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Neil Sedaka: King of Song

Documentary portrait of US singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, who recorded and sang a number of instantly recognisable tunes as well as writing a string of hits for other artists.

Neil Sedaka is one of the most successful American singer-songwriters of the last century. A classically trained musician, he won a scholarship to the Juilliard School at the age of nine and four years later he embarked on a writing career that would see him create some of the most perfect pop songs of all time. Throughout his career he wrote, recorded and sang a number of instantly recognisable and memorable tunes, as well as delivering a string of hits as a songwriter for other artists.

This documentary portrait film tells the story of Neil Sedaka's life and career, in which he had two distinct periods of success. Between 1958 and 1963 he sold over 25 million records, but then his career nose-dived after the Beatles and the British Invasion hit the USA. Leaving his homeland, he found success in the UK in the early 1970s and relaunched his career before returning to the US and achieving new stardom with songs like Solitaire and Laughter in the Rain.

Neil gives great insight into how he created catchy classics like Calendar Girl, (Is This the Way to) Amarillo, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen and Stupid Cupid, amongst many others.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 28 Oct 2018 01:00

Clip

Music Played

  • Neil Sedaka

    Brighton

  • LaVern Baker

    I Waited Too Long

  • Connie Francis

    Stupid Cupid

  • Neil Sedaka

    The Diary

  • Neil Sedaka

    I Go Ape

  • Neil Sedaka

    Oh! Carol

  • Neil Sedaka

    Stairway To Heaven

  • Neil Sedaka

    Little Devil

  • Neil Sedaka

    Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen

  • Neil Sedaka

    Next Door To An Angel

  • Neil Sedaka

    Calendar Girl

  • Neil Sedaka

    Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

  • Neil Sedaka

    Gone With The Morning

  • Neil Sedaka

    Our Last Song Together

  • Neil Sedaka

    Solitaire

  • Neil Sedaka

    Solitaire

  • Neil Sedaka

    One More Ride On The Merry Go Round

  • Neil Sedaka

    Queen of 1964

  • Andy Williams

    Solitaire

  • Carpenters

    Solitaire

  • Shirley Bassey

    Solitaire

  • Neil Sedaka

    Laughter In The Rain

  • Captain & Tennille

    Love Will Keep Us Together

  • Neil Sedaka

    Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Slow Version)

  • Neil Sedaka

    The Hungry Years

  • Neil Sedaka

    Manhattan Intermezzo

  • Tony Christie

    (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

  • Neil Sedaka

    (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

  • Tony Christie & Peter Kay

    (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

  • Neil Sedaka

    Love Will Keep Us Together

Credits

Role Contributor
Director George Scott
Producer Nick de Grunwald

Broadcasts

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成人快手 Music: Neil Sedaka

Browse Neil Sedaka's profile for archive clips, interviews and reviews.