Neil Sedaka (1939 – 2026)

“When we ran out of lyrics we’d use a doo-bee-doo” 

~ Neil Sedaka

Singer, Songwriter and Pianist Neil Sedaka died suddenly on Thursday, at the age of 86.  He was a big part of the music scene when I was a young girl, his heyday being between 1957 and 1965.  I thought of his tunes as upbeat and melodious, but of course the explosion of the Beatles ushered in a whole new genre of exciting music in that period.

Birth Chart

The Sun in Pisces gave Neil Sedaka the sensitivity to write about emotional life, the stuff of pop music all along, but thoughtfully so.  Neptune exactly opposite his Sun brought an even more finely honed sensitivity. The melodies he created were uplifting, reflecting his natal Sun conjunct Jupiter.  What brings up the Songwriter Archetype is Mercury exactly sextile Venus (I have many examples, in my files!): a sublime blending of music (Venus) and words (Mercury).  Venus is also highlighted by being closely square to the Nodal Axis, indicating a karmic path in music.  Jupiter closely sextile Uranus was one of the keys to his success, a winning formula.

Life and Career

Neil Sedaka was born in Brooklyn.  His father was Lebanese Jewish.  A child prodigy, his teacher recommended piano classes, and his mother went out of her way to obtain them for him, buying an upright piano.  He then won a scholarship to the Juillard School of Music, at the age of 9.  His mother hoped he would be a classical pianist, and he mastered that particular art, but gradually developed a fondness for pop music.  From the age of 13, he was writing songs with his neighbour Howard Greenfield.

While at school at Abraham Lincoln High School, he formed a doo-wop band called the Linc-Tones (names after the school), which was later re-named the Tokens.  He left school at 17.  He wrote “Stupid Cupid” for Connie Francis in 1958, but his first recordings failed to do well for himself.  So he began an intensive study of the three biggest hits of the time, looking at their song structure, chord progressions, lyrics, and harmonies, and the result was “Oh Carol” in 1959, inspired by Carole King who had been his girlfriend in high school.  This gave him his first domestic top ten hit.  In 1960 he wrote “Calendar Girl”, for which he earned a five figure royalty cheque, and this was followed by “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” in 1961.

The poignant “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” of 1962 was a song many could relate to:

They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know, I know that it’s true
Don’t say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish we were making up again

But in the middle of all this creative output, and in the year of the heartbreak song, he married Leba Strassberg; they had two children together, and much later on, grandchildren.

He was conscious that his genre of music was usurped by the Beatles and what came after, and lamented the effect of the Beatles on his recording career:

“Between 1963 and 1975, I worked very little. The Beatles had come to New York and changed music – all the solo singers were out of work”

When his career appeared to fizzle out in the mid-1960s, he decided to move to the United Kingdom, and ended his musical partnership with Greenfield, writing “Our Last Song Together”, another beautiful and heart-wrenching tune:

This will be our last song together
Words will only make us cry
This will be our last song together
There’s no other way to say good-bye

He eventually found a new songwriting partner in Phil Cody.

A revival of his fortunes took place in the 1970s, including more songwriting for others, such as (Is this the Way to) “Amarillo” in 1971 for Tony Christie, and later reprised for Comic Relief with Peter Kay.  I watched the video this morning.  It did make me smile! ;-}  If you’re having a blue day, do look it up.

This was followed in 1972 by my personal favourite, the haunting “Solitaire”, sung so exquisitely:

And solitaire is the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
While life goes on around him everywhere
He’s playing solitaire

“Solitaire” was the first collaboration between Sedaka and Phil Cody.

“Love will Keep us Together” in 1973 had been written earlier with Howard Greenfield, and was a huge success, also recorded by other artists.

One of his most uplifting songs, “Laughter in the Rain” came in 1974:

Ooh, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Ooh, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside

His songwriting talent had not gone anywhere!  They are all good classic songs, which must have been played over and over and earned royalties over the years, and played in karaoke bars throughout the world!

