Oliver Conway

Eric Berger is a senior space editor at the tech and science website Ars Technica.

Eric Berger.

The American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has died at the age of 86.

His family described him as a true rock and roll legend who'd been an inspiration to millions.

He wrote a string of hits over six decades, including Oh Carol, Solitaire and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

A skilled pianist, Neil Sedaka also composed songs for other musicians and was nominated for five Grammy Awards.

We're prevented by rights restrictions from playing his music, but Chantal Hartle looks back at his career.

Neil Sadaka wrote his first song at 15 and performed it at his school.

Here he is speaking in 2014 for the BBC documentary King of Song.

But the teenage Neil Sadaka asked if he could have a break from the Juilliard Music School and try his hand at pop.

He said, to begin with, no one would sign him as a singer because of his unusual voice.

Within five years, he'd sold 25 million singles.

The Carol of O'Carroll was Carole King, a fellow writer at 1650 Broadway, the pop factory where he and lyricist Howie Greenfield churned out hit after hit.

He was at the top of the music business and making around $200 a week.

His mother acquired a new lover and they were in charge of the finances.

He accused them of stealing his money.

By the late 60s, the hits had dried up, so too had the cash, and he was touring Britain's working men's clubs.

What turned things around was the band 10cc.

Back then they were session musicians and they helped him create a new sound for the 70s.

He was back where he belonged in the charts –