Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; one of Tom Jones' biggest hits, "She's a Lady"; and the English lyrics to Claude François and Jacques Revaux's music for Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way", which has been recorded by many, including Elvis Presley. He co-wrote three songs with Michael Jackson: "This Is It" (originally titled "I Never Heard") "Love Never Felt So Good", and "Don't Matter to Me", which became posthumous hits for Jackson in 2009, 2014, and 2018, respectively.
Anka was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to Camelia (née Tannis) and Andrew Emile "Andy" Anka Sr., who owned a restaurant called the Locanda. His parents were both of Lebanese descent. His father came to Canada from Bab Tuma, Damascus, Syria, and his mother was an immigrant from Lebanon. His mother died when he was 18.
Anka sang with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir under the direction of Frederick Karam, with whom he studied music theory. He studied piano with Winnifred Rees. He attended Fisher Park High School, where he was part of a vocal trio called the Bobby Soxers.
Paul Anka recorded his first single, "I Confess", when he was 14. In 1956, with $100 given to him by his uncle, he went to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Records, singing what was widely believed to be a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross in 2005, he stated that it was to a girl at his church whom he hardly knew. The resulting song "Diana" brought Anka stardom as it went to No. 1 on the Canadian and US music charts. "Diana" is one of the best selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, including "It's Time to Cry", which hit No. 4 and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings", which reached No. 15, making him (at 17) one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain, then Australia with Buddy Holly. Anka also wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" – a song written for Holly, which Holly recorded just before he died in 1959. Anka stated shortly afterward: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow – it's the least I can do." ...
Source: Article "Paul Anka" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Anka was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to Camelia (née Tannis) and Andrew Emile "Andy" Anka Sr., who owned a restaurant called the Locanda. His parents were both of Lebanese descent. His father came to Canada from Bab Tuma, Damascus, Syria, and his mother was an immigrant from Lebanon. His mother died when he was 18.
Anka sang with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir under the direction of Frederick Karam, with whom he studied music theory. He studied piano with Winnifred Rees. He attended Fisher Park High School, where he was part of a vocal trio called the Bobby Soxers.
Paul Anka recorded his first single, "I Confess", when he was 14. In 1956, with $100 given to him by his uncle, he went to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Records, singing what was widely believed to be a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross in 2005, he stated that it was to a girl at his church whom he hardly knew. The resulting song "Diana" brought Anka stardom as it went to No. 1 on the Canadian and US music charts. "Diana" is one of the best selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, including "It's Time to Cry", which hit No. 4 and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings", which reached No. 15, making him (at 17) one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain, then Australia with Buddy Holly. Anka also wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" – a song written for Holly, which Holly recorded just before he died in 1959. Anka stated shortly afterward: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow – it's the least I can do." ...
Source: Article "Paul Anka" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Known for
![Vegas: The Story of Sin City](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/tWwZ8YDMDnXSxBAjy4hS57eMAdW.jpg)
Vegas: The Story of Sin City
![Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/2hW7cGYUn3Ze0N1aFLAB44HZ1T0.jpg)
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
![Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/vbasQnawBPneKDRneBvmfIe9phf.jpg)
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin
![David Foster: Off the Record](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/ecjvjdZplPLXYRKBA4oIEMsgIq5.jpg)
David Foster: Off the Record
![The Masked Singer](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/g2y2duCEYzCsfG4vbnTKKhUST5w.jpg)
The Masked Singer
![Buddy Holly: Rave On](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/zWgd5wlgcI4PeAkQeBnQUl1EDdw.jpg)
Buddy Holly: Rave On
![Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/8vqjelflnBJAsfRWRQVGDkGfCFb.jpg)
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
![C'est votre vie](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/3nJzxIHL9FBMmZ7iKUMcTRV1GTJ.jpg)
C'est votre vie
![Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/jubyARfpwI4UOHv8hd9iFOtFVCx.jpg)
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland
![Paul Anka plays Avo Session](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/ynTsdS23TeOWAAeNcYihDed8fBP.jpg)
Paul Anka plays Avo Session
![Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/liPl2d9qx2TWSDKaduUbwC0V1vY.jpg)
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
![Svenska Hollywoodfruar](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/n3xZ2dg79gVKe71clPZmSUKfA2e.jpg)
Svenska Hollywoodfruar
![The Memories of Angels](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/usnAsesA8ObulZsj00GRjF7ylnO.jpg)
The Memories of Angels
![Las Vegas](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/sGCTRol6goPV0VjS7iXtTVyu7Ai.jpg)
Las Vegas
![American Idol](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/8zrIAq3IPuRHSNF3TRw1I5SZzmE.jpg)
American Idol
![Star Academy](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/26qS8VmB7PgtkkBuA0J20nmTish.jpg)
Star Academy
![3000 Miles to Graceland](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/nJgr5sGoXnsgZ0EVt80i6X9dQiA.jpg)
3000 Miles to Graceland
![Gilmore Girls](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/8hWwBpB1mLUKqzjdGrcvJcIklp4.jpg)
Gilmore Girls
![That '70s Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/1rzL6DVmCSZ3jzLFon8mhYcRsUK.jpg)
That '70s Show
![The View](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/zn5ZtKXYo8XOoXUgtQxw7q2CjVt.jpg)
The View
![Mad Dog Time](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/rpKyVUVmFtg6BvYDrGnBfPv4jVH.jpg)
Mad Dog Time
![The Rosie O'Donnell Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/rHHSx7kyLEHK48Y3LO3sNfclOT2.jpg)
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
![Shake, Rattle and Rock!](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/mebjjlkx166DqUdF2Lt0STiDOUG.jpg)
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
![Ordinary Magic](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/umqadMupNCiH5ma4clG1WbtIOpc.jpg)
Ordinary Magic
![Captain Ron](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/otnKFXvqFH2swlrNf2sNiXpnIsR.jpg)
Captain Ron
![Voices That Care](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/qnEqrDHzmUVJjJv3GNh3p55qzn3.jpg)
Voices That Care
![Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/nOEtp8NH5exwoCKyHcewh2rVmKm.jpg)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
![The Simpsons](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/vHqeLzYl3dEAutojCO26g0LIkom.jpg)
The Simpsons
![Bill Hicks: Sane Man](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/gN9RtL9u9mHjNH4IA2NH6ocdeyq.jpg)
Bill Hicks: Sane Man
![Téléthon](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/h3jA0tShRZz7ppCf6jYPyWMj6Se.jpg)
Téléthon
![George and the Christmas Star](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/i6n66J8wtfFcpZL1wHUuGskBdWY.jpg)
George and the Christmas Star
![Champs-Elysées](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/uA6Waea7ozD7OEXNGaSqPtydPdd.jpg)
Champs-Elysées
![Lily: Sold Out](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/5nh0mHw6ykJpJkoPRy1YdPKOqgU.jpg)
Lily: Sold Out
![Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/9Jgd8bFhW5C9uU3P4PXUeSinj7k.jpg)
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
![My Way](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/aHxQI96FlhMkmUX0KpyOhKnWzRg.jpg)
My Way
![Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/5DXtLvpqT0C2QDj6zTsbllO7OV3.jpg)
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
![Donny & Marie](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/1UkFqdrdIeeL9j1AqDPiZsrp5x9.jpg)
Donny & Marie
![Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/gIn937lNeQLcA49txT2egocpmmW.jpg)
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
![Les Rendez-vous du dimanche](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/csEN53LOtSMucpBohRi8YKY27WU.jpg)
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
![Kojak](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/7F1eH97Bpi8zQbc172drbJCsOsG.jpg)
Kojak
![The Midnight Special](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/3pHSprTU1ccTbgwrw0R1jRa0YHg.jpg)
The Midnight Special
![Cadet Rousselle](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/fXvR2uUXbtw3J0gO0lqWefb5HR1.jpg)
Cadet Rousselle
![This Is Tom Jones](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/wejJBavjXDyU2ZzMbrvxEyhB52p.jpg)
This Is Tom Jones
![The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/iWN7PZIBSonPBFqGjYa9abSrmzT.jpg)
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
![Sylvia](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/hlj82S7ylTRWkblPactEGnyjW8h.jpg)
Sylvia
![The Hollywood Palace](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/xFohVA0pojtTbTkvjY7OWj1DIw1.jpg)
The Hollywood Palace
![Viña del Mar International Song Festival](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/s6al1yprJ1CPlCp0JTbRDWHguy8.jpg)
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
![The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/oA8QVTGlAN511uCAMDN60aVQUs1.jpg)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
![The Longest Day](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/5zmvEofdIlgXrQl9A7e5IOzlnFU.jpg)
The Longest Day
![Lonely Boy](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/52812VUBjdCTTWxWY83E3T0yFam.jpg)
Lonely Boy
![The Mike Douglas Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/qNk97cbF3dZyhkfIcJhjFDD64sM.jpg)
The Mike Douglas Show
![Look in Any Window](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/zCavJfELwisunf2xcx6nKVb0XJZ.jpg)
Look in Any Window
![The Private Lives of Adam and Eve](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/mawHG2frTZIQRK7QxxiCVtYPTSu.jpg)
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
![Girls Town](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/nbHxQOvHLX6LrHdRfBmoiD5cQlE.jpg)
Girls Town
![Kraft Music Hall](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/3rwVdpyQpzZ0UYPkaqBjuNjOHgN.jpg)
Kraft Music Hall
![The Dick Clark Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/zP6T9YvOcPdgt8DuYHznPMAsQEq.jpg)
The Dick Clark Show
![American Bandstand](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/eSVrrBYvMXOZgLOZC45H2VPc7dl.jpg)
American Bandstand
![The Dinah Shore Chevy Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/7diL0sAqbIlPVVa4UtVxiXKpHLy.jpg)
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
![What's My Line?](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/A9T7xSQFnlxFgZkqC4lmHYPXhq4.jpg)
What's My Line?
![The Ed Sullivan Show](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/gUEfDXUxwhgXBX7LSk57vJKXCTp.jpg)
The Ed Sullivan Show