Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has died at 86, with authorities confirming his official cause of death as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with kidney failure listed as a contributing factor.
Sedaka, known for timeless hits like “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Laughter in the Rain,” was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after suddenly falling ill. He later passed away, with his family describing him as a “true rock and roll legend” and a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sedaka built a career spanning more than six decades, rising to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s with piano-driven pop hits. He later experienced a career resurgence in the 1970s with help from artists like Elton John.
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983, earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sold millions of records worldwide.