R.I.P. Neil Sedaka

“If the Lord is with us through life, we do not need to fear death; for when we come to die, we will find that ‘the Lord is there.’” – C.H. Spurgeon

Last week, one of the voices of my teen years was silenced forever. Singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka, who was born on March 13, 1939, in New York City, drew his last breath in Los Angeles CA on February 27th. He was 86 years old.

Classically trained at the Juilliard School of Music, Sedaka switched to pop tunes and soon became a teen idol. During a career that spanned more than 60 years, he wrote and/or recorded such hit songs as “Oh, Carole”, “Calendar Girl”, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”, “Laughter in the Rain”, “Bad Blood”, “Love Will Keep Us Together”, and “Solitaire”.

When the “British invasion” – led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones – changed the direction of American music in the 1960s, Sedaka’s fortunes took a nosedive. He wound up moving his family to the United Kingdom, where he was still popular, and somehow managed to reinvent himself, resurrecting his career in the process. By the mid-1970s, Sedaka and his music were hotter than ever.

My personal favorite Sedaka song is a 1980 duet he recorded with his daughter Dara. “Should’ve Never Let You Go” combines haunting lyrics and impeccable harmony that have withstood the test of time… and always will.

Speaking of “the test of time”, Father Time – as Neil Sedaka found out last week – remains undefeated. One day, you’re on top of the world and the next day, you are buried beneath it.

My friend, are you ready to meet YOUR Maker? I pray that Neil Sedaka was because his songs brought such joy to my life and countless millions of others, but only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will get you through the pearly gates.

When you know Jesus as your Savior, you need not fear death… or what comes after it.

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President