A New Yorker descended from Turkish Jewish immigrants, Neil Sedaka won a
scholarship to study piano at Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Division
for Children. At 13 he teamed up with a 16-year-old neighbour Howard Greenfield,
launching one of pop's most successful and enduring songwriting partnerships.
They wrote the Connie Francis hit Stupid Cupid and Sedaka went on to become a
star himself with infectious teen hits like Oh Carol (about his then girlfriend,
Carole King, 1959), Calendar Girl (1960), Little Devil and Happy Birthday Sweet
Sixteen (both 1961) and Breaking Up ...