Neil Sedaka: Oh, grandad
Neil Sedaka shares his personal photo album
ELVIS and Sinatra recorded his songs, he’s shifted tens of millions of records and our future King admits he loves to boogie to his music.
But Neil Sedaka has told The Sunday Post how his eight-year-old grandson Michael told him he’d never be as good as The Beatles.
And the man whose collaborations with lyricist Howie Greenfield included Oh! Carol, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and Is This The Way To Amarillo was only too happy to agree.
“Michael’s a huge Beatles fan. He has all their records and their pictures on his wall,” reveals Neil.
“Paul McCartney graciously invited us to his concert in Las Vegas a couple of years back and signed all Michael’s stuff backstage.
“Michael whispered that he liked my songs, but he liked The Beatles better. I couldn’t complain. I adore them. Greenfield and Sedaka were pretty good but Lennon and McCartney are in a class by themselves. “Besides which, I’mnot worth a billion dollars!” He might have met, worked alongside and hung out with some of the biggest stars on the planet but it’s clear what’s most important to the down-to-earth-music legend.
That’s family. And he’s so proud and happy about the place they have in his life, he’s dug into his personal photograph album just for us.
He’s shared revealing pictures from the past half century, right up to the most recent shots that’ll strike a chord with any similarly proud grandparent across the country. “My grandkids bring me such joy,” beams Neil. “My son Marc has twin girls, Amanda and Charlotte, as well as Michael. “We see them loads and they keep you young.” The “we” is wife Leba, to whom he’s been married for half a century. “No, it’s 51,” he corrects quickly, before offering his thoughts on what’s kept them together since they were basically kids.
“Compromise is key, and being friends. Wemet at a young age and I know I could be difficult, so I’mvery lucky she has put up withme. “I’m generally good natured but when you’re creative you can be up and down, very sensitive, very demanding.
“When I’m on the road or creating new songs I must have time tomyself.
“She’s done a wonderful job as my manager for many years. No marriage is perfect, but we love each other and we’re 75 and 72 now.
“Don’t tell her I told you she’s 72!”
Neil has lavish homes in Los Angeles and New York, the latter an apartment near upmarket Park Avenue with Sex and The City’s Kim Cattrall as his neighbour.
Things might be more than comfortable now but his career took such a slump in the 1960s— after selling 25 million records by the age of 23— that he found himself playing working men’s clubs in the north of England. “I played loads of them. “The audience had their pint sand fish and chip sand frankly didn’t listen too attentively.
“They wanted hits likes Calendar Girl and went to the bathroom when I did the new songs. “I never despaired, though. “Thank goodness Elton John was a big fan. He signed me to his record label and thanks to him and the UK I had a remarkable comeback after 13 years off the charts.”
In fairness, it wasn’t a bad way to announce yourself again with another bunch of classics like Laughter In The Rain and Solitaire. Neil’s travels have taken him to just about every country in the world, including Scotland on more than a few occasions.
And in December 2012 he was flown in by millionaire Stage coach tycoon Ann Gloag to sing for her 70th birthday.
Lulu also warbled at the lucrative private engagement at Kinfauns Castle with 250 guests. Neil’s legendary showbiz connections are evident. Had he met Glasgow’s own songstress before? “Oh yes, I’d worked with her on TV— and I was a very good friend of one of her husbands, Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees.”
Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and ol’ Blue Eyes Sinatra are a few of the other friend he’s made along the way.
And Neil was invited by Prince Charles to sing at Buckingham Palace.
“Camilla said she always danced to my records as a youngster and Charles told me that was true.
“He sent me a beautiful letter later. It was quite a thrill.”
Fans can rely on hearing the classics when Neil’s back here later this year. But what’s the favourite of the man himself? “You know, with over 700 songs it’s hard,” adds Neil. “But if you pushed me I’d pick Laughter In The Rain because that started my comeback.”
Neil’s tour takes in The Sage Gates head on October 29 and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on October 31. Ticketline.co.uk