Classically trained at Julliard School of Music

from the age of eight, Neil Sedaka was well on

his way to a career in music . Luckily for radio

listeners, it turned out to be as a songwriter

of pop tunes that mixed Sedaka's unique

voice with an ear for melody. Up-tempo hits like "Calendar

Girl" and "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" rode

the airwaves like sunbeams. Fresh and dazzling

bits of melodic fun became his signature sound.

Still an energetic performer after decades at

the keyboards, Neil Sedaka will knock out a few

of his famous tunes this Saturday, July 24, at

The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville.

Sedaka's first hit, "Stupid Cupid" written

when he was just 18 brought him instant acclaim

when Connie Francis recorded the song for him.

Sedaka and his song writing partner, Howard Greenfield

created another Connie Francis classic, "Where

the Boys Are." The team of Sedaka and Greenfield

turned out hit after hit during their 30-year

partnership. Many of them, Sedaka made distinctly

his own. "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" and "Next

Door to an Angel" just wouldn't sound

the same without Neil's voice.

In the early 70s, Sedaka's career was recharged

when he signed to Elton John's Rocket record

label and struck gold again with "Bad Blood" and

the wonderful "Laughter in the Rain." He

proved that once you've got it, you never

lose it. Sedaka went on to help launch the Captain

and Tennille's career by writing "Love

Will Keep Us Together", a number one hit

which became Grammy Record of the Year.

Author of over 1,000 songs, it seems pretty

clear that Neil Sedaka has the music in him.

He was just honored with the Songwriter Hall

of Fame Lifetime Achievement award July 18. He

has had a street named after him in Brooklyn

and given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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