Paul Anka!

Paul Anka Teen Idol

One of the biggest teen idols of the late '50s, Paul Anka moved to the adult sphere several years later and became a successful performer, songwriter, music businessman, and recording artist, remaining so well into the new millennium. Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1941 to parents of Lebanese Christian descent who owned a local restaurant, Anka proved a child prodigy, beginning his show-business life at the age of 12 as an impressionist. By the age of 14, Paul Anka was stealing the family car to drive to amateur singing contests in nearby Hull, Quebec and writing his own songs. Paul Anka's first single, "I Confess," appeared on the Riviera subsidiary of Jules and Joe Bihari's RPM label. While on a trip to New York with a group of friends who sang as the Rover Boys, Anka gained an audition with ABC producer Don Costa, and sang his own composition, "Diana," an ode to a former babysitter. Costa liked what Paul Anka heard, recorded the teenager, and watched as the single hit number one on both sides of the Atlantic later in 1957, eventually selling a reported ten million copies worldwide.

Paul Anka number one hits

Anka placed four songs in the Top 20 a year later, including "You Are My Destiny" and "Crazy Love," tempering the all-out rebellion of rock & roll with songs which questioned parental authority instead of outright disobedience. Paul Anka wrote one of Buddy Holly's last hits, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," and moved into movies with Let's Rock and Girls Town. The latter film spawned his biggest American hit, "Lonely Boy," just the first in a string of 1959 chart successes including "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "It's Time to Cry," and "Puppy Love" (written for old flame Annette Funicello, and later a hit for Donny Osmond as well).

Paul Anka the millionaire

By 1961, when the teen idol craze began to cool off, Anka (a millionaire while still a minor) could boast of the over 125 compositions under his belt, his own record label (Spanka), and the recognition of being behind the second best-selling single of all time (only "White Christmas" had sold more copies than "Diana"). Instead of resting on his laurels, Anka took on the adult market. First, Paul Anka groomed a solo act and got bookings into that haven for sophisticates, the Copacabana. Anka next moved to RCA and, in yet another shrewd business move, bought the rights to his old masters and made a fortune on reissues alone. Paul Anka diversified his career by appearing in several more movie roles (including the 1962 drama The Longest Day, for which Paul Anka provided the title song). One of the first pop singers to do shows in Las Vegas, Paul Anka also hosted television variety shows like Hullabaloo, The Midnight Special and Spotlite, and moved on to foreign audiences in Asia and Europe (where Paul Anka found his wife, Parisian model Anne de Zogheb). Paul Anka wrote the theme to The Tonight Show (aired every weeknight for almost 30 years), rewrote the French lyrics to the song "Comme d'Habitude" for one of Frank Sinatra's most famous later songs, "My Way," and also wrote Tom Jones' biggest hit, "She's a Lady." Anka also branched out in the recording studio, recording theme albums such as Excitement on Park Avenue and Strictly Nashville.

Paul Anka Your Having My Baby

Although Paul Anka had hit the Top 40 only once since 1963, Paul Anka stormed the number one slot in 1974 with "(You're) Having My Baby," a duet recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with his singing protege, Odia Coates. The duo's next two singles, "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" and "I Don't Like to sleep Alone," both hit the Top Ten (his 1974 LP Anka reached gold), and his 1975 solo single "Times of Your Life" reached number seven. Anka continued to chart into the early '80s, continuing his many casino and international appearances while recording sparingly but continually.

Paul Anka and sports

Paul Anka drove himself to excel in sports, but his real love was music and, aged eleven, Paul Anka was a regular nightclub act. At Fisher Park High School, Anka was part of a vocal trio called the Bobby Soxers. Paul Anka began composing songs, and taking piano and guitar lessons. Anka auditioned for local television shows at fifteen with no success so, in 1956, Paul Anka went to Los Angeles.

Paul Anka's uncle

Anka's uncle became interested in Paul's music and arranged for the industry contacts Paul Anka needed. An appointment was made with Modern Records. Paul recorded a couple songs for Modern, but they did poorly. Disappointed, Anka returned to Canada.

Paul Anka and ABC-Oaramount

However, vacationing in New York, Paul Anka met the director of artists and repertoire for ABC-Paramount, and a contract was signed shortly after. Within a month, ABC-Paramount was ready to record Anka's 'Diana'. Paul Anka signed for a tour, by the beginning of which 'Diana' was top of the charts.

Paul Anka in 1958

His next single, 'You Are My Destiny' reached the Top Ten in early 1958. Anka then released singles every few months. However, they didn't do nearly as well as his previous records.

Paul Anka in Girl's Town

Anka was chosen to play a role in the low budget movie, 'Girl's Town'. In the movie Paul Anka sang 'Lonely Boy', which became one of his biggest hits. As a result, Anka was now in demand around the world.

Paul Anka at The Copacabana

Now eighteen, Anka changed his image to appeal to the adult customers of the supper clubs. In 1960, Paul Anka became the youngest performer to headline the Copacabana, but his popularity began fading with teenagers.

Paul Anka and RCA Victor

In 1962, Anka switched record labels and signed with RCA Victor. During the five years after 1963, Anka failed to place a single on the charts. In 1974, Anka signed with United Artist, and his first release, '(You're) Having My Baby', went to Number One.

Paul Anka's gold records

Anka was credited with writing twelve songs that became gold records, most of which Paul Anka recorded. However, Anka wrote a number of songs for others, including 'My Way', Frank Sinatra's signature song.

Paul Anka a US citizen

Today Paul Anka is a multi-millionaire, thanks to his profitable back catalogue. Paul Anka became a US citizen in 1990.