Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter whose signature hits include “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” has died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The condition is caused by the buildup of plaque (that is, fats, cholesterol, and other substances) in and on the walls of arteries, which can lead to events such as heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysms. According to the American Heart Association, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
The musician's death certificate, published Wednesday by the New York Post, also lists kidney failure as a contributing factor.
Sedaka died on February 27 in Los Angeles at the age of 86. The composer's family previously told The Times that his death was sudden.
“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” their statement read. “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.”
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sedaka was a Juilliard-trained classical pianist who translated his skills to pop stardom in the 1960s. His popularity as a performer waxed and waned over the years, but he maintained a steady career writing hits for other artists for decades, collaborating with lyricists such as Howard Greenfield.
“Writing songs is a difficult task that gets harder and harder because you have to top your previous work,” Sedaka told The Times in 1996. “You have to keep proving yourself… It's wonderful to sing 'Calendar Girl' and 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,' but you need more than that. You have to break new ground. As an artist, I have to choose what I feel is good and hope that the audience accepts it.”
Sedaka is survived by his wife Leba; children Dara and Marc; and three grandchildren.
