Neil Sedaka, the American singer-songwriter behind a string of pop hits in the 1950s and 60s including Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, has died at the age of 86.
His family confirmed his death in a statement, saying they were “devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather”.
“A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed,” the statement said.
No cause of death or location was disclosed.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sedaka studied at the Juilliard School and was a founding member of the doo-wop group The Tokens in the late 1950s.
He went on to build a successful solo career, recording hits such as Oh! Carol, Calendar Girl, Laughter in the Rain and Bad Blood. A skilled pianist, he was nominated for five Grammy Awards during a career spanning more than six decades.
Sedaka also found success as a songwriter for other artists. As a teenager, he co-wrote “Stupid Cupid”, which was recorded by Connie Francis in 1958.
Although his popularity declined in the US during the British Invasion of the mid-1960s, he returned to the Billboard Top 10 in 1975 after writing Love Will Keep Us Together for Captain & Tennille. He also recorded several albums in the 1970s for a label founded by Elton John.
In a 2012 interview with the BBC during a visit to London, where he performed a piano concerto at the Royal Albert Hall, Sedaka spoke about his love of classical music.
“It’s wonderful for the soul to be able to play classical music,” he said.
“But to travel around, playing your own lyrics and music is a very rewarding feeling and I chose that, and I have no regrets.”
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 27 Feb 2026
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