Profile Text
Sedaka in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com
Date of Birth: March 13, 1939
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: February 27, 2026
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Sephardi Jewish, Ashkenazi Jewish
Neil Sedaka was an American singer, songwriter, musician, pianist, and record producer. He was known for the songs “Oh! Carol,” “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Laughter in the Rain,” and “Bad Blood.” He also wrote the songs “Stupid Cupid,” “(Is This the Way to) Amarillo,” and “Love Will Keep Us Together,” for other artists. He was a founding member of doo-wop group the Tokens.
Neil was the son of Eleanor (Appel) and Max/Mordechai “Mac” Sedaka, a taxi driver. His father was born in Lebanon, the son of Turkish Jewish parents, who were born in Istanbul. His mother was of Polish Jewish and Russian Jewish descent. Neil was raised in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Neil’s cousin was singer Eydie Gormé.
He was married to Leba (Strassberg), until his death, with whom he had two children, recording artist and vocalist Dara Sedaka and screenwriter Marc Sedaka. His nephew, wife’s sister’s son, is journalist and forecaster Harry Enten .
Neil’s paternal grandfather was named Sam Sedacca (the son of Sarah).
Neil’s paternal grandmother was named Marie/Mary Jaffee/Jaffe.
Neil’s maternal grandfather was named George Appel. George was born in New York.
Neil’s maternal grandmother was Martha Kupferstein (the daughter of Hyman Kupferstein and Rosa Glancrok). Martha’s parents were Polish Jews.
Sources: http://www.thejc.com
Genealogy of Neil Sedaka (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Neil’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org