCarpentersStory:OnlyYesterday,a2007U.K.televisionbiography,Bashclaimsthat
hewasfiredbyRichardfollowingaconcertinLasVegasafterSedaka,theopeningact,introducedTomJones,
whowasintheaudience.Bashstatesthatitiscustomaryfortheheadliner(inthiscase,TheCarpenters)to
introducespecialguests.Bashstatedthat,afterRichardfiredhim,RichardalsofiredSedakafromthetourand
SedakathenfiredBash.

OvernightSuccess/TheHungryYears
Inlate1975,Sedaka'smostsuccessfulyearofhiscareercontinuedasheearnedyetmorechartsuccesswiththe
releaseofhissecondRocketRecordsalbum,TheHungryYears.ThisalbumwasanAmericaneditionofSedaka's
BritishPolydoralbum"OvernightSuccess."Thefirstsingle,"BadBlood,"hitNo.1ontheBillboard100and
stayedthereforthreeweeks(October11,18and25,1975),wascertifiedGoldbytheRecordingIndustry
AssociationofAmerica(RIAA),andwasthemostindividualcommerciallysuccessfulsingleofhiscareer.Elton
Johnprovideduncreditedbackingvocalsfor"BadBlood."DespitetheirlaterfallingoutthatresultedinSedaka
movingfromElton'sRocketRecordstoElektra,SedakahascreditedJohnasbeingresponsibleforhissuccessful
returntotheU.S.popmusicscene.[19]Johnhasstated,"IonlyappearontherecordsofpeopleIreallyknowor
like."[17]

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Anotherhighlightfrom"TheHungryYears"wasSedaka'snewversionof"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo."His1962
original,aNo.1hitsingle,wasupbeattheremakewasaslowballad,basedonasimilararrangementbyaLenny
Welch1970recording.Sedaka'sversionhitNo.8ontheHot100inearly1976,makinghimtheonlyartisttoever
recordanentirelyreinterpretedversionofasongwherebothversionsreachedtheBillboardTop10.The1976
balladversionalsohitNo.1onBillboard'sAdultContemporarychart.

Steppin'Out
Laterin1976,Sedakareleasedathird(andfinal)albumwithEltonJohn'slabelTheRocketRecordCompany,
Steppin'Out.Thefirstsingle,"LoveintheShadows,"wasanuncharacteristicallysolidrocksongfeaturinga
scorchingguitarsolo.WhileitpeakedatNo.16ontheHot100,itwasthefirstofhisthree"comeback"albums'
debutsinglesnottohitNo.1oreventheTop10.Thesecondsinglewasthealbum'stitletrack,onceagain
featuringEltononuncreditedbackingvocals.WhileitcrackedtheTop40(peakingatNo.36),itwouldalsosignal
thebeginningofaslowdowninSedaka'smusicsalesandradioplaynotunlikewhatheexperiencedin1964when
TheBeatlesandthe"BritishInvasion"arrived.
Bythispoint,EltonJohnwasstartingtoloseinterestinSedaka.MembersofJohn'sinnercircle,jealousof
Sedaka'ssuccess,workedtounderminethefriendshipbytellingJohnfalsehoodsaboutSedaka.Consequently,
whenitwastimetorenegotiateSedaka'scontractwithRocket,JohndidnotofferSedakatheamountofmoneyhe
waslookingfor,andhedidnotpromoteSteppin'OutasextensivelyashehadSedaka'sBackandTheHungry
Years.SedakasubsequentlyleftRocketandsignedwithElektraRecords.
SedakametJohnagainseveraltimesafterhisdeparturefromRocket,andhedescribedtheirmeetingsas"cordial,
butcold".Thecoldnesseventuallythawed,howeverandintheforewordtoSedaka's2013biography,Johnwrote
oftheirfriendshipinglowingandpositiveterms.[20]

