Columnist Joe Delaney: Sedaka traveled many roads since his Brooklyn beginnings

Joe Delaney

Friday, Oct. 16, 1998 | 11:35 a.m.

NEIL SEDAKA'S life is an excellent example of the many crossroads that can be met in one lifetime. ... Sedaka is performing in the Orleans hotel-casino showroom through Sunday. ... Born in Brooklyn, Sedaka was on his way to a successful career as a classical pianist at an early age. ... At age 13, an event sent him in a different direction.

No less an authority than the great pianist Artur Rubenstein had named Sedaka one of the finest young classical pianists in a competition involving all of the high schools in New York State.

It was at that time that his mother introduced Neil to a neighbor's son, Howard Greenfield. ... Their rapport was instant. ... The duo began writing songs together. ... After a period of initial rejection, their output resulted in more than a thousand songs with the resultant sale of 25 million records between the years 1959 and 1964.

The early hits

"Stupid Cupid," "Where The Boys Are," "Oh, Carol," "Calendar Girl," and another multimillion record seller, "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen," bubble gum hits for teenagers, were a radical departure for Sedaka, both as a writer and as a performer. ... He did perform in Manhattan's Copa nightclub during prom time, but that was it in person.

"The British Invasion" led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones sent Sedaka and others into semi-retirement. ... He went off to England, where Elton John talked him into writing and performing again, another crossroad. ... He had two hits on John's Rocket Records label, "Bad Blood" (a duet with John) and "Laughter In The Rain" and was back in show business, even stronger.

In the ensuing years, Neil has had megahits, by himself and written for others, and has been a successful headliner at a number of Las Vegas hotels including the LV Hilton, Sahara and Sands, previously.

Latest crossroad

Recently, Sedaka returned to his classical roots, writing lyrics to the music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. ... His capacity audiences insist upon hearing his hits medleys, going back to that 1959-64 bubble gum period. ... A gracious man, Sedaka always obliges. ... His musical accompaniment is of the highest order.

My favorite personal memory is Neil's appearance on a KLVX Channel 10 program I hosted. ... As a surprise, I had the famed European mime, Yakov Noy and his young son, perform to the recorded music of the Sedaka No. 1 hit, "Solitaire." ... I glanced over at Sedaka and tears were rolling down his cheeks, he was so moved, a magic moment.

It was Sedaka who gave renewed vigor to Ireland's Castlebar Song Contest as one of its sponsors. ... It was in Castlebar that I first heard the music that was to become part of "Riverdance."

In conclusion

The Neil Sedaka I know has immense regard for his music and for his audience. ... He has always been able to find the common denominator, whether it is music for teenagers, for adults in or out of love, and for those whose musical taste is for the classics. ... He feels his music; even more important, he makes you feel it as well.

Friday addenda

All the best to all concerned with the grand opening of the Bellagio, setting a new standard for hotel excellence. ... This weekend at the Bellagio, in one of its many lounges, look for a brilliant pianist named Ariel performing there. ... He belongs at the Bellagio, giving his one-man, five-piano concerts in addition to playing the lounge.

UNLV's prestigious 1998-99 Charles Vanda Master Series opened last night with the internationally acclaimed St. Petersburg State Symphony of Russia. ... Britain's leading violin virtuoso Kennedy is next, on Nov. 18, and the New York Philharmonic will be in Ham Hall on Jan. 6.

Jazz notes

The Santa Fe has the Mike Greene Trio, Wednesday though Saturday evenings, plus The Jazz Organ-ization, noon-3 p.m. Sundays. ... Stefan Karllson Trio & Friends perform Sunday, 2 p.m. (Winchester Center). ... Marv Koral's All-Stars hold forth, 5-9 p.m., Sundays (Carollo's). ... Master guitarist Joe Lano is Don Menza's Monday night guest (Riviera). ... See you next Thursday.