Neil Sedaka, the iconic American singer-songwriter, has had a five-decade music career. He is best known for writing charming pop songs such as “Calendar Girl,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” and “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen.”
Earlier this month, Sedaka came to Facebook to publish a video greeting his supporters and informing them that he had joined the Cameo family. The celebrity went on to explain that he is thrilled to accept requests for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or any other special event that calls for a personalized greeting for loved ones. He concluded the video with a lovely version of one of his great songs, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do.”
To say that fans were drooling over Sedaka’s video greeting would be an understatement. Many people were caught off guard by how terrific the musician still looked at 84, and they applauded him for not only sounding great but also looking great.
“Thank you. I had missed you.” Sir, you look and sound fantastic! RESPECT.”
Fans praised Sedaka’s apparent musical skill in addition to his stunning appearance. Some on Facebook were enamored by his calming vibrato, which drew their attention and reminded them of how great he had always sounded back in the day, and now:
“I adore it!” Sir Neil, “As always, you are magnificent.”
Sedaka, 84, not only looks and sounds terrific but he has been married to his wife for six decades. The loving couple has two children.
Sedaka first met his wife, Leba Strassberg, when she was 16 and he was 19. Sedaka was performing at Strassberg’s mother’s hotel in upstate New York at the time. The pair have been married for 60 years and has three grandkids, as well as a daughter, Dara Sedaka, and a son, Marc Sedaka.
Although Sedaka claims that his first meeting with his wife was based on love at first sight, Strassberg’s mother was opposed to their relationship and marriage. Her mother, he claimed, was a businesswoman who did not consider him a viable option for her daughter. Her father, on the other hand, ended up being the saving grace, having recognized her son’s entire potential and aptitude.
Strassberg has also managed her spouse for almost 40 years. Prior to this, however, his mother, Eleanor Sedaka, owned the majority of his rights as an artist, including his royalties and cash. Sedaka initially aspired to be a classical pianist, but it wasn’t until he was 13 that he began collaborating on songs with a neighbor’s 16-year-old son, Howard Greenfield, who was an aspiring poet and songwriter.
The team went on to compose songs for New York’s legendary Brill Building, where they earned $50 per week until Greenfield’s untimely death. In 1959, Sedaka became the first songwriter to record his own compositions and have them rank in the Top 10.
Sedaka will be remembered as a renowned musician who influenced many others in his field.
Before becoming famous as a singer, Sedaka revealed that, while he had always known he had a fantastic voice, he was always too shy to show it in public until he sang at his bar mitzvah. His rabbi was so moved by his performance that he begged Sedaka’s parents to consider having him become a cantor in the synagogue, but Eleanor refused.
It wasn’t until the “Oh! Carol” singer received $62,000 in royalties for his song “Stupid Cupid” that his mother changed her mind about his being a musician.
Sedaka’s mother was so invested in his profession that she had complete control over his finances. When he gave his mother his royalty checks, it set off a financial chain reaction. While still married to Sedaka’s father, Mac Sedaka, Eleanor had found a girlfriend and entrusted her partner with managing her son’s career and income.
Eleanor and her companion had stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from Sedaka’s songwriting earnings, leaving him unable to pay his taxes and compelled to remarry. The event strained Sedaka’s relationship with his mother, and he recalls not speaking to her for a year.
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Sedaka’s relationship with his mother was always tense, and they were often in conflict. The artist told a story about his mother being pregnant with him and riding a rollercoaster in an attempt to miscarry. Eleanor had a rough pregnancy with his elder sister and was cautioned against having any more children, so she was terrified when she became pregnant with him.
Eleanor had complete control over her son’s possessions and finances, as well as his marriage. Up until Sedakal married his wife, Strassberg had no idea how much of his life his mother was in charge of. Eleanor addressed the couple during the wedding reception and announced that she would be increasing her son’s stipend by $25 (from $200). Eleanor had also planned and prepared their entire honeymoon.
Eleanor’s extent of control over her husband astounded Strassberg. In an attempt to place herself in a more dominant position, she informed Eleanor that she and her husband would be selecting their own apartment in Manhattan together. Eleanor was opposed, so she threatened them both financially. Instead, she insisted on moving to an apartment near Brighton Beach.
Afraid to face Eleanor’s anger at the early age of 19, Strassberg hesitantly consented, and Eleanor picked everything from the flat to the decor. Strassberg, of course, did not enjoy Eleanor having so much power over them and their family, but she recognized she had no choice.
Despite the couple’s ups and downs, particularly Eleanor’s considerable participation in their marriage, they never lost love for each other. When they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Sedaka said:
“I was born with a husband… If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who does it for you, that’s a wonderful gift.”
Sedaka and Strassberg have been married for 60 years and are still going strong. The happy couple remains genuinely in love with one another and loyal to one another.
Sedaka, being the wonderful musician that he is, never passes up an opportunity to express his love for Strassberg via the gift of song. His Facebook and Instagram pages are littered with heartfelt tributes to his wife.
When their 60th wedding anniversary approached last year, Sedaka recorded a special 20-minute tribute to his wife, singing three songs written especially for her on June 2, 2022. The caption for the “Laughter in the Rain” artist’s immensely heartfelt homage read:
“Today’s mini-concert is dedicated to my lovely wife, Leba.” We will be commemorating our 60th anniversary in September. Here are three tracks composed specifically for Leba!”
Similarly, on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, the crooner was observed seated by his white piano, performing a devotion to Strassberg. He captioned the image sweetly:
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my beautiful wife Leba and all of my fans.”
In addition to being a loving husband and wife, Sedaka and Strassberg are grandparents to three children. In January, the musician shared a slew of gorgeous images of his twin granddaughters on their birthday.
Sedaka grins with them in the photos, displaying their comparable looks. The captions on the photos expressed how much their grandparents adored them.
Sedaka will be remembered as a renowned musician who influenced many others in his field. Working with legends like Greenfield and Elton John, he has established himself as a strong singer-songwriter.
Aside from his incredible career, his love story with Strassberg is equally inspiring. After overcoming adversity, the happy couple is still deeply in love with their amazing family.