Overview
- Sedaka’s family announced his sudden death on Friday and identified survivors as his wife, Leba Strassberg, and their children, Dara and Marc.
- No cause of death has been released, with outlets reporting an ambulance transport around 8 a.m. and responses from Los Angeles County Fire Department and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
- Some early accounts of a hospital recovery were overtaken by the family’s confirmation of his death later in the day.
- The Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter was a central figure of the Brill Building era, crafting hits like “Oh! Carol,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.”
- After a 1970s comeback aided by Elton John’s Rocket Records, he earned sustained chart success and accolades including five Grammy nominations, a 1978 Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and 1983 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.