Neil Sedaka Biography - Famous People

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Neil Sedaka Biography (One of the Best Selling Pop Singer-Songwriter Known for His Hits 'Oh! Carol' and 'Calendar Girl')

Birthday: March 13, 1939 (Pisces)

Born In: Brooklyn, New York, United States

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Neil Sedaka is a noted American singer, pianist and composer. He started taking piano lessons when he was in the second grade and joined Juilliard School of Music at the age of eight. He continued his training there until he was 16. Meanwhile, he developed an interest in rock and formed a songwriting partnership with Howard Green at the age of 13. The duo first came into the limelight with ‘Stupid Cupid’, which was sung by Connie Francis. However, it was ‘Oh! Carol’ that established Sedaka as a singer, earning him ninth position on the Hot 100 chart as well as international repute. Thereafter, he continued to release hits until Beatle mania hit the USA, and he found his record sales waning. Nevertheless, he continued to be popular as a songwriter and concert artist, performing at various concerts across the world. He later made a comeback in the 1970s. Apart from English, he has cut records in Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, French and Hebrew. A popular concert artist, he continues to perform all over the world to this day.

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Birthday: March 13, 1939 (Pisces)

Born In: Brooklyn, New York, United States

4814 Pop Singers #128 Singers #290 Pop Singers #128 Singers #290 4814

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Age: 86 Years, 86 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Leba Strassberg

father: Mac Sedaka

mother: Eleanor Sedaka

children: Dara Sedaka, Marc Sedaka

Born Country: United States

Pop Singers American Men

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Males

Ancestry: Turkish American, Lebanese American, Polish American, Russian American

City: Brooklyn, New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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You wanted to know

• 1

  What are some of Neil Sedaka's most popular songs?

  Some of Neil Sedaka's most popular songs include "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," "Calendar Girl," "Laughter in the Rain," "Oh! Carol," and "Solitaire."

• 2

  Where was Neil Sedaka born and raised?

  Neil Sedaka was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn.

• 3

  What genre of music is Neil Sedaka known for?

  Neil Sedaka is known for his contributions to pop music and is considered a prominent figure in the genre.

• 4

  Has Neil Sedaka written songs for other artists?

  Yes, Neil Sedaka has written songs for a variety of artists, including Connie Francis, The Monkees, and Captain & Tennille.

• 5

  What inspired Neil Sedaka to pursue a career in music?

  Neil Sedaka was inspired by his passion for music from a young age and his father's encouragement to pursue his talents.

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American PeopleMale SingersPisces SingersMale Pop SingersAmerican Singers Childhood & Early LifeNeil Sedaka was born on March 13, 1939 in the Brighton Beach, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City. His father Mac Sedaka, a Sephardi Jew of Turkish origin, was a cab driver. He was also a great tennis and shuffleboard player.His mother Eleanor née Appel was an Ashkenazi Jew of Polish-Russian origin. Neil was born younger of his parents’ two children, having an elder sister who was senior to him by two years.Brought up in an extended family and sharing their two-bedroom apartment with his grandparents and five aunts, Neil had a very happy childhood as he was spoiled by the ladies of the house. He also had a close relationship with his father who took him to ballgames and prizefights.Neil must have inherited his musical aptitude from his concert pianist grandmother who had studied with the founder of the prestigious Julliard School. However, first to notice his talent was his second-grade music teacher who once sent him home with a note suggesting that he take private lessons in piano.Neil began his piano lessons at a neighbor’s instrument. Eventually, his mother took up a part time job and bought a second-hand upright piano for him in the hope that Neil would become a classical pianist when he grew up.In 1947, eight years old Neil won a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Division for Children, where classes were held every Saturday. Here, he began intense training in classical piano, which continued for the next eight years.In 1949, he watched the romantic musical comedy film, ‘Make Believe Ballroom’, wherein many renowned singers appeared as themselves. Listening to its songs, he developed a taste for pop music. Nonetheless, he continued his training in piano as well as his formal education.In 1952, his neighbor Howard Greenfield, a 16 years old poet, asked Neil to write music to go with one of his poems. Thus, began a collaboration that lasted until Greenfield’s death in 1986.For his secondary education, Neil was enrolled at the Abraham Lincoln High School. By then, he had also started playing pop music on his piano, which made him very popular among his peers. He was not only invited to every teenage party, but he also was the heart of these parties.In 1956, when he was 16 years old, his high school music teacher signed him up for the New York City High School Music Competition, in which he was declared one of the five winners. Later that year, he graduated both from Abraham Lincoln High School and Julliard School of Music.Continue Reading Below