PARTIAL LIST OF PARTIAL LIST OF SONGS ALBUMS fOR PfftfORMNG f)PJ5 Governors State University Stupid Cupid NeilSedaka (1959) RCA The Diary Circulate (1961) RCA presents I Go Ape Sings His Greatest Hits (1962) RCA Oh! Carol Emergence (1971) RCA Stairway to Heaven Solitaire (1972) RCA Run Samson Run Tra La Days Are Over (1973) MGM Where the Boys Are Laughter In the Rain (1974) Polydor Calendar Girl Live at the Royal Festival Hall (1974) Polydor Little Devil Sedaka's Back (1974) Rocket Records Sweet Little You Overnight Success (1975) Polydor Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen Hungry Years (1975) Rocket Records Never Again Steppin Out (1976) Rocket Records King of Clowns Greatest Hits (1977) Rocket Records Breaking Up is Hard to Do A Solo Concert (1977) Polydor Next Door to an Angel A Song (1977) Elektra The Dreamer All You Need Is the Music (1978) Elektra Sunny In the Pocket (1980) Elektra The World Through a Tear Neil Sedaka Now (1981) Elektra The Answer to My Prayer Come See About Me (1984) MCA Workin' on a Groovy Thing The Good Times (1986) PRT Alice in Wonderland My Friend (1986) Polydor Puppet Man Timeless - The Very Best Of Neil Sedaka (1991) Standing on the Inside Polydor Laughter in the Rain Laughter in the Rain: Best of Neil Sedaka (1994) Love Will Keep Us Together Varese Sarabande Lonely Nights/Angel Face Classically Sedaka (1995) Vision Music Ent. Bad Blood Tuneweaver (1995) Varese Sarabande The Immigrant Tales of Love (1998) Artful Records The Hungry Years Neil Sedaka Anthology (2-CD Set) (1998) BMG That's When the Music Takes Me Australia Solitaire Very Best of Neil Sedaka (2-CD Set) (1999) Breaking Up is Hard to Do (slow version) Universal Music U.K. Love in the Shadows Sings the Hits (1999) BMG-RCA Steppin' Out The Show Goes On (2003) NSM You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine Brighton Beach Memories (2003) Sameach naChicaeo February 16,2008 Amarillo Music Communitytrust Tonight's program made possible bya grant from That's When the Music Takes Me Oh Carol (8-CD Box Set) (2003) Bear Family I'Mintlatioi The Chicago Community Trust Should've Never Let You Go The Miracle of Christmas {2005) NSM "Bfoaior Chicago giving1 (Duet with Dara Sedaka) The Very Best of Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On The Center for Performing Arts' 2007-2008 Season Miracle Song (2006) - (Universal Music U.K) is sponsored in part by a generous grantfrom You The Definitive Collection (2007) - (Razor &Tie) TheIllinoisArtsCouncil, an agency ofthestateofIllinois. a on the music charts. NEILSEDAKA In Rolling Stone Magazine, Sedaka was hailed as "the new phenomenon." The The history of Rock N' Roll would be incomplete without the innumerable song "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" was re-released as a ballad in 1975, and made music contributions of Neil Sedaka. For over fifty years, Neil has written, performed, produced, and history when it reached #1 on the charts, becoming the first song recorded in two different inspired countless songs, and his canon of compositions will continue to stand the test of time. versions by the same artist to reach Number One. During this time, Sedaka also helped Neil Sedaka was born on March 13,1939. Neil's interest in music began at the launch the career ofthe Captain and Tennille with their version ofhis "Love Will Keep Us young age of four, when hewould listen to The Make-Believe Ballroom. But, it was not Rock Together," which won a Grammy for Record of the Year for this worldwide, number one hit. and Roll, but Classical music that would shape Neil into the musician he is today. By the time The accolades showered on Neil Sedaka have been numerous. Among the he was eight years old, he had already begun his intensive classical piano training at the honors he has received, Sedaka has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, prestigious Julliard School of Music. At 16, Arthur Rubenstein voted Neil as one of the best New has had a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn, and was given a staron the York High School pianists. Though Neil considered pursuing a Doctorate in music, Neil's next Hollywood Walk of Fame.With a career spanning six decades, a rare feat in the choice became his chosen vocation. entertainment world, Sedaka never ceases to amaze. He shows no signs of slowing down. Eager to gain acceptance from his peers at Abraham Lincoln High School, Neil Neil hasappeared on FOX's hit Television show American Idol, as a guest judge - in which began performing Rock'N'Roll outside of his classical training. At this time, he would form the Clay Aiken would perform Neil's Solitaire, which sawan inevitable release, reaching #4 on Doo-Wop group The Tokens, in which they would record two singles that would go