The history of rock ‘n' roll would be incomplete without the innumerable contributions of Neil Sedaka. For more than 50 years, Sedaka has written, performed, produced, and inspired countless songs, and his canon of compositions continue to stand the test of time. Albert-George Schram will conduct the first half of the program which will include Shostakovich's "Galop" from Moscow Cheremushki, Delibes' Entr'acte and Waltz from Copellia, Neil Sedaka's own Joie de vivre, De Falla's Spanish Dance No. 1 from La Vida Breve, and Kabalevsky's Overture to Colas Breugnon, Op. 24. The second half of the program will be conducted by Dick Palombi, musical director for Sedaka, and will include a variety of Sedaka hits.
The Columbus Symphony presents Neil Sedaka at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Saturday, November 13, at 8pm. Tickets are $20.50-$66.50 for adults and $11.50-$33.50 for children, and can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000. The Ohio Theatre Ticket Office will also be open two hours prior to each performance.
Born in 1939, Sedaka's interest in music began at age four, when he would listen to The Make-Believe Ballroom; however, it was not rock ‘n' roll, but classical music that shaped him into the musician he is today. By the time he was eight, he had already begun intensive piano training at the prestigious Julliard School of Music. At 16, Arthur Rubenstein voted him one of the best New York high school pianists.
Eager to gain acceptance from his peers, Sedaka began performing rock ‘n' roll. He formed the doo-wop group "The Tokens" and recorded two singles which went on to be regional hits. But it was his introduction to young neighbor Howard Greenfield that began one of the most prolific songwriting partnerships of all time that sold 40 million records between 1959-1963.
Sedaka catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis recorded his "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," the Sedaka/Greenfield 1960 MGM spring break classic which would be her biggest hit. Clyde McPhatter and Lavern Baker also scored hits with his songs, and as a result, Sedaka was signed to RCA as a writer and performer of his own material. He soon recorded chart toppers "The Diary," "Oh! Carol," "Stairway to Heaven," "Calendar Girl," "Little Devil," Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," "Next Door to an Angel," and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do."
When The British Invasion hit, Sedaka prevailed over the drastic change of direction in American music by writing hit songs for Frank Sinatra ("The Hungry Years"), Elvis Presley ("Solitaire"), Tom Jones ("Puppet Man"), The Monkees ("When Love Comes Knocking at Your Door"), and The Fifth Dimension ("Workin' on a Groovy Thing").
Sedaka redefined himself as a solo artist in 1972 with the UK release of Emergence. Elton John signed Sedaka to Rocket Records and began reintroducing him to American audiences with the top-selling albums Sedaka's Back (1974) and The Hungry Years (1975). "Bad Blood" and "Laughter in the Rain" both reached #1 on the charts, and the 1975 re-release of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" as a ballad became the first song recorded in two different versions by the same artists to reach #1.
Sedaka has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, has had a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2004, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2006, Sedaka was presented with The Guinness Award for his song "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo," as the UK's best-selling single of the 21st century.
In 2007, Sedaka was honored with a tribute at New York's Lincoln Center. "Neil Sedaka: 50 Years of Hits" showcased his songs with performances by Connie Francis, Dion, Paul Shaffer, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, Renee Olstead, and Captain and Tennille.
Also in 2007, Sedaka premiered his first symphonic piece, Joie de vivre, with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra.
In 2009, Sedaka released Waking Up is Hard to Do, a collection of Sedaka hits reinvented as children's songs. The album was inspired by his grandchildren, two of which made their debut as backup vocalists on the recording.
