Songs from the Heart: Tireless Sedaka returns to ‘home away from home’

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 | 8:11 a.m.

Neil Sedaka, songwriter for other artists, is known for such tunes as "Stupid Cupid" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"( for Connie Francis), "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" (Fifth Dimension), "Puppet Man" (Tom Jones) and the Grammy-winning "Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain and Tennille).

Neil Sedaka, sessions musician, has been pianist or background vocalist for such diverse artists as Wayne Newton and Nigel Olsson (Elton John's drummer).

Tonight the 64-year-old, Brooklyn-born member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame begins a six-night engagement at The Orleans, where he performs five dates a year.

"It's like my second home," Sedaka said. "I love the theater. It's very comfortable."

He was speaking by phone from his Hyatt-Regency Hotel room in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, one stop on his North American tour.

It was 25 degrees outside, a drop of 70 degrees from where he had been the previous day.

"I was in Los Angeles and it was 95," Sedaka said.

The internationally acclaimed recording artist has performed in Las Vegas hundreds of times during the past 40 years, starting in 1963 at the Fremont.

"I did three shows a night," Sedaka recalled. "There were four acts on the bill, and I was the second one. The headliner was Molly Bee. A dancer and a comedian followed me."

Even after more than 50 years in the music business, Sedaka continues to live half his life on the road -- two weeks of each month, averaging six months a year.

Sedaka, who has penned more than 1,000 songs, says he's able to maintain his rigorous schedule by watching his diet and by exercising -- a brisk, two-mile, 30-minute walk every morning and a daily 30-minute swim.

"And the music has always kept me fit and young," Sedaka said. "I've been doing it since I was a teenager."

Sedaka has been playing piano since age 8. Shortly after that he began studying at Juilliard Prep School in New York, with an eye to becoming a classical pianist. Eventually he would get a scholarship to the Juilliard School.

At age 13 he teamed up with fledgling 16-year-old songwriter Howard Greenfield, and over the next 30 years the two collaborated on more than 500 songs.

In 1956 Sedaka formed the Linc-Tones, whose name was changed to the Tokens shortly after, when they made their first recording, "While I Dream." He remained with the group until 1958. Three years later the Tokens would record their only hit, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

The year 1958 was a landmark for Sedaka. Connie Francis recorded his song "Stupid Cupid," with Sedaka playing piano.

With such a long list of songs to his credit, Sedaka has a hard time choosing a favorite.

Certainly "Laughter in the Rain" (1974) is right up there at the top.

"It was responsible for a big comeback for me," Sedaka said.

Like many artists at the height of their careers in the '60s, the pop artist suddenly found jobs scarce because of the so-called British Invasion, led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Sedaka -- perhaps reasoning that because the British had invaded the United States, he would invade Britain -- moved to England, where he met one of his fans, Elton John.

John convinced Sedaka to record "Laughter" and "Bad Blood" for John's Rocket Records label, and Sedaka's career was back on track.

He began touring again, for several months as an opening act for the Carpenters, whose hit recording of "Solitaire" was co-written by Sedaka.

Richard Carpenter fired him after their opening night at the Riviera in 1974. Sedaka says Carpenter was jealous.

"I got a bigger ovation than he did," Sedaka said.

There was an uproar after the firing.

"So many people came to my defense," Sedaka said. "Wayne Newton, Steve (Lawrence) and Eydie (Gorme). I called a press conference and told them why I was being fired.

"I was booked at the Riviera as a headliner soon after that."

He says he has been working steadily in Vegas ever since, making many friends along the way, including Siegfried & Roy.

"I was so sorry to hear about what happened to Roy," Sedaka said. "We've been friends for quite a while. I'm keeping abreast of his condition."

He was happy to hear that Elton John will be spending some time in Vegas. John recently announced a three-year deal with Caesars Palace to perform 75 shows at The Colosseum beginning in February.

Sedaka probably will catch up with his old friend when their paths cross in Vegas.

"He has come to my show, and vice versa," he said.

Sedaka performs at casinos around the country and at concert venues, where he returns to his classic roots.

"I do a very varied program," Sedaka said. "I do the oldies, but never medleys -- the songs are too dear to me for that.

"I perform new songs I've written. I do some of my classical pieces with original lyrics. It's quite a mixed bag."

Retirement isn't in Sedaka's future.

"As long as my voice is there, and it's stronger than ever, as long as people come out to hear what I have to sing, I will continue on."