BARRY LEVINE: Add Sedaka, Maestro to the list of Hall of Fame talent

I wrote two columns in January about nine acts – Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Bon Jovi, Chubby Checker, Chicago, Connie Francis, Whitney Houston, Johnny Mathis and Bobby Rydell – who surprisingly have been bypassed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for induction.

Of the 43 people who posted comments on the columns on The Albany Herald website (www.albanyherald.com), virtually all agreed that the nine belong in the Hall of Fame.

Two names, Neil Sedaka and Johnny Maestro, were mentioned repeatedly by the respondents who felt they also should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sedaka, who will celebrate his 76th birthday on March 13, had 21 Top 40 hits from 1958 when “My Diary” climbed to No. 14 through 1980 when “Should’ve Never let You Go,” a duet with his 17-year-old daughter, Dara, reached No. 19.

The father-daughter duo is one of three to have a Top 40 hit. Frank and Nancy Sinatra had a No. 1 hit with “Somethin’ Stupid” in 1967. Nat “King” (posthumously) and Natalie Cole (via recording manipulation) version of “Unforgettable” climbed to No. 14 in 1991.

A Brooklyn native, Sedaka had 10 Top 10 hits, three of which reached No. 1 – “Breaking Up is Hard To Do” in 1962, “Laughter in the Rain” in 1974 and “Bad Blood” in 1975.

Among his other notable hits were “Oh! Carol” in 1959, “Stairway to Heaven” and “Calendar Girl” in 1960, “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” in 1961 and “Next Door to an Angel” in 1962.

Sedaka combined with Howard Greenfield and also Phil Cody to form prolific songwriting teams. He is credited with writing more than 500 songs.

He wrote two of Connie Francis’ biggest hits – “Stupid Cupid” in 1958 and “The Theme from Where the Boys Are” in 1962.

Among the other acts for whom Sedaka wrote songs were Jimmy Clanton, Gene Pitney, Monkees, Fifth Dimension, Captain & Tennille and The Carpenters.

Although not possessing the same quality credentials as Sedaka, Maestro certainly warrants consideration for a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Maestro, who died in 2010 at age 70, was the lead singer for two groups, The Crests and The Brooklyn Bridge, who produced Top 10 hits.

The Crests, one of the first interracial groups, had five Top 40 hits from 1958 to 1960.

Their most successful song was their first – “Sixteen Candles” — which rose to No. 2 in 1958.

The New York group’s other Top 40 hits were “Six Nights a Week” and “The Angels Listened In” in 1959 and “Step by Step” and “Trouble in Paradise” in 1960.

Maestro left The Crests in 1961 to perform as a solo act. He released nine singles with two – “Model Girl” and “What A Surprise” – making the Top 40 in 1961.

He later joined the Del Satins, a popular New York area Doo-Wop group as lead singer. The Del Satins then merged with Rhythm Method in 1968. The following year they became Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge had one Top 40 hit – “Worst That Good Happen,” a No. 3 hit in 1969 and a million seller. It was a cover of a Jimmy Webb song.

The song was originally recorded on a 1967 album by the Fifth Dimension.

Inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1986, Webb penned such songs as “Up, Up and Away,” “MacArthur’s Park,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.”

Overall, The Brooklyn Bridge sold more than 10 million records.

Manilow to stop touring

Barry Maniiow, one of the premier entertainers of the past 40 years, has announced that this is the last year that he will be touring.

In a release, the 71-year-old singer said, “I just wanted my life back. … I’m very grateful that I am still able to tour, that there still is an audience out there for me, but you lose your life with touring.”

Manilow, who has sold more than 80 million records, said he plans to work on other projects including recording albums.

During his glittering career, Manilow amassed 25 Top 40 hits including three No. 1 smashes – “Mandy” in 1974, “I Write the Songs” in 1975 and “Looks Like We Made It” in 1977.

Manilow’s farewell tour will stop in Georgia on June 4 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth. He is touring with jazz saxophonist Dave Koz.

Tickets are still available for the show.

Oh, by the way, Manilow is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

How’s that for a shock!

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].