Neil Sedaka is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist best known for his 1959 hit single “Oh! Carol.” He was born on March 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York to a hard working immigrant family. From a young age, Sedaka displayed impressive musical abilities, so his teacher encouraged him to take piano lessons. In 1947, the aspiring musician obtained a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music and started training to become a classical pianist.
At the beginning of the 1960s, Sedaka discovered pop music. He partnered with poet and lyricist Howard Greenfield and went on to create a series of hit singles. Sedaka’s most popular song “Oh! Carol” peaked at number one in 1959, followed by “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” in the next couple of years. While his mother didn’t support his pop journey, she soon acquiesced when Sedaka received his first royalty check.
When The Beatles took over in the latter part of the decade, Sedaka’s popularity began to decline. However, he experienced a brief resurgence during the 1970s when he released hit songs like “Laughter in the Rain” and “Bad Blood.” Even after his fame settled, the singer enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter. He penned successful songs for artists like Connie Francis, Jimmy Clanton, and Captain & Tennille. With over 500 original songs, Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.
It’s undeniable that Sedaka has earned his place in America’s musical scene, thanks to his career spanning several decades. And with this kind of career longevity, it’s impossible to escape questions and controversies. Ever since he came onto the scene, fans have always wondered: is Neil Sedaka gay? Let’s get to know the iconic singer below.
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Neil Sedaka’s Sexuality And Marriage
When it comes to Sedaka’s love life, the fans’ number one question is: who is Carol from the song “Oh! Carol”? It turns out that the song is an actual serenade to fellow singer, Carole King, who went by the name “Carol Klein” before she shot to fame. Apparently, the couple dated for a short time when they were in high school.
Unfortunately, the relationship was short-lived. King went on to marry Gerry Goffin and Sedaka met his future wife, Leba Strassberg.
As far as Hollywood marriages were concerned, Sedaka and Strassberg’s marriage was a rare gem. It’s widely believed that the duo first met in the late 1950s when the singer was staying at Strassberg’s hotel, Esther Manor. They quickly fell in love and got married in 1962. They had two children and several grandchildren, and have been together for over 50 years.
When asked about the secret to their long-lasting marriage, Sedaka replied that it takes partnership and friendship to go the distance.
Despite their solid relationship, Sedaka wasn’t immune to controversies. During the peak of his fame, his sexuality came into question. This was largely due to his friendship with songwriter Howard Greenfield. The latter was openly gay during the 60s and this led people to believe that Sedaka was also gay.
However, the rumors amounted to nothing, especially since Greenfield was in a public relationship with cabaret singer Tory Damon. Sedaka didn’t comment on the speculations either and his marriage to Strassberg placed the talks to rest.
Is Neil Sedaka Gay?
No, Neil Sedaka is not gay. While he maintained a close friendship and professional relationship with Howard Greenfield, who was openly gay, it would be inaccurate to base Sedaka’s sexuality on these assumptions. The singer married his current wife Leba Strassberg in 1962 and has been together ever since.