Neil Sedaka
Five-time Grammy nominee Neil Sedaka has been a catalyst in the evolution of American popular music. The singer/songwriter has simply done it all. At only 9 years old, the Brooklyn native was already excelling at concert piano while attending the prestigious Juilliard School. He was amongst the very first “teen idols”, as he released his earliest hits before the age of 20. Iconic songs like “Oh Carol”, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, and “Laughter In the Rain” have earned the artist over 20 Top 50 hits. It is a record that is equally matched by his distinguished writing ability. In a career that spans over half a century, Sedaka has written songs performed by Elvis Presley, Frankie Valli, Carole King; the list goes on forever. We recently had the privilege of speak with Mr. Sedaka in the midst of the pandemic. The music legend has recently started a “mini-concert series” where he plays songs off his catalog (over 1000 of them) to his Instagram and YouTube audience. We talked to Sedaka about the inspiration for the videos, advice to up and coming artists, and more!
We have been watching your daily mini concerts on YouTube since they started. They make our day! How did you come up with the idea of having them?
I was looking for things to do during this pandemic. I noticed that when I composed “A Special Message of Hope” to the tune of “Oh Carol” and posted it on my social media, the response was incredible. It’s been very therapeutic for me to dig into my catalog and perform some of these songs that I haven’t performed since I recorded them; my “forgotten children”. I love going back and reflecting on these songs and I knew my fans would enjoy it.
You joked in your May 25th video that you had about 500 more songs that you had written left to play for us. What are some of your favorite songs that you wrote for another artist to record?
Some of my favorite songs that other artists recorded are “Alone at Last” by Rosemary Clooney, “The World I Threw Away” by Johnny Mathis,“One More Ride on the Merry Go Round” by Peggy Lee, “Let Mama Know” by Captain & Tennille, Karen Carpenter’s version of “Solitaire”, “Ring Ring” by Abba. The list goes on.
You've been in the music business for over sixty years. What do you think has been the most significant change in the industry over the years?
The most significant change in the industry has been the evolution of how people consume their music. From vinyl to cassette to compact disc (CD) and now to a digital file. I’m happy to say though that vinyl is making a comeback! The sound of a vinyl record is so distinctive and musical. Also, thanks to technology, anyone can make a record in their home and release it themselves.
You are known as one of the greatest songwriters in music’s history. What advice can you give to an up and coming artist or songwriter?
The advice I give to all aspiring songwriters and performers is “Don’t repeat yourself. Develop and grow. Raise the bar. And reinvent your creativity”.
Who would you say has had the greatest influence on your music career to date?
The greatest musical influences on my career — there are many. I was classically trained at Juilliard, so it’s hard to deny the influence Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven and Prokofiev have had on my writing. But also, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, and Jerome Kern.