Paul Anka

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.

Acting

2024

2024

My Way

Self

2024

2021

2020

2019

2019

2019

The Masked Singer

Broccoli (archive footage)

2016

2011

2009

2008

The Memories of Angels

Self (archive footage)

2004

2004

2003

Las Vegas

Paul Anka

2003

2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Self - Musical Guest

2002

American Idol

Self - Guest

2001

2001

2000

Gilmore Girls

Paul Anka

1998

1997

1996

Mad Dog Time

Danny Marks

1996

1994

1993

1992

Captain Ron

Donaldson

1989

The Simpsons

Paul Anka (voice)

1987

1987

1986

1982

1981

1980

1979

My Way

Self

1978

1976

1974

1974

Dinah!

Self

1973

Kojak

Buddy Maus

1972

1972

Midi trente

Self (voice)

1971

1971

1969

1964

1963

1962

1962

1962

The Longest Day

U.S. Army Ranger

1961

1961

The Mike Douglas Show

Self - Co-Host

1959

Girls Town

Jimmy Parlow

1958

1958

1957

1957

1956

1950

What's My Line?

Self - Mystery Guest

1948

Sound

Crew

1962

The Longest Day

Additional Music

Infos

Full Name
Paul Anka
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
7/30/1941