Happy Birthday, Neil Sedaka!

He's only my second favorite singer named Neil who graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. But Neil Sedaka, born on March 13, 1939 (not a Friday, but a Monday), has written and sung a lot of great songs. He is another one who should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, if not as a performer, then as a songwriter.

His best-known song is probably "Breaking Up is Hard to Do":

Another of his hits, "Oh! Carol", was written for his friend Carole King, who also became a famous songwriter and singer:

Carole then sang an answer song, "Oh, Neil":

When the British Invasion and other new music styles came along starting in the mid-1960s, Sedaka went through a period in which he didn't have any U.S. hits. But in 1974, with the help of Elton John, he began having hits again. The first one was "Laughter in the Rain":

Neil Sedaka's main songwriting partner in the early part of his career was Howard Greenfield. Later, he wrote songs with Phil Cody. Other artists also had hits with songs he wrote. The second best known one is likely "Where the Boys Are" by Connie Francis, written with Greenfield:

The best known one is likely "Love Will Keep Us Together" by The Captain and Tennille, also written with Greenfield:

Finally, a birthday song, in which both Neils from Abraham Lincoln High School, Sedaka and Diamond, sing one of Sedaka's hits, "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen":

Happy birthday, sweet 81, Neil Sedaka!