Neil Sedaka Plays the Van Wezel, 4/19

Superstar, songwriter, musician, singer, producer, Neil Sedaka returns to the Van Wezel on Friday, April 19 at 8 pm, to perform some of his greatest hits, such as; "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "Laughter In The Rain", "Next Door to an Angel", "Calendar Girl" and more. Tickets are $40 - $70 with a limited number of "smart seats" available at $30.

Brooklyn-native Neil Sedaka began his prolific career as one of the original creators of the "Brill Building" sound and has sold over 60 million records worldwide. He demonstrated musical aptitude in his second-grade choral class, started playing a second-hand upright piano, and auditioned successfully for a piano scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Division for Children. When he was 13, a neighbor heard him playing and introduced him to her 16-year old son, Howard Greenfield, an aspiring poet and lyricist. The two began writing together. His best known hits of his early career include "Calendar Girl" (#4, 1960); "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (#6, 1961); "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (#1, 1962); and "Oh! Carol" (#9, 1959 refers to Sedaka's former girlfriend, Carole King). In addition, Sedaka and Greenfield wrote many of Connie Francis' hits - "Stupid Cupid,", "Fallin'" and "Where the Boys Are."

Sedaka revived his solo career in the early 1970's. Despite his waning chart appeal in the USA in the late sixties, he remained very popular as a concert attraction, notably in the UK and Australia. His commercial comeback began when the single "Star Crossed Lovers" became a major hit in Australia. He worked with Elton John, who signed him to his Rocket Records label and Sedaka returned with a flourish, topping the charts twice with "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood" (1975).

Sedaka and Greenfield co-wrote "Love Will Keep Us Together," a No. 1 hit for Captain and Tennille and the best-selling record of 1975. Karen and Richard Carpenter recorded Sedaka's "Solitaire" which became a Top 20 hit for the duo. "Solitaire" would find success again in the 21st century, when American Idol finalist Clay Aiken sang the song when Sedaka appeared as a judge in the second season. Aiken explained that the song was his mother's favorite and that she begged him to sing it when she learned that Sedaka would be on the show. "Solitaire" was one of the biggest hits of 2004.

In 1980, Sedaka had a Top 20 hit with "Should've Never Let You Go," which he recorded with his daughter, Dara, a recording artist and vocalist for television and radio commercials. A musical comedy based around the songs of Sedaka, titled BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO was written in 2005 by Erik Jackson and Ben Winters; it is now under license to Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
A biographical musical LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN, produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, and starring Wayne Smith as Sedaka, had its world premiere at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on March 4, 2010. Sedaka himself attended the opening and joined the cast on stage for an impromptu curtain call of the title song.

Sedaka recently released his first new studio album in over ten years with "The Music of My Life". The new album features twelve songs written and produced by Sedaka himself as well as a new collaboration between Sedaka and Grammy winning producer, David Foster. The album includes "Do You Remember?" (an outstanding salsa melody) , "You" (a tear-jerking ballad) and a doo-wop ditty called "Right or Wrong." 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.

For more information and to buy tickets, contact the Van Wezel Box Office at 941-953-3368 or log onto www.vanwezel.org. Dinner is available prior to most shows by Michael's on East at the Van Wezel by calling 941-366-0007 or logging onto www.bestfood.com.