Neil Sedaka Dies at 86: Complete Timeline and What Sparks Michael Sedaka Queries
By James H. Sterling
To understand the sudden rush of genealogical interest, one must first look at Sedaka's actual household. In 1962, at the height of his initial wave of fame, Neil married Leba Strassberg. Unlike many rock-era marriages that buckled under the strain of touring and commercial instability, the couple remained married for 63 years. Leba took an active, pragmatic role in her husband’s career, stepping in as his manager during his critical mid-career resurgence and fiercely protecting his publishing rights.
Together, Neil and Leba raised two children, neither of whom is named Michael:
- Dara Sedaka (born 1963): A vocalist who followed her father into the studio as a teenager. In 1982, Dara and Neil recorded the duet "Should've Never Let You Go," which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart. She later built a career as an in-demand commercial voiceover artist and jingle singer.
- Marc Sedaka (born 1967): A successful Hollywood screenwriter and author. Marc penned the 2007 family comedy feature National Lampoon's Bag Boy, worked on prime-time television network sitcoms, and wrote popular children's books and humor guides, including What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding.
Sedaka was also a devoted grandfather to Marc’s three children, often speaking in later-career interviews about how family life kept him grounded through the volatile commercial swings of the entertainment business.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