I have enjoyed re-visiting his body of work, a welcome distraction from the wars raging.  Long live Love, the staple material of the pop world!

“You do have to give up your privacy. But the good thing is that you can get a table in a restaurant or a seat at the theatre.”

~ Neil Sedaka

Aspects

Two wars broke out last week around the Mars-Uranus square (about which I had written “There may be some escalation of aggression in the current wars.”)  Afghanistan and Pakistan were the first to engage in hostilities, and it seems the U.S. and Israel could not resist the call of the Mars-Uranus square, following suit very soon after.

Meanwhile, our aspect journey begins on Tuesday (3rd March), when we first encounter an ingress (not an aspect, technically), which is Mars moving into Pisces.  Mars transits from the more strident sign of Aquarius.  While Aquarius is humanitarian, and looks after the underdog, Pisces is even more compassionate, and very empathetic.  Mars represents our use of energy, and so it may not be so direct, but it will be more in touch with emotional needs (ours, or others).  In charitable terms, it is a good time to put your money where your mouth is.

Late morning on that day, we have a Lunar Eclipse at 12 degrees Virgo, so tensions may still be heightened.  This may ramp up the emotional tension, plus a desire towards perfectionism and practicality, at the same time as honouring spiritual ideals represented by the opposing Sun in Pisces.  Work and service are also principles of this polarity of signs. That may be a wake-up call.  Participants in the Middle East may be registering some of the implications of the explosiveness of actions undertaken last week.  It is worth bearing in mind the timeline which is often given for eclipses, which can result in effects up to six months in duration.  At this point in time, no one, not even the most experienced of pundits, can predict how long the war against Iran will last and what regime will take the place of Ali Khamenei’s reign of terror.

Wednesday (4th) brings us a sextile between Venus and Uranus.  Venus in harmony with Uranus is very social and may produce some interesting outward manifestations.  Chance meetings are possible and can be strange or seem random.  Venus sextile Uranus is on the pleasantly uplifting side of the equation, and can bring reunions, even if just on your mobile phone or online.  The three S’s come to mind: spontaneity, synchronicity and serendipity.

It is followed up the next day Thursday (5th) by another upbeat aspect, that of the Sun trine Jupiter.  That’s a joyful energy.  For some that might mean a lucky break!  Not everyone can win the lottery, but it’s all good and comes on the heels of Uranus starting to show its best side.  This is a happy-go-lucky aspect where circumstances allow.  It may provide a day of good cheer, adventure, golden opportunity and looking ahead to the future with optimism.  If you are visiting friends, the occasion could be a barrel of laughs.

A change of feeling-tone awaits us on Friday (6th) when Venus enters Aries, which sets up bolder feelings to express and contend with.  Venus is not entirely comfortable in Aries and therefore Venusian types (Taureans and Librans) may feel that they are being pushed to a faster pace of life than they are comfortable with.  There is a warmer and more demonstrative feel about Venus though while she is in Aries, so hugs may be more forthcoming.  Other signs may feel more comfy and cosy with this placement, and make good connections.  Let us hope warmongers are not emboldened!

Two conjunctions occur late morning on the final day of the week, Saturday (7th), the first being the Sun conjunct Mercury at 16 degrees Pisces, which may cause you to become more aware of deeper issues, such as the compassionate perspective of things.  The Sun and Mercury together may come up with some insightful solutions, rekindling hope and allowing glimpses of light at the end of tunnels.

Finally, we have Venus conjunct Neptune at the first degree of Aries.  You could be feeling very nostalgic!  It could be a serene, highly spiritual and artistically inspired conjunction, full of unconditional love.  This conjunction can express the best of the divine feminine.  A warm but possibly enigmatic finale to the week.  A true heart will attract the best of this conjunction.

The week in bullet points:

  • Tuesday – some gentler energy; turning point
  • Wednesday – exciting meetings
  • Thursday – joy abounding
  • Friday – bolder feelings
  • Saturday – sparkling focus; unconditional love
Date: Mar 1st, 2026 · Comments RSS · Tags: Obituary