Late1970s
TransitionfromRockettoElektra
Sedaka'snewUSlabel,Elektra,didnotputasmucheffortintopromotingSedaka'smusicasEltonJohnhadat
RocketRecords,andthat,combinedwiththearrivalofthediscoera,markedanotherdownturninSedaka'scareer.
HisfirstElektraalbum,ASong,enjoyedonlymoderatesuccess.Thingsgotworsewithhis1978albumAllYou
NeedIstheMusicwhichwasadismalfailure,becauseasSedakaattemptedtoreleasediscothemedmusichimself
inthelate1970s,hisalbumsaleswereweakandsinglescouldnotgetafootholdontheradio.However,onone
trackof"AllYouNeedIstheMusic"wasabeautifulballadcalled"Should'veNeverLetHerGo."Sedakareleased
thesongbutitwasnotasuccess.Inhisnextalbum,1980'sInthePocket,hereleasedanearlysingleintheautumn
of1979,"LettingGo,"whichpeakedjustabovetheHot100.Forthesecondsingleinthewinterof1980,Sedaka
changedthelyricsandtitleto"Should'veNeverLetYouGo,"andrerecordedthesongwithhisthen17yearold
daughter,Dara.Theirfatherdaughterduo,alongwithFrankandNancySinatraandNat"King"(posthumously)
andNatalieCole(viarecordingmanipulationin"Unforgettable",1991)aretheonlyfatherdaughterduetstoreach
theTop40.NeilandDara'spairingwouldreturnNeiltotheTop20forhislastHot100chartedsingle,andalsothe
Top5ontheAdultContemporaryChart.

ReissueofRCAerarecordings
Throughoutthe1970s,Sedaka'sformerrecordcompany,RCA,reissuedhis1960serasongsoncompilationLPs
ontheRCAVictorandRCACamdenlabels,apracticewhichcontinuestothisday.Theideawastocapitalizeon
Sedaka'snewfoundpopularitybymakinghisRCAerarecordingsavailabletoyoungergenerationsoffans.
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SedakaalsoreleasedafinalalbumofnewmaterialwithRCA,consistingofaliveconcerthegaveinSydney.The
albumwasreleasedontheRCAInternationallabelinAustraliaandEuropeasNeilSedakaonStagein1974.It
sawaUSreleaseontheRCAVictorlabelin1976asSedakaLiveinAustralia.Thealbum'ssongsweremostly
coverversionsofrockandpopsongsfromtheprevious25years,suchas"ProudMary","EverythingIsBeautiful"
and"TheFatherofGirls".
Fordecades,RCAandSedakahavedisputedtheownershiprightsofSedaka'soriginalmastertapesfromhislate
1950s/early1960shits.RCAhasreleasedvariousrepackagingsofhisoldhits,promptingSedakatorerecordhis
oldhitsandmakethemsoundascloseandauthentictotheoriginalsaspossible.

1980sand1990s
SedakareleasedonefinalalbumwithElektraNeilSedaka:Nowin1981.Noneofthesongsonthisalbummade
anysignificantwavesonthepopmusiccharts.
Duringthistime,Sedakalosthisfathertocancer.Sedaka'smotherandfatherhadmovedtoFortLauderdale,
Floridainthe1970s.MacSedakahadatumorinhiscolon,andhaditsurgicallyremoved.Afterthat,theythought
hewouldrecover,butthecancerhadspreadtohisbones.Neilwasathisbedsidesinginghisfather'sfavoritesong,
"PicturesFromThePast"(asonghehadrecordedtwice,in1965and1981),whenhisfatherbrieflyawokefrom
hiscomaandthendiedamomentlater,onJune6,1981.
Meanwhile,duetothefailureof"Now",SedakaleftElektraandsignedwithCurbRecords.Sedakarecordedtwo
albumsontheCurblabelComeSeeAboutMein1983andTheGoodTimesin1986.Bothofthesealbumsfared
poorlyonthechartsandinsales,withonlymodestsuccessforthesinglesreleasedfromthosealbums.After1986,
Sedakawasonceagainleftwithoutarecordlabel.
Hethencreatedhisownmusiclabel,ensuringthathiscatalogofhitswouldfindthemarketplace,andhereleased
occasionalCDsofselfproducednew,originalmaterial.Healsoprovedtobeapopularconcertdrawonbothsides
oftheAtlanticOcean,performingforthousandsofadoringfans.Tothisday,hemaintainsarigoroustourschedule.

