02/28/2026
I was both saddened and shocked to learn of Neil Sedaka's passing today. He was legendary - he wrote and performed so many of the songs we grew up with, over quite a few decades. I had the privilege of seeing him perform at Vitello's Velvet Martini Lounge twice last year (in January and February), and he had so much energy, and still a wonderful voice and great stories. Both time, I got to have lengthy conversations with him after the show. i brought his CD of Yiddisha songs which he gladly signed (and I'm currently selling on Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4397110370/neil-sedaka-matted-autograph-6x12?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=neil+sedaka&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&content_source=3dd39672-8309-4821-b10b-62dcccb74af4%253ALT4efccd54847f5ebd55b7792c6cc42d146486e8b4&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=3dd39672-8309-4821-b10b-62dcccb74af4%3ALT4efccd54847f5ebd55b7792c6cc42d146486e8b4) - and we spoke a little bit of Yiddish with each other and he talked about his memories from Brighton Beach. He promised that the next time I came to see him at Vitello's he'd sing something in Yiddish from that album. I guess that'll never happen. RIP Neil Sedaka.
