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By Nick Thomas Many performers have recorded videos of encouragement for fans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic months. But few, if any, have been as prolific as Neil Sedaka. With more than 150 mini-concerts posted since April on his YouTube chan- nel NeilSedakaMusic, the singer, pianist, and composer of 60s hits such as "Calendar Girl" and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" con- tinues to churn out the casual performanc- es from behind his home piano several times a week and plans to continue into the Christmas season and beyond. "The response from people all over the world has been unbelievable, even those who were never really Neil Sedaka fans before," said the 81-year-old singer from Los Angeles. "They can't believe my body of work." Sedaka's repertoire would impress anyone. "I started writing songs when I was 13 and have composed over 800," said Sedaka who, in late March, was one of the first entertain- ers to post a video of hope during the early pandemic days in the US in the form of rewritten lyrics to "Oh! Carol," his hit from the late '50s. A week later, his first mini-concert - filmed by his wife on a cellphone from their New York home with the family parrot in the background - consisted of a medley of a half-dozen Sedaka hits. "I just thought the music could be thera- peutic for people locked down at home," he recalled. "Then people began requesting songs on my Facebook page, so I decided to continue the mini-concerts." For Sedaka, too, the performances have helped get through the months of isolation after moving to the family's Los Angeles home earlier in the year. "I've continued to play all the big hits, but I've also done a lot of my lesser-known songs that I like to call my forgotten or neglected children," he said. "Some of them I wrote 60 years ago and haven't played for years, so it can take a while to relearn the lyrics along with the chords and rhythms. But it's been very enjoyable for me as well." Trained as a classical pianist at New York's Juilliard School, Sedaka discovered pop music as a teen and teamed up with lyricist Howard Greenfield to co-write the songs mentioned previously and many more. In later years, other hits were written with Phil Cody ("Laughter in the Rain," "Bad Blood") but Sedaka's love for classical music never waned. "There are not many singer-songwriters of my era who can play Chopin, Debussy, and Bach!" he said. "I've even performed a few piano pieces during the mini-concerts." Like other artists, Sedaka's live tours have been postponed until 2021 (see his web- site www.neilsedaka.com) and he says the mini-concerts have helped fill the void all entertainers are experiencing this year. He's also been appearing monthly on the Sirius XM channel '50s on 5' with his program "In the key of Neil." While he's looking forward to returning to live concerts next year, don't expect to hear any new Neil Sedaka songs since he stopped composing several months ago. "I felt if you can't top it, you should stop it," he said. "I think the reason I've been around so long is I've always been able to raise the bar, reinvent Neil Sedaka, and to develop and grow. It's still very gratifying to hear my music played on the radio - the songs will outlive me." Nick Thomas writes for more than 850 news- papers and magazines. See www.getnickt.org Neil Sedaka still singing through the pandemic Spotlight Neil Sedaka at his piano. Photo by Neil Sedaka in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, N ov em be r 5, 20 20 | 20 As the First World War ended, Canadian amputee veterans returned home and banded together to assist each other in adapting to their new reality as amputees. United by the common bond of amputation, they created The War Amps and, along with those from the Second World War, were instrumental in pushing for advancements in prosthetic technology, confronting the stigma of disability, advocating for fair pensions for veterans and providing much-needed support to each other. Today, The War Amps remains a strong voice on behalf of traditional and modern-day veteran amputees, helping them access the benefits and services to which they are entitled. At the same time, the Association pursues legislative changes that seek to ensure the financial needs of veterans and their dependants are being met now and in the future. As a leader in advocacy for veterans' rights and legislation, as well as the driving force behind the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA), The War Amps has fought continuously for veterans. Since its founding in 1918, The War Amps programs have also grown from assisting war amputees to all amputees, including children. The Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program provides comprehensive services to child amputees and their families, including financial assistance for artificial limbs, regional seminars, peer support and information on life as an amputee. The War Amps long history - stretching more than 100 years - is a testament to the tireless efforts of the war amputee veterans who built the Association, and its many unique programs, from the ground up. There is still much to do to ensure all amputees have the artificial limbs they need to lead independent and active lives. The public's support of the Key Tag Service, which has returned more than 1.5 million sets of lost keys to their owners, makes all of The War Amps essential programs for amputees possible. The War Amps does not receive government grants. For more information, or to make a donation, visit waramps.ca or call 1 800 250-3030. Assisting Amputee Veterans Still Cornerstone of War Amps Work estatedonation@waramps.ca waramps.ca • 1 800 465-2677 with a charitable estate donation in your will. Together, we can improve the lives of all amputees, including traditional and modern-day veterans, adults and children. Make a lasting impact for amputees