Othersuccesses
AmericansingersongwriterBenFoldscreditedSedakaonhisiTunesOriginalsalbumasaninspirationforhisown
songpublishingcareer.WhenFoldsheardthatSedakahadasongpublishedbytheageof13,Foldssetasimilar
goal,despitethefactthatSedakadidnotactuallypublishuntilhewas16.[21]
In1985,songscomposedbySedakawereadaptedfortheJapaneseanimeTVseriesMobileSuitZetaGundam.
Theseincludedthetwoopeningthemes"ZetaTokiwoKoete"(originallyinEnglishas"BetterDaysAre
Coming")and"MizunoHoshieAiwoKomete"(originallyinEnglishas"ForUstoDecide",buttheEnglish
versionwasneverrecorded),aswellastheendtheme"HoshizoranoBelieve"(writtenas"BadandBeautiful").
Duetocopyrightrestrictions,thesongswerereplacedfortheNorthAmericanDVD.
In1994,SedakaprovidedthevoiceforNeilMoussaka,aparodyofhimselfinFoodRocks,anattractionatEpcot
from19942006.
AmusicalcomedybasedonthesongsofSedaka,BreakingUpIsHardtoDo,[22]waswrittenin2005byErik
JacksonandBenH.WintersitisnowunderlicensetoTheatricalRightsWorldwide.
Abiographicalmusical,LaughterintheRain,producedbyBillKenwrightandLaurieMansfieldandstarring
WayneSmithasSedaka,haditsworldpremiereattheChurchillTheatreintheLondonboroughofBromleyon
March4,2010.Sedakaattendedtheopeningandjoinedthecastonstageforanimpromptucurtaincallofthetitle
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song.

Intothe21stcentury
Nowinhis70s,SedakamaintainsarigorousconcertscheduleintheU.S.
andaroundtheworld.HewasinductedintotheSongwriters'HallofFame
in1983,[23]hasastarontheHollywoodWalkofFame,andwasanOctober
2006inducteeoftheLongIslandMusicHallofFame.OnNovember15,
2013,PacificPioneerBroadcastersinLosAngelesgavehimtheirArt
GilmoreCareerAchievementAwardataluncheoninhishonor.[24]

