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." ...
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Photos
Movies (38)
Paul Anka: His Way
2024 · Self
My Way
2024 · Self
Mireille Mathieu - Singen, nur singen
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
2020 · Self
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin
2019 · Self
David Foster: Off the Record
2019 · Self
Buddy Holly: Rave On
2017 · Self
C'est votre vie
2013 · Self
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland
2013
Paul Anka plays Avo Session
2011
Michael Jackson: La vida de un ídolo
2011 · Self
The Memories of Angels
2008 · Self (archive footage)
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
2004 · Self
3000 millas al infierno
2001 · Pit Boss #1
Mad Dog Time
1996 · Danny Marks
Lill-Babs 40 år som artist
1994 · Self
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1994 · Mr. Lagrange
Ordinary Magic
1993 · Joey Dean
Capitán al agua
1992 · Donaldson
Voices That Care
1991 · Self - Choir Member
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
1991 · Nick Angel
Prince of the Hit Parade
1991 · Himself
Bill Hicks: Sane Man
1989 · Music
George and the Christmas Star
1985 · Songs
Lily: Sold Out
1981 · Self
My Way
1979 · Self
Cinderella at the Palace
1978 · Self
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977 · Self
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me
1977 · Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974
1974
Jail Bait
1973 · Songs
Sylvia
1965 · Theme Song Performance
The Longest Day
1962 · U.S. Army Ranger, Additional Music
Lonely Boy
1962 · Himself
Look in Any Window
1961 · Craig Fowler
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve
1960 · Pinkie Parker
Girls Town
1959 · Jimmy Parlow
Let's Rock!
1958 · Himself
TV shows (54)
Vegas: The Story of Sin City
2024 · Self - Entertainer
The Masked Singer
2019 · Self, Broccoli (archive footage)
Gilmore Girls: Un nuevo año
2016 · Paul Anka
Soundbreaking
2016 · Self
Svenska Hollywoodfruar
2009 · Himself
Parkinson
2004 · Self - Guest / Performer, Self - Guest (archive footage)
Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel
2004 · Self
Las Vegas
2003 · Paul Anka
Die ultimative Chartshow
2003 · Self
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003 · Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self - Musical Guest, Self - Guest
American Idol
2002 · Self - Guest
Star Academy
2001 · Self
Las Chicas Gilmore
2000 · Paul Anka
Ein Herz für Kinder
1998 · Self
El Show de los 70's
1998 · Paul Anka
The View
1997 · Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996 · Self
Rebel Highway
1994 · Mr. Lagrange
Los Simpson
1989 · Paul Anka (voice)
Téléthon
1987 · Self
Sacrée soirée
1987 · Self
Wedden, dat..?
1986 · Self
Goldener Löwe
1984 · Self
Champs-Elysées
1982 · Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980 · Self
Donny & Marie
1976 · Self
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
1975
Numéro un
1975 · Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975 · Self
3 nach 9
1974 · Self
Dinah!
1974 · Self
Kojak
1973 · Buddy Maus
The Midnight Special
1972 · Self
Midi trente
1972 · Self (voice)
Cadet Rousselle
1971 · Self
Samedi soir
1971 · Self
This Is Tom Jones
1969 · Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969 · Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966 · Self
Einer wird gewinnen
1964
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · Self
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
1963 · Self - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host, Self
Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin
1961 · Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958 · Self
The Dick Clark Show
1958 · Self
Aktuelle Schaubude
1957 · Self
American Bandstand
1957 · Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956 · Self
What's My Line?
1950 · Self - Mystery Guest
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self