Neil Sedaka, Legendary Singer-Songwriter of ‘Bad Blood’ & More, Dead at 86
The musician was also known for hits such as "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain."
Neil Sedaka performs at Saban Theatre on April 5, 2019, in Beverly Hills.
Neil Sedaka, the legendary singer known for hits such as the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s “Bad Blood,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Laughter in the Rain” died, his rep confirmed.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” a family statement shared with Variety said. “A true rock n’ 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 news comes after TMZ reported earlier in the day that the Grammy-nominated musician had been rushed to a Los Angeles hospital, with a family source telling the outlet that Sedaka was feeling unwell in the morning.
The singer-songwriter — who was born March 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, N.Y. — began his career while he was still a teen in the 1950s, becoming one of the world’s first teen pop stars. He would go on to form The Tokens, a doo-wop group, before meeting his neighbor Howard Greenfield, who would become his songwriting partner. According to Sedaka’s biography, their partnership would go on to sell 40 million records in just the four years between 1959 and 1964.
During his career as a recording artist, Sedaka landed the previously mentioned three No. 1s on the Hot 100. In all, he had 30 songs reach the chart, with nine of them becoming top 10 hits. Eleven of his albums made the all-genre Billboard 200, with 1975’s The Hungry Years reaching No. 16 — his peak on the chart — in December the year it was released. He debuted a total of 11 albums on the tally.
In April 2024, Sedaka partnered with Primary Wave to acquire a stake to the masters and publishing rights of his catalog. As Billboard exclusively reported at the time, the deal included his entire catalog — encompassing everything he wrote, performed and penned for others.
In addition to his five Grammy nods, Sedaka was also celebrated and recognized for his work throughout his career. He was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and Special International Award from The Ivors, and more.
Sedaka also made many TV appearances. He was one of Saturday Night Live‘s first musical guests, and also appeared as a guest judge on American Idol when it was still on Fox.
The celebrated musician is survived by his wife, Leba — whom he married in 1962 — daughter Dara, son Marc, and three grandchildren.
