![\"Neil](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/02\/28\/02\/106744009-15600625-Neil_Sedaka_was_pictured_smiling_while_heading_to_grab_dinner_at-a-1_1772247163525.jpg\")
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Sedaka was a loyal patron of the eatery, often seen stopping by for a bite to eat.<\/p>\n
The famed 1960s and 1970s singer died on Friday after he was rushed to the hospital. Sedaka\u2019s family confirmed the news in a statement obtained by The Daily Mail.<\/p>\n
\u2018Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,\u2019 they said.<\/p>\n
\u2018A 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.\u2019<\/p>\n
Sedaka was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after he woke up Friday morning feeling unwell according to TMZ.<\/p>\n
The velvet-voiced Grammy-nominated Sedaka got his start in the 1950s with the band The Tokens.<\/p>\n
He is best known for the catchy 1960s tune Breaking Up Is Hard To Do which he recorded after he became a solo artist.<\/p>\n
The Brighton Beach, New York native also sang Oh! Carol and Calendar Girl which skyrocketed on the charts.<\/p>\n
He had two big hits in the 1970s with the beloved singles Laughter In The Rain and Bad Blood, the former of which helped revitalize his career.<\/p>\n
\u2018It revived my career for a bunch of people who had never heard of me,\u2019 he previously said of the track.<\/p>\n
Sedaka was nominated for five Grammy awards throughout his career and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/02\/27\/21\/106738063-15600313-TMZ_has_claimed_the_crooner_woke_up_not_feeling_well_so_paramedi-a-1_1772229529281.jpg\")
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The star is a prolific songwriter who has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists.<\/p>\n
Some of the top songs Sedaka wrote for other stars include Stupid Cupid for Connie Francis, Is This the Way To Amarillo for Tony Christie and Love Will Keep Us Together for Captain & Tennille.<\/p>\n
He also served as a guest judge on season two of American Idol.<\/p>\n
![\"Sedaka,](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/02\/28\/02\/106741947-15600625-Sedaka_pictured_1960_is_the_voice_behind_Breaking_Up_Is_Hard_To_-a-4_1772247163926.jpg\")
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\u2018I think the reason that my music is so special is it was a combination of show music, pop music, evergreen standards and rock. It\u2019s like me and Phil Cody and Carole Sager and Howie Greenfield \u2014 we had a combination of all of those styles,\u2019 he told The Morning Call in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018I saw Stevie Wonder not long ago on television and he was asked, \u201cWho is your inspiration?\u201d And he said, \u201cNeil Sedaka. They used to call me \u2018Whitey\u2019 in Detroit because I liked and played Neil Sedaka record.\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n
Sedaka married wife Leba Strassberg in 1962. Together they welcomed two children: Dara and Marc.<\/p>\n
![\"He](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/02\/28\/02\/106738051-15600625-He_was_nominated_for_five_Grammy_awards_throughout_his_career_an-a-3_1772247163895.jpg\")
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Sedaka grew up with a taxi driver father and his parents struggled to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
His mother worked a second job to save up for a piano so her son could practice when in the second grade after his teacher noticed he had talent.<\/p>\n
The move paid off: In 1947, he auditioned successfully for a piano scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music\u2019s Preparatory Division for Children, which he attended on Saturdays.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/02\/28\/02\/106738057-15600625-The_star_pictured_during_the_Men_s_Singles_Quarterfinal_match_be-a-5_1772247164034.jpg\")
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\u2018Without blowing my own horn, I have the musical training. I studied many, many years,\u2019 he told The Morning Call. \u2018Matter of fact, in 1956, Arthur Rubinstein, the great pianist, chose me [to be] on a radio program, and I won as the best New York City high school pianist. I was 16 years old.\u2019<\/p>\n
He started writing pop songs at age 13 with a poet neighbor. His first hit was 1961\u2019s Calendar Girl.<\/p>\n