AmericanIdol
InMay2003,neartheendofthesecondseasonoftheFoxTVseries
AmericanIdol,Sedakaappearedasaguestjudgeandmentortothefive
remainingfinalists.(The"guestjudge"aspectoftheserieshaslongsince
Sedakain2005
beendiscontinued.)Severalofthecontestants'performancesfromSedaka's
songbooksparkedparticularpraisefromtheguestjudge.Oneofthose
performancescamefromeventualthirdplacefinalistKimberleyLocke,whosang"ThemefromWheretheBoys
Are".TheSedaka/GreenfieldcompositionwasoriginallyrecordedbyConnieFrancisandbecamehersignature
song.SedakatermedLocke'sperformance"earlicious."
EventualSeason2runnerupClayAikenchoseSedaka's1972song"Solitaire"forhisperformance.AsAiken
explainedtothestudioandTVaudiences,hostRyanSeacrest,andthefourtotaljudges,"Solitaire"hadlongbeen
oneofhismother'salltimefavoritesongs.WhenshelearnedthatSedakawasgoingtobeaguestjudgeandthat
thefinalistswouldbesingingSedaka'ssongs,shebeggedhimtosing"Solitaire".Theperformancewasuniformly
givenextraordinarilyhighpraisebythejudges(includingperennialskepticSimonCowell).Sedakadissolvedinto
tears,tellingAikenthatheofficiallypassedownershipoftheperformanceof"Solitaire"toClay,offeringtorecord
andproduceasingleofthesongoranentireCDwithhim.
AlthoughitdidnotappearonhisdebutCDitself,Aikenrecordedandadded"Solitaire"astheBsidetothesingle
"TheWay,"whosesaleswerefaltering."Solitaire"wasquicklymovedtotheAside,andradioairplayandsingle
anddownloadsalesrespondedimmediately."Solitaire"hitNo.1ontheBillboardHotSinglesSaleschartandwas,
infact,thetopsellingsingleforallof2004.ItalsohittheTop5onBillboard'sHot100.Sedakawasinvitedback
toAmericanIdoltocelebratethesuccessof"Solitaire"severaltimes,asitcontinuedtoreachnewmilestones.
Sincethen,AikenhasminedtheSedakasongbookagain,recordingacoverofprobablySedaka'sbestknownsong,
"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo,"onthe"deluxeversion"ofhis2010CDrelease,TriedandTrue.
SedakacontinuestobeseenintheAmericanIdolstudioaudiencemostrecentlyonMay19,2011,whenSeacrest
hadSedakastandandgreettheaudienceoncameraduringSeason10's"Top3"resultsshow.

AmarilloGuinnessWorldRecord
OnabusinesstriptoNewYorkinmid1971,HarveyLisberg,whowasalongtimefanofSedaka,askedDon
Kirshnerifhe'dwrittenanythingnew.KirshnertookLisbergtoasmallroomwithapianowhereSedakawas
alreadyseated,andhetappedoutafewsongs.OneofthesewastheSedaka/Greenfieldcomposition"(IsThisthe
Wayto)Amarillo?"whichLisberglovedandplacedwithhisartistTonyChristiewhorecordedandreleaseditin
1971.[25]ThesongdidrelativelywellontheUKsingleschart,reachingtheTop20.

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Itlaydormantformorethanthreedecades,whenUKcomicPeterKaylipsyncheditfora2002videoinhisTV
seriesPeterKay'sPhoenixNights.Forthe2005annualComicReliefcharitydrive,hesolicitedanumberof
celebrityfriendsofhisandupdatedthevideo,anditbecameanenormoushit.Theoriginal1971TonyChristie
singlewasrereleasedtoradioandCD/downloadsales,andhitNo.1forsevenweeksandwasthebiggesthitin
Britainforallof2005.
Wheninterviewedforan"extras"featureforaDVDsetofaconcertfilmedinLondononApril7,2006(see
below),SedakajokinglyhadheardthatChristiehadretiredandwas"golfinginSpain."[26]Thesuddenrevivalof
"Amarillo"summonedChristiebacktotheUKforanunexpectedreturntofame.Sedakaalsoreleasedthesongin
theU.S.in1977astheshortened"Amarillo,"butitwasonlyamidchartentry,peakingjustshyoftheTop40.In
early2006,thesongreceivednewlifeyetagainwhenadancebeatwasaddedandthelyricswererevisedto
becomeanoveltyhit,releasedas"IsThistheWaytothe(England)WorldCup?",tomarktheappearanceofthe
Englandfootballteamatthatsummer'sFIFAWorldCupfinals.Itwasusedyetagainlaterthatsummerbythe
CentralBandoftheRoyalBritishLegionpriortotheMen'sFinalsofthe2006Wimbledontennistournament.
OnApril7,2006,SedakawasappearingattheRoyalAlbertHallandfilmingfortheabovereferencedCD/DVD
package,whenhewasinterruptedmidconcertbyagentlemanwhowalkedonstagefromthewings.Theplanned
scenariowasthatSedakawastobeginperforming"Amarillo",andafteroneverse,theaudiencewastobe
surprisedbytheappearanceofChristieforaneventualduet.Butattheinterruption,aseeminglyannoyedSedaka
asked,"Whatisthis?"TheinterloperwasarepresentativefromGuinnessRecords,andhewastheretopresent
SedakawithanawardfromGuinnessWorldRecords:BritishHitSinglesandAlbumsforcomposing"(IsThisthe
Wayto)Amarillo?",themostsuccessfulUKsingleofthe21stcentury(uptothatdate,ofcourse).[27][28]Afterthe
presentation,Sedakaproceededinto"Amarillo",Christieenteredonstagetoaneruptionofcheersfromthe
audience,andafterthesuccessfulduetperformance,thetwomenwalkedoffstagetogetherasthefirsthalfof
Sedaka'sconcertcametoaclosewiththeentertainerthelatestrecipientofanewGuinnessWorldRecord.

