Neil Sedaka
Friday, December 27, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Hawaii Theatre
Singer. Songwriter. Composer. Pianist. Author. Neil Sedaka’s impressive sixty year
career ranges from being one of the first teen pop sensations of the 50’s, a tunesmith for
himself and other artists in the 60’s, an international superstar in the 70’s, remaining a
constant force in writing and performing presently. This is all thanks to the countless songs
he has written, performed, and produced that continue to inspire artists and audiences around the world.
The accolades showered on Neil Sedaka have been numerous. Sedaka has been
inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, has had a street named after him in his
hometown of Brooklyn, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Inspired by his grandchildren, Neil released “Waking Up is Hard to Do”, a
collection of Neil Sedaka Hits that have been reinvented as children’s songs. “Waking Up is Hard to Do” was a family collaboration, in which Neil’s son Marc adapted four of his
father’s classic songs, and Neil’s then five-year-old granddaughters made their recording
debut as his backup vocalists. Since the release of the CD, Imagine Publishing has begun
releasing a series of books based on these songs. In September 2010 saw the release of
"Waking Up Is Hard to Do". Its follow up, "Dinosaur Pet", featuring Marc's new lyric to
"Calendar Girl", peaked at #3 on The New York Times Bestseller List.
Neil has returned to his classical roots, composing his first symphonic piece “Joie De
Vivre”, and his first piano concerto “Manhattan Intermezzo”. Neil recorded these two
pieces with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London at the famed Air Studios in London.
“Manhattan Intermezzo” was released on 2013’s studio album “The Real Neil”, with Neil as
the soloist. Renowned pianist Jeffery Biegel recorded the concerto with The Brown
University Orchestra in 2016, which was released on Naxos’ “Manhattan Intermezzo:
American and British Works for Piano and Orchestra”, which also included the works of
Keith Emerson, Duke Ellington & George Gershwin.
“I Do It For Applause”, Neil’s latest studio album of twelve new Sedaka songs and
the official release of “Joie De Vivre”. “The album is the culmination of sixty-four years of
writing", says Neil. "This is a gift I was born with. My main objective is to always top the last collection, raise the bar and reinvent Neil Sedaka."