What happens when teen pop stars grow up? Artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande should take a look at Neil Sedaka, whose first solo single, “The Diary,” was released in 1958 when he was just 19 years old. Nearly 60 years later, Sedaka is still performing, an icon of class and sophistication and a touchstone for multiple generations. Sedaka had his first top 10 hit in 1959 with “Oh! Carol,” and he spent the early ’60s dominating the pop charts, with songs like “Calendar Girl,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Next Door to an Angel.”
Sedaka had more hits in the ’70s, including “Laughter in the Rain,” “The Immigrant” and “Bad Blood,” and his songs from that era remain staples of his concerts today. Sedaka has toured consistently for decades, proving his durability as a performer. He helped mentor the next generation of teen pop stars on American Idol in 2003, and recent releases include a 2016 acoustic album, I Do It for Applause. After all these years, the applause is still coming.
The Orleans, 8 p.m. March 17-18, starting at $69.95 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