onto be the Hot 100Singles chart, and was one of the Top Selling Singles of 2004. regional hits. But, itwas his introduction to his young neighbor Howard Greenfield, by On June 10 2004, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award Greenfield's mother, that began one ofthe most prolific songwriting partnerships ofthe last half from the National Academy of Popular Music / Songwriters Hall of Fame at the century that sold twenty-five million records between 1959-1963. organization's 35th annual induction and awards ceremony in New York. Named for the Sedaka and Greenfield became one of the original creators of the "Brill Building" former President ofthe Songwriters Hall of Fame, this award is given to individuals in sound inthe late fifties and early sixties whentheywere the first to sign with Don Kirshner and recognition of their outstanding achievements in furthering the successes of songwriters. Al Nevins at Aldon Music. Aldon Music would go on to sign Neil Diamond, Carole King, and In 2006, Neil concluded a 10 city tour ofthe United Kingdom, where he filmed a Paul Simon among many others, and they became the centerof the pop world. Live Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall for PBS (which was released as Neil Sedaka: Sedaka catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis recorded his "Stupid Cupid." The Show Goes On - Live at the Royal Albert Hall). During this historical evening, Neil was She then sang the theme song Neil and Howard had written for the 1960 MGM spring break presented with The Guinness Award for his song "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo", as the best classic, Where the Boys Are, which would be her biggest hit. Rhythm and blues stars Clyde selling single ofthe 21st century in the UK, a song that was originally written and performed McPhatter and LaVern Baker also scored hits with his songs. As a result of these hits, Sedaka by Tony Christie over thirty-five years ago. was able to sign a contract with RCA as a writer and performer of his own material. Sedaka Sedaka has been married for forty-four years to his wife, Leba, and they have two soon recorded chart toppers "The Diary," "Oh! Carol," "Stairway to Heaven," "Calendar Girl," children: daughter Dara is a recording artist and vocalist for television and radio "Little Devil," "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," "Next Door To An Angel," and "Breaking Up Is commercials, and son Marc is a successful screenwriter in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Hard To Do," songs that have become a part of peoples' lives and can instantly take listeners Samantha, made Neil a grandfather, for the first time in 2003 with the birth oftwins, back to special moments. His music became distinguished for a unique recording style Amanda and Charlotte, and for the second in 2005 with the birth of Ethan Michael. involving multi-tracking his own voice to achieve a rich sound. This was merely the first act in a On April 24, 2007, Neil released "The Definitive Collection", a career-spanning career that has not ceased to evolve and entertain. retrospective released in honor of his 50th Anniversary in show business. "The Definitive In 1964, the direction ofAmerican music changed drastically when The Beatles Collection" debuted at #22 on the Billboard Chart, marking the first time Neil has appeared launched The British Invasion. It became very hard for most male solo artists to continue to on the chart since 1980. pursue their career in music. Due to his many talents as a songwriter, Neil was able to prevail, On October 26, 2007, Neil was honored with a tribute at Avery Fisher Hall at New writing hit songs for such artists including Tom Jones ("Puppet Man"), The Monkees ("When York's Lincoln Center. "Neil Sedaka: 50 Years of Hits", a benefit for The Elton John AIDS Love Comes Knocking At Your Door"), and The Fifth Dimension ("Workin' on a Groovy Thing"). Foundation, showcased Neil's songs, with performances by Connie Francis, Dion, Paul Neil's journey continued in the UK with the release ofhis album "Emergence" in Shaffer, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, Renee Olstead, and The Captain and Tennille. The 1972. This was the first step ofredefining himself as a solo artist. It was Elton John who decided evening was hosted by Cousin Brucie Morrow and David Foster. Sir Elton John and Barry to sign Neil to his up and coming record label Rocket Records and begin to re-introduce Neil Manilow sent video tributes in their absence. to American audiences. The two albums he recorded for the Rocket label, Sedaka's Back in Neil is currently working on a Children's CD, taking his beloved classics and 1974 and The Hungry Years in 1975, both became top selling albums around the world.