NeilSedaka is shown performing a mini concert from Los Angeles in July 2020
Posted on 09/13/2020 7:29:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
He has more than 800 songs he wrote to choose from.
Many performers have recorded videos of encouragement for fans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic months. But few, if any, have been as prolific as Neil Sedaka.
With some 90 mini-concerts already posted since early April on his YouTube channel, NeilSedakaMusic, the singer, pianist and composer of 1960s hits such as “Calendar Girl” and “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” continues to churn out the casual performances from behind his home piano several times a week.
“The response from people all over the world has been unbelievable, even those who were never really Neil Sedaka fans before,” said the 81-year-old singer from Los Angeles. “They can’t believe my body of work.”
Sedaka’s repertoire would impress any artist.
“I started writing songs when I was 13 and have composed over 800,” said Sedaka who, on March 27, was one of the first entertainers to post a video of hope during the early pandemic days in the U.S. in the form of rewritten lyrics to “Oh! Carol,” his hit from the late 1950s.
A week later, his first mini-concert – filmed by his wife on a cellphone from their New York home with the family parrot in the background – consisted of a medley of a half-dozen Sedaka hits.
“I just thought the music could be therapeutic for people locked down at home,” he recalled. “Then people began requesting songs on my Facebook page, so I decided to continue the mini-concerts and have performed three songs nearly every day ever since.”
For Sedaka, too, the performances have helped get through the months of isolation after moving to the family’s Los Angeles home several months ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at goerie.com ...
Trained as a classical pianist at New York’s Juilliard School, Sedaka discovered pop music as a teen and teamed up with lyricist Howard Greenfield to co-write the songs mentioned above and many more. In later years, other hits were written with Phil Cody (“Laughter in the Rain,” “Bad Blood”) but Sedaka’s love for classical music never waned.
“There are not many singer-songwriters of my era who can play Chopin, Debussy and Bach!” he said. “I’ve even performed a few piano pieces during the mini-concerts.”
Like other artists, Sedaka’s live tours have been mostly postponed until 2021 (see www.neilsadaka.com) and he says the mini-concerts have helped fill the void all entertainers are experiencing this year. He’s also been appearing monthly on the Sirius XM channel “50s on 5.”
“I play my records and talk about them and the times,” he explained. “Being from that era, I think people are curious to learn about the period and inner workings of the records musically. With such a large body of work it keeps me very happy to play my songs whether on the radio or for the YouTube mini-concerts. But performing live is like a drug with that adrenaline rush, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the stage.”
The only other Rock n Roller that I know of that’s a classically trained pianist is Eric Carmen.
He looks good. Glad to know he is doing ok.
I didn’t know that about Eric Carmen. Learn something new every day. Thanks for the info!
RE: The only other Rock n Roller that I know of that’s a classically trained pianist is Eric Carmen.
Eric Carmen’s hit song ALL BY MYSELF, incorporated part of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18.
Rachmaninoff’s music was in the public domain in the United States at that time and so Carmen thought no copyright existed on it, but it was still protected outside the U.S. Subsequent to the release of the album, he was contacted by the Rachmaninoff estate and informed that it was protected.
An agreement was reached in which the estate would receive 12 percent of the royalties from “All by Myself” as well as from “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again”, which was based on the third movement from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
Thanks!
I believe Rick Wakeman was classically trained
And Eric Carmen is big-time MAGA!
I think Eddie Van Halen’s dad started he and bro Alex on classical piano, as well.
Wow, that’s truly fascinating! I honestly had no idea.
Heck, I thought I was some kind of storehouse of musical knowledge for knowing Jay Black (of Jay & the Americans / “This Magic Moment”, “Cara Mia”, “Come a Little Bit Closer”) was classically trained as an opera tenor. :-)
Another FunFact about Eric Carmen:
Re: “All By Myself”
The verse is based on second movement of Sergeo Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Opus 18.
Re: “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again”
Based on third movement of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No.2.
12% of royalties from both songs would go to Rachmaninoff’s estate, was the business agreement allowing him to incorporate this music.
He used Rachmaninoff in the long version of All By Myself.
That makes Neil Sedaka and Eric Carmen "Rare birds".
I’m happy for Neil that he can still perform and is in demand. He almost looks like Gov. Huckabee’s older brother, the one who sings.
Neil has always struck me as someone who is extremely bright.
Elton John was at the Royal Academy of Music in his teens and trained Classically for 5-6 years.
Yup. I just saw your post about it after I posted and refreshed.
I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is.
Yes he is! :-)
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