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Music Legend Neil Sedaka’s Cause of Death Revealed
Los Angeles, CA – The music world is mourning the loss of legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, whose cause of death has been officially attributed to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The beloved artist, known for iconic hits like “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” passed away on February 27th at the age of 86.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition caused by the accumulation of plaque in the artery walls, can lead to serious health events such as heart attacks and strokes. It is recognized as the leading cause of death globally, according to the American Heart Association. The New York Post, which published Sedaka’s death certificate on Wednesday, also listed kidney failure as a contributing factor in his passing.
Sedaka’s family had previously described his death as sudden, expressing their profound grief in a statement to The Times: “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. 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’s musical journey began with classical piano training at Juilliard. He seamlessly transitioned his classical prowess into a successful pop career in the 1960s. While his performance career saw its ebbs and flows, Sedaka consistently maintained a prolific career as a songwriter, crafting hits for other artists for decades, often in collaboration with lyricists like Howard Greenfield.
In a 1996 interview with The Times, Sedaka reflected on the challenges of his craft: “Songwriting is a difficult undertaking that gets harder and harder because you have to top your past work. 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 public will go along with it.”
Neil Sedaka is survived by his wife, Leba; his children, Dara and Marc; and three grandchildren. His timeless music and songwriting legacy will continue to resonate with fans for generations to come.