Hit songwriter Neil Sedaka breathes his last at 86

Neil Sedaka, the iconic songwriter, has passed away on Friday February 27 at the age of 86 after a brief trip to the hospital.

The Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen hit maker’s family took to social media to confirm the saddening news via a statement.

In the caption in an official Instagram post, the musician’s family wrote, “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka.”

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,” they continued.

Neil experienced his rise to fame in the 1950’s, with a career revival in the 1970’s, andis remembered as a prominent composer for bands such as the Carpenters, Captain & Tennille, ABBA and others.

In a 2010 interview with Billboard, the Oh! Carol hit maker said that he has a theory that there are three types of songwriting, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

“The emotional is when you go through some trauma and get it out on the page. The intellectual writing is when you have a tune in your head spinning around for many years and you almost rewrite it,” the late icon had explained.

As for spiritual writing, Neil had said that it would come from a higher power and uses the writer as a channel of expression.

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