Author Archives Sedaka Music

The Year 1959

Neil receives a Grammy nomination for Best Performance by a Top 40 Artist, he signs with RCA as a recording artist, "Oh! Carol" charts at #9, "I Go Ape" at #42, and "The Diary at #14. He has his first overseas tour in Brazil and his first live performance is at The Smart Spot, a club in Haddonfield, NJ.

Grammy Nomination, Best Performance by a ‘Top 40’ Artist

“The Diary” (#14)

“I Go Ape” (#42)

“Oh! Carol” (#9)

Signs with RCA as a recording artist

First live performance at The Smart Spot, a club in Haddonfield, NJ

First overseas tour in Brazil

The Year 1958

“Stupid Cupid” is a hit for Connie Francis. Neil plays the piano at the session, and it's his first international hit as a songwriter. It reaches #17 on the official US Billboard chart. Neil and Howie Greenfield sign contract with Aldon Records as songwriters at the Brill Building. He leaves the group The Tokens and appears on American Bandstand singing "Ring a Rockin' Music."

“Stupid Cupid” is a hit for Connie Francis. Neil plays the piano at the session, and it’s his first international hit as a songwriter. It reaches #17 on the official US Billboard chart.

With Howie Greenfield, signs contract with publishers Al Nevins and Don Kirshner (Aldon Records) as songwriters at the Brill Building (“Tin Pan Alley”).

Appearance on American Bandstand, sings “Ring a Rockin’ Music”

Leaves the group The Tokens

The Year 1957

Neil records two songs as a soloist for Decca Records—“Laura Lee” and “Snowtime”—and appears for first time on television show in New Haven, CT.

Records two songs as a soloist for Decca Records: “Laura Lee” and “Snowtime”

Appears for first time on television show in New Haven, CT

The Year 1956

Neil is selected as one of the best seven NY high school classical pianists by Arthur Rubinstein for WQXR, the classical radio station, while a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School. He graduates from Lincoln High School and enrolls at the Julliard School.

Selected one of the best seven NY high school classical pianists by Arthur Rubinstein for WQXR, the classical radio station, while a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School

Graduates from Lincoln High School

Enrolls at the Julliard School

The Year 1939

Neil Sedaka is born on March 13 in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a taxi driver and a Sephardic Jew of Lebanese descent. His mother Eleanor (née Appel), was an Ashkenazi Jew of Polish-Russian descent. He grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brighton Beach.

Neil Sedaka is born on March 13 in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a taxi driver and a Sephardic Jew of Lebanese descent. His mother Eleanor (née Appel), was an Ashkenazi Jew of Polish-Russian descent. He grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brighton Beach.