Posted on 02/28/2026 7:57:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
On Friday it was announced that songwriter Neil Sedaka had passed away at 86 years old.
Sedaka was responsible for a great number hits through the '60s and '70s, including "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "The Diary," "Oh! Carol," "Laughter in the Rain" and more.
"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. "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."
Following the news, artists have posted their condolences online, several of which you can view below.
Micky Dolenz called Sedaka "a rare talent" in his post, noting that one of Sedaka's songs, "When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)," was included on the Monkees' 1967 album More of the Monkees.
Over on Instagram, Elton John posted some words to his story: "Neil Sedaka's passing is very sad news. He was a dear friend and I loved working alongside him at Rocket Records in the 1970s — and was thrilled at his renaissance. He was truly a great artist and songwriter. ... He deserves to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame." (Sedaka has never been nominated for the Hall, despite being eligible for decades.)
"Neil Sedaka was so talented, and he inspired me to follow my dream of being a songwriter," Carole King wrote on her Instagram. "With love and gratitude and condolences to his family."
I remember a radio interview with him. He was still living with his parents when he sold his first hit song. He came home one day and his mom handed him his first royalty check. He was excited to see that it was $5000. His mom told him to look again. It was $50,000.
He said he decided right then that he wasn’t going to college.
I remember a radio interview with him. He was still living with his parents when he sold his first hit song. He came home one day and his mom handed him his first royalty check. He was excited to see that it was $5000. His mom told him to look again. It was $50,000.
He said he decided right then that he wasn’t going to college.
It was such a good interview I listened to it twice
He was classically trained and figured out how to right pop ditties by studying the structure of the hits of his era.
He wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together”, which the Captain and Tenille took tho #1 of the whole year. (You can here “Sedaka’s Back” in the fade-out).
The man could write a hook (Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Calendar Girl, Living Right Next Door to an Angel, Breaking Up is Hard to Do).
The people in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have a different definition of Rock and Roll than the people who were there.
If they inducted Del Shannon earlier, he MIGHT not have committed suicide.
Good story. I’ve always like him.
“The Hungry Years” is one of my favorites.
I saw his lounge act in Atlantic City.
All these people I grew up listening to are dying - makes me wonder how many years I have left...
“We may be old but we got to see all the good bands and musicians.”
OH so true!
“We may be old but we got to see all the good bands and musicians.”
OH so true!
So sad, I loved listening to his songs.
NP. It happens.
NP. It happens.
I got married in June 1975. That summer Love Will Keep Us Together by the Captain and Tenille came out and I associate that song with my wedding.
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