1941-07-30 ( 83 years old ) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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.
Movies
Paul Anka: His Way
2024-09-08
My Way
2024-05-16
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
2020-03-06
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin
2019-09-07
David Foster: Off the Record
2019-09-06
Buddy Holly: Rave On
2017-05-12
C'est votre vie
2013-11-16
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland
2013-03-26
Paul Anka plays Avo Session
2011-11-05
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon
2011-11-02
The Memories of Angels
2008-09-05
3000 Miles to Graceland
2001-02-23
Mad Dog Time
1996-11-08
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994-08-26
Ordinary Magic
1993-10-20
Captain Ron
1992-09-18
Voices That Care
1991-02-28
Prince of the Hit Parade
1991-01-25
Lily: Sold Out
1981-02-02
My Way
1979-03-12
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
1977-11-07
The Longest Day
1962-09-25
Lonely Boy
1962-05-25
Look in Any Window
1961-01-29
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
1960-01-20
Girls Town
1959-10-05
Let's Rock!
1958-10-29
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