Newrecordingcontract,newchartsuccess
SinceSedakahadlosthisrecordingcontractinthemid1980s,hehadusedhisownbusiness,NeilSedakaMusic,
tofinancetherecording,production,anddistributionofnewCDsandrepackagingofhisexistingcatalogofmusic.
BecauseofongoingdisputeswithRCARecordsovertheownershipofSedaka'soriginallate1950s/early1960s
hits,in1991,Sedakarerecordedthoseearlyrecordings,notefornote.Sedakahastakenmeticulouscareofhis
voiceovertheyearsandstillsingsintheoriginalkeysrecordedinhisyouth.Thisallowedhimtorepackagehis
catalogtoincludebothhisearlyrecordingsalongwithhismidtolate1970shitsandlaterrecordings.
Inearly2007,SedakasignedhisfirstrecordingcontractinnearlytwodecadeswithRazorandTieRecords,a
smallbutgrowing,NewYorkbasedindependentlabelwithatalentrosterthatalsoincludesJoanBaez,Vanessa
Carlton,Foreigner,JoeJackson,andLadysmithBlackMambazo.ThefirstreleasewasTheDefinitiveCollection,a
lifespanningcompilationofhishits,alongwithouttakesandsongspreviouslyreleasedbutunavailableinCD
and/ordownloadformat.ItdebutedintheTop25onBillboard'sTop200AlbumschartinMay2007,oneofthe
highestchartingalbumsofhisentirecareer.ItalsoincludesItHurtstoBeinLove,Sedaka'sversionoftheGene
PitneyhitwhichRCAhadrefusedtoreleasein1964.Bestknownasa"singlesartist,"thisalbumchartactivity
wasconsideredasignificantcomebackfortheveteranentertainer.ThelasttimeSedakahadanalbumontheTop
200albumschartwasin1980,withhis1979albumInthePocketwhen"Should'veNeverLetYouGo,"the1980
duetwithSedakaandhisdaughterDara,wasSedaka'slastTop20hitontheHot100singleschart.
WakingUpIsHardtoDowasSedaka'snextreleasewithRazorandTie,hittingthealbumschartinMay2009.The
CDwasachildren'salbumthatusedthemelodiesofmanyofSedaka'sbestknownsongsbutchangedthelyricsto
fit,andhopefullyhavefunwith,theeverydaylivesofbabiesandtoddlers,alongwiththeirparents,grandparents,
babysitters,andothercaregivers.TheCDtitleisanexample.Lastly,TheMusicofMyLifeenteredthealbums
chartinFebruary2010[29]andcomprisedalmostallnewmaterial.Thefirsttrack,"DoYouRemember?,"is
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Sedaka'sfirstforayintospicysalsaandwasproducedbymusicproducer,composer,andpianistDavidFoster.
"RightorWrong,"cowrittenwithoriginalmusicpartnerHowardGreenfield,wasdoneintraditionalstreetcorner,
layereddoowopvocalharmonieswithSedakaoverlayinghisownvoicetoachievetheeffectforwhichhewas
wellknowninhis"early"heydayofthelate1950sandearly1960s.Thefinaltrack,"You",hasbeenpreviously
released,butwasremasteredforthisprojectandisoneofseveraltitlesdedicatedtohiswifeandcareerguideof
nearly50years,Leba.NeilSedakaMusiccontinuestobelistedascoproduceralongwithRazorandTie.
AconcertperformanceonOctober26,2007attheLincolnCenterinNewYorkCitypaidhomagetothe50th
anniversaryofSedaka'sdebutinshowbusiness.Musicimpresario(andproducerforTheMusicofMyLifetrack
"DoYouRemember?")DavidFosterservedasemcee.OtherguestsincludedTheCaptainandTennilleNatalie
ColeConnieFrancisrecordinglegendanddecadeslongSedakafriendandformermanagerDonKirshnerand
newSolitaire"owner"ClayAiken,amongmanyothers.Alsoin2007,DonnyOsmondreleasedaCD,LoveSongs
ofthe'70s,whichincludedacoverofSedaka's1975No.1hit"LaughterintheRain."
Duringhis2008Australiantour,Sedakapremieredanewclassicalorchestralcompositionentitled"JoiedeVivre
(JoyofLife)."[30]SedakaalsotouredThePhilippinesforhisMay17,2008,concertattheAranetaColiseum.[31]
Inearly2010,hisoriginaluptempoversionof"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo"(performedbyagroupofuncredited
singers)wasbeingheardastheimpetusforaseriesofinsuranceTVcommercials,featuringactorDennisHaysbert
assuringthatTVviewersnotinsuredbyAllstatecanbreakupwiththeircurrentinsurerwithoutmuchadoatall.
OnSeptember11,2010,SedakaperformedtoapublicandTVaudienceattheHydePark,London,venueofthe
"PromsinthePark"fortheBBC.TheUKcontinuestobeprobablySedaka'smostwelcomingnation,andhasbeen
sincefirstmovinghisfamilythere(temporarily)fourdecadesago.Theironyoftheplacewhosemusicscuttledhis
"first"career,namelytheBeatlesandtheBritishInvasion,andyethasconstantlywelcomedhimwithopenarms
formorethan40years,isnotlostonhim,hehasstatedinmanyinterviews.Indeed,itwashisworkwiththe
musicianswhowould,inafewyears,becomethehitmakinggroup10ccthatbroughthimbacktotheU.S.asa
majorstarwithNo.1hitsandanumberofothermajorTop40singles.TheUKalwaystakesupamajorportionof
Sedaka'stouringyearinthe21stcentury.
Inearly2011,Sedakarecordedtwoduets("Brighton"and"TheImmigrant")withsingerJimVanSlykeforVan
Slyke'sNeilSedakatributealbum,TheSedakaSessions.LMLRecordsreleasedthisalbuminAugust2011.[32]
OnFebruary1,2016,SedakaperformedtoasoldoutaudienceinTheVillages.[33]

