Jewish musical legend Neil Sedaka died over the weekend at age 86.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. 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,” his family shared on social media.
Sedaka, whose father was the son of Sephardi immigrants from Turkey and whose mother had Jewish Polish-Russian roots, made an indelible mark on the music world during his 70-year career. As a heartthrob in his teens and early 20s, he gave us hits like “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” and “Oh! Carol,” inspired by his high school girlfriend, one Carol Klein, who later changed her name to Carole King — and even recorded the winningly funny “Oh! Neil” as a response.
On social media, King shared audio of the two of them singing “We Belong Together,” which they had recorded in the Kleins’ Brooklyn living room.
The British Invasion, marked by the rise of British pop acts such as the Beatles, hit Sedaka’s career hard in the 60s. But in the 70s, with some help from the legendary Elton John, Sedaka made his return to the music scene and wrote some of his greatest hits, like “Laughter in the Rain.” He also wrote one of his most successful songs of all time: Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
Sedaka was raised in a tight-knit Jewish home in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. “We were 11 people in a two-bedroom apartment: my grandparents, five aunts, my parents, my sister, and I sharing one bathroom. But I was very spoiled by all these ladies. It was a wonderful, wonderful childhood,” he recalled in Grand Magazine. He was just eight when he fell in love with the piano, and his mother took a job at a department store to help afford a piano, while his father, a cab driver, worked hard to send his son to Juilliard’s prep school. Sedaka would later take his dad with him whenever he toured the world.
His paternal grandmother would take him to her Sephardi synagogue, and he had his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.
It was his Jewish identity, in a way, that led him to meet his bashert. While things didn’t work out with Carole King, they really did with Leba Strassberg, whom he met in the Borscht Belt, that famous resort area where New York Jews loved to vacation. Leba’s parents owned Esther Manor, and in the late 50s, Neil worked there as a pianist. Leba was just 16 when he met her (and he was just 19), but he told his trumpet player, “You see that girl? I have a strange feeling I’m going to marry her,” saying that he was a Pisces and therefore a little bit psychic.
He told Leba, perhaps as a pickup, that he had just written the Connie Francis hit “Stupid Cupid,” and she at first didn’t believe him.
Cupid was anything but stupid with this Jewish duo — the two married in 1962, when Leba was 20, and he was 23, and remained together until Sedaka’s death. They had two children, Marc and Dara.
Sedaka’s Judaism wasn’t just a huge part of who he was — it played a big part in his music. On the Ed Sullivan Show, he sang a version of “Yiddishe Mama” that still tugs at the heartstrings. He later recorded it for his 2003 album “Brighton Beach Memories,” and he has performed with Yiddish music stars like the Klezmatics and Zalmen Mlotek.
In the 60s, he toured Israel and in 1966, he recorded several songs in Hebrew, including a medley of Hebrew classics and a version of his hit song “You Mean Everything to Me.”
His Jewish family also became intricately linked to his music. He collaborated with his daughter Dara on the hit single “Should’ve Never Let You Go.” In the past few years, he’s been singing duets with his grandson, Michael, who is continuing in the family’s musical tradition.
“This is the ultimate kvell, as they say, I’m so proud of Michael,” Neil said of his grandson’s musical skills in a 2025 TV appearance.
Upon his grandfather’s passing, Michael shared a recording of one of his papa’s favorite songs on TikTok, “Trying to Say Goodbye.”
@michaelsedaka Every time I was in the car with my papa, he would wanna hear his old songs and I would play this one. It’s my favorite hidden gem of his. Please enjoy Trying to Say Goodbye by Neil Sedaka. Love you Papa ❤️
“Music often brings back precious memories, and for me, one of the most cherished memories is sharing car rides with my papa. Every time we got into the car, he always wanted to listen to his old songs, and among them, there was one that truly stood out,” Michael wrote, “Trying to Say Goodbye.”
“This song became my favorite hidden gem of his, a melody that resonates with love and nostalgia. The lyrics and the tune transport me back to those moments spent together, filled with laughter and heartfelt conversations.” Michael continued, “Today, I want to pay tribute to my papa by sharing this special song. It encapsulates our connection, the nostalgia of our time together, and the love I hold in my heart for him. If you’ve ever had a significant relationship with a loved one, you may find a piece of your own story in this song. Let the music take you on a trip down memory lane and cherish those beautiful moments.”
What a mensch.
Many fellow celebrities also took to social media to post tributes to Sedaka.
“A giant even amongst the giants!! He proved melody is king!!” the music producer David Foster, the father of “Nobody Wants This” creator Erin Foster, shared.
“I’m so so sorry to hear. May his memory always be for a blessing. He was my first rock concert in the 70s, and his music will always live with us!! Sending love to the family,” Jewish musician Lisa Loeb wrote of Sedaka.
“As kind-hearted as he was brilliant. Love and condolences from my family to yours,” Josh Groban reminisced.
May Neil Sedaka’s memory be for a blessing. We know his music will never stop bringing us joy.
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