NEIL SEDAKA
Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939) is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, composer, and record producer. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and others, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody. (More from Wikipedia)
Ritchie Valens’ follow-up single, “Donna” was completely different and became a bona fide hit, peaking at #2 on the charts at the end of 1958. “Donna” inspired a host of other songs addressed to female loves, most directly Dion’s “Donna the Prima Donna” (Dion and the Belmonts were also along on the Winter Dance Party), but also Neil Sedaka’s “Oh, Carol!” and “Denise” by Randy and the Rainbows (later covered by Blondie as “Denis”).
(June 2013/1)