Personallife
SedakaattendedAbrahamLincolnHighSchoolinBrooklyn,graduatingin1956.[34]
HeandhiswifeLeba(neStrassberg)havebeenmarriedsince1962.Theyhavetwochildren:adaughter,Dara,a
recordingartistandvocalistfortelevisionandradiocommercials(whosangthefemalepartontheSedakaduet
"Should'veNeverLetYouGo"and"AngelQueen"ontheQueenMillenniasoundtrack),andason,Marc,a
screenwriterwholivesinLosAngeleswithhiswifeSamanthaandthreechildren.

Discography
AlltimeNo.1hits
"Oh!Carol"(Italy),1960
"OneWayTickettotheBlues"(Japan),1960
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"CalendarGirl"(Canada&Japan),1961
"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo"(1962version)USBillboardHot100,1962
"Laterzaluna"(Italy),1963
"StarCrossedLovers"(Australia),1969
"LaughterintheRain"USAdultContemporary,1974USBillboardHot100,1975
"TheImmigrant"USAdultContemporary,1975
"BadBlood"USBillboardHot100,197576
"BreakingUpIsHardtoDo"(1975version)USAdultContemporary,1976

Filmography
1968PlaygirlKiller
1980TheToniTennilleshow(oneepisode,ashimself)
2005TheKingofQueens(oneepisode,ashimself)

Autobiography
LaughterintheRain:MyOwnStory.NewYork:Putnam,1982.ISBN0399127445

References
1."NeilSedaka".Jewishvirtuallibrary.org.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
2."Interview:NeilSedaka".Thejc.com.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
3.NeilSedaka,commentary,NeilSedakaTheShowGoesOn.SkyArtsHD,1September2015.
4.Dettelbach,Cynthia."Fromangstriddenteenagertoworldclassmusicstar"(http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P199963
269.html),ClevelandJewishNews,July30,2004accessedSeptember23,2009."Thatincludesinstantfaceandname
recognition,astarontheHollywoodWalkofFame,aplaceintheSongwritersHallofFame,andevenastreetnamed
afterhiminhisnativeBrightonBeach,Brooklyn."
5.http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28079/neilsedaka/
6.CurtSchleier(June7,2012)."Q&A:NeilSedakaonAdeleandCaroleKingTheArtySemiteForward.com".The
Forward.RetrievedMarch19,2013.
7."CaroleKingOh,Neil/AVerySpecialBoy(Vinyl)atDiscogs".discogs.com.RetrievedMarch18,2013.
8.JamesE.Perone(2006).ThewordsandmusicofCaroleKing.GreenwoodPublishingGroup.ISBN9780275990275.
9.MichaelBillig(June1,2001).Rock'n'RollJews.SyracuseUniversityPress.p.95.RetrievedMarch18,2013.
10.NeilSedaka,April7,2006NeilSedakaLiveattheRoyalAlbertHall:TheVeryBestofNeilSedakaTheShowMust
GoOnDVDset
11.NeilSedakaonI'veGotASecret(1965)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kRo5Y8GN8k)onYouTube
12.TheBobRogersShow,Radio2CH,11:18AEST,September10,2010.
13."GoSetTop40for1969".Poparchives.com.au.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
14."NeilSedakaDiscography19581969".Sedaka.be.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
15."GoSetTop40chart,7March1970".Poparchives.com.au.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
16."NeilSedakaisbackandreadytomixoldandnewmusiconautumntour".RetrievedApril1,2014.
17.EltonJohn"StoryofPopspecial"p36,PhoebusPublishing,London,1975.
18.Shannon,Bob(2007)."IT'STHESINGER,NOTTHESONG".bobshannon.com.RetrievedJanuary7,2010.
19."NeilSedaka:TheMusicofMyLife"interviewwithJohnnieWalkerforBBCRadio2,broadcastDecember28,2010
20.Podolsky,Rich(2013).NeilSedaka:Rock'n'RollSurvivor:TheInsideStoryofaRemarkableComeback.Jawbone
Press.p.Forword.ISBN1908279427.
21."NPRPrograms:WaitWait...Don'tTellMe!Podcast".Npr.org.Retrieved20120404.
22."Theatricalrights.com".Theatricalrights.com.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
23."NeilSedakaattheSongwritersHallofFame".Songwritershalloffame.org.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
24."PacificPioneerBroadcasterstoHonorSedakaTheTolucanTimes".Tolucantimes.info.RetrievedSeptember28,
2014.
25.MusicWeek."It'sTimeForTony".pp.3137.RetrievedJanuary29,2011.
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26.NeilSedakabeinginterviewedbyPaulGambacciniinNeilSedakaLiveattheRoyalAlbertHall:TheVeryBestofNeil
SedakaTheShowMustGoOnDVDset"extra"
27."AnneCarliniofficialwebsite".Annecarlini.com.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
28."StillKeepingItTogether"interviewbyRussellA.TrunkwithNeilSedakaforAnneCarlini.com,RussellTrunk's
ExclusiveMagazine.Retrieved07/16/11.
29.BillboardTop200AlbumschartdatesandinformationforTheDefinitiveCollection,WakingUpIsHardtoDo,andThe
MusicofMyLifecourtesyBillboard.com
30.Munro,Ian(April21,2008)."Themastersongwriterturnsmaestro".TheSydneyMorningHerald.Retrieved
20080512.
31."NeilSedakaarrivesinRPforconcert,05/15/2008".GMANewsOnline.RetrievedSeptember28,2014.
32."JimVanSlykeReleasesNewStudioRecording"TheSedakaSessions"(LMLMusic)August9".PRWeb.VocusPRW
Holdings,LLC.RetrievedAugust24,2011.
33."NeilSedakabringsbackmemoriesbyplayingfromhisrichsongbook".VillagesNews.com.RetrievedFebruary24,
2016.
34.Hechinger,FredM."ABOUTEDUCATIONPersonalTouchHelps"(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4
0816FD3E5C12728DDDA80894D9405B8084F1D3),TheNewYorkTimes,January1,1980accessedSeptember20,
2009."Lincoln,anordinary,unselectiveNewYorkCityhighschool,isproudofagalaxyofprominentalumni,who
includetheplaywrightArthurMiller,RepresentativeElizabethHoltzman,theauthorsJosephHellerandKenAuletta,the
producerMelBrooks,thesingerNeilDiamondandthesongwriterNeilSedaka."

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Bloom,Ken.Americansong.TheCompleteMusicalTheaterCompanion.18771995,vol.2,2ndedition,
SchirmerBooks,1996.
Clarke,Donald.ThePenguinEncyclopediaofPopularMusic,Viking,1989.
Ewen,David.AmericanSongwriters.AnH.W.WilsonBiographicalDictionary,H.W.WilsonCompany,
1987.
diMartino,Dave.SingerSongwriters,PopMusic'sPerformerComposers,fromAtoZevon,Billboard
Books,1984.
Friedrich,GaryBrown,Len.EncyclopediaofRock&Roll,TowerPublications,1970.
Lablanc,Michael.ContemporaryMusicians,vol.4,GaleResearch,1991.
Larkin,Colin.TheEncyclopediaofPopularMusic,Macmillan,1992.
Lyman,Darryl.GreatJewsinMusic,J.D.Publishers,1986.
Sadie,StanleyHitchcock,H.Wiley(Ed.).TheNewGroveDictionaryofAmericanMusic.Grove's
DictionariesofMusic,1986.
Stambler,Irwin.EncyclopediaofPop,RockandSoul,St.Martin'sPress,1974.
Sumrall,Harry.PioneersofRockandRoll.100ArtistsWhoChangedtheFaceofRock,BillboardBooks,
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White,Mark.YouMustRememberThis...PopularSongwriters19001980,FrederickWarner,1983.

Externallinks
NeilSedaka'sofficialsite(http://www.neilsedaka.com)
AudiointerviewwithNeilSedakaontheSodajerkeronSongwritingpodcast(http://sodajerker.com/episode
25neilsedaka)
NeilSedaka(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0781226/)attheInternetMovieDatabase
NeilSedakaForFans(http://www.neilsedakaforfans.com)
Petition:SendNeilSedakatotheRock&RollHallOfFame(http://www.sedaka.be/neil_sedaka_petition/ent
ry.htm)
TheNeilSedakavideos(http://www.neilsedakavideos.com)
NeilSedaka'sBiographybyMichaelTurner(http://www.sedaka.be/neil_sedaka_petition/biography_by_mic
hael_turner.htm)
TheNeilSedakaAppreciationSociety(http://groups.msn.com/tnsas)
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