Biography
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.
Filmography
all 81
self 58
TV Shows 47
Movies 34
Vegas: The Story of Sin City (2024)
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth (2020)
Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin (2019)
David Foster: Off the Record (2019)
The Masked Singer (2019)
Buddy Holly: Rave On (2017)
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)
The Outrageous Sophie Tucker (2014)
C'est votre vie (2013)
Paul Anka - Live in Switzerland (2013)
Paul Anka plays Avo Session (2011)
Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon (2011)
Svenska Hollywoodfruar (2009)
The Memories of Angels (2008)
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (2005)
Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel (2004)
Las Vegas (2003)
Die ultimative Chartshow (2003)
American Idol (2002)
Star Academy (2001)
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
Gilmore Girls (2000)
Ein Herz für Kinder (1998)
That '70s Show (1998)
Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century (1998)
The View (1997)
Mad Dog Time (1996)
The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)
Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994)
Ordinary Magