Neil Sedaka Dead at 86: Cause of Death Unknown, World Mourns a Rock and Roll Legend
Breaking news from today, Friday, February 27, 2026 ET. Neil Sedaka, one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in American pop history, has died. He was 86 years old. Sedaka was not feeling well Friday morning and was taken in an ambulance to a hospital in Los Angeles, where he was initially reported to be recovering. His family confirmed his death later in the day.
Neil Sedaka Cause of Death: Not Yet Confirmed
An official cause of death has not been confirmed. Earlier on February 27, TMZ reported that Sedaka was transported to a hospital by ambulance that morning after not feeling well at home. The L.A. County West Hollywood sheriff's station confirmed deputies assisted the fire department on a medical request call, and paramedics transported him to a local hospital at approximately 8:00 AM PT.
His cause of death was not clear. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement to NBC News. The word "sudden" in the family's statement strongly suggests no prolonged illness preceded his death.
Neil Sedaka's Family Statement: "An Incredible Human Being"
"A 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," his family said Friday.
Sedaka is survived by his wife, Leba — whom he married in 1962 — daughter Dara, son Marc, and three grandchildren. His daughter Dara is herself a recording artist and television and radio vocalist. His son Marc is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter.
Who Was Neil Sedaka? A Six-Decade Career Defined by Hit After Hit
A Brooklyn native and veteran of the legendary Brill Building hit factory of the early 1960s, Sedaka scored three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and nine in the Top 10, primarily during his peak years in the early 1960s and a mid-1970s comeback assisted by Elton John.
From 1959 to 1962, Sedaka had 10 records in the Top 10, including "Calendar Girl," "Oh! Carol," "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," and "Next Door to an Angel." But in the mid-1960s, the Brill Building sound was pushed off the charts by the Beatles-led British Invasion. Sedaka would endure 13 years in what he described as "the wilderness."
The Comeback That Cemented His Legend
After a long dry spell, Sedaka reemerged with smashes including "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood." The Captain and Tennille's cover of his "Love Will Keep Us Together" was a chart-topper in 1975. Sedaka also achieved one of the rarest feats in pop history with "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" — his original up-tempo version went to No. 1 in 1962, and he re-recorded it as a slow ballad in 1975, and that version went to No. 1 as well.
Sedaka and his longtime writing partner Howard Greenfield also wrote English lyrics for a new Swedish quartet calling themselves Björn and Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. The song became "Ring Ring" — a major hit in Europe and the first of many smashes for the group that was quickly rechristened ABBA.
Neil Sedaka's Legacy: Songwriters Hall of Fame, Hollywood Star, Five Grammy Nominations
In addition to his five Grammy nominations, Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Special International Award from The Ivors.
He wrote songs and collaborated with Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Elton John, and Clay Aiken. In April 2024, he partnered with Primary Wave to acquire the masters and publishing rights to his entire catalog — a deal that included everything he wrote, performed, and penned for others across a career stretching nearly seven decades. The music industry lost one of its all-time greats today.
