Add Neil Sedaka to the long list of artists who are hanging up their touring shoes this year.
Sedaka told the Naples Daily News on Tuesday (February 20) that his show next Monday night will be his last in the area and that he, indeed, would be retiring from touring by the end of the year.
I’ve been doing it over 60 years. I’ve been traveling, and it’s become too taxing on my health. I have arthritis. I will be 79 next month. I’d rather go out while I’m in good shape. Too many singers went on too long. The voice was gone and they needed teleprompters to remember the words.
I used to do 50, 52 concerts a year. I had my own plane. But the last couple of years have been very tough. So I would rather bow out. I think you have to know when it’s time.
My voice is perfect. I can still play piano with arthritis. Of course, I don’t’ play Brahms, I play Sedaka.
Sedaka will leave behind an amazing legacy in music. He had nine top ten records on the Billboard Hot 100 but, unlike most artists, he spread them out over sixteen years, including three number 1’s, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” (1962), “Laughter in the Rain” (1974) and “Bad Blood” (1975).
Then there are all the songs he wrote for other artists like “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are” by Connie Francis, “I Waited Too Long” for LaVerne Baker, “Puppet Man” and “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing” by the 5th Dimension, “Love Will Keep Us Together”, “Lonely Nights (Angel Face)” and “You’ve Never Done It Like That” by the Captain & Tennille and “Solitaire” by the Carpenters.
Current Sedaka dates:
02/24 – Fort Pierce, FL – Sunrise Theatre
02/26 – Naples, FL – Artis-Naples
03/23 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort & Spa
04/28 – Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
05/25 – Niagara Falls, Ontario – Fallsview Casino Resort
05/26 – Niagara Falls, Ontario – Fallsview Casino Resort
09/01 – Atlantic City, NJ – Resorts Atlantic City: Superstar Theater
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