Neil Sedaka, the Singer-Songwriter Behind Dozens of Hits of the 1960s and 1970s, Dies at 86

Neil Sedaka poses for a portrait in New York on April 30, 2012. Charles Sykes/AP Photo

NEW YORK—Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock ‘n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died.

Sedaka, whose hits included “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Laughter in the Rain,” died Friday at age 86.