By Ken Valenti

LOS ANGELES, CA–Neil Sedaka, the legendary singer-songwriter, and former Westport resident, who began his career as a teen idol in the 1950s and went on to write many of the most recognizable songs of the following decades, died Friday in Los Angeles, according to reports.

The hitmaker, known for songs such as “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and “Laughter in the Rain,” was 86.

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” the family said on Sedaka’s official website. “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.”

For years, Sedaka lived in Westport, including when he headlined a benefit concert at the Levitt Pavilion, in 1982. He also was part of the venue’s 2010 summer kickoff concert.

Sedaka was born in Brooklyn on March 13, 1939. By 8 years old, he was listening to “The Make Believe Ballroom,” a long-running radio program. By 9, he had begun intensive classical piano training at the Juilliard School of Music, his website says. He attended both the preparatory school and the college, the website says.

Many of his hits were co-written with collaborator Howard Greenfield, whom Sedaka met when he was 13. They lived in the same building in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and were introduced by Greenfield’s mother, according to Sedaka’s bio in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Together, Sedaka and Greenfield formed “one of the most prolific songwriting partnerships of the last half-century,” Sedaka’s website says.

Their collaborations include the 1958 Connie Francis hit “Stupid Cupid,” and “Love Will Keep Us  Together,” which became a worldwide smash for the pop duo Captain & Tennille in 1975.

From 1959 to 1963, Sedaka became the second-biggest selling artist, next to Elvis Presley, according to his Hall of Fame bio. But his success and influence reached far beyond those years.

Over the decades, “Neil Sedaka’s songwriting and recordings have helped change the face of popular music,” reads the Hall of Fame bio, written when he was inducted in 1983. “With a lengthy list of hit singles, and platinum and gold records, Sedaka is recognized as one of rock and pop music’s pioneers.  The list of artists who have recorded versions of Sedaka songs ranges from Carole King, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and The Fifth Dimension to Sheryl Crow, Cher, Abba and the Monkees.”

He married Leba Strassberg on Sept. 11, 1962. She survives him along with their two children, Marc Sedaka and Dara Sedaka.

Ken Valenti

^{_{A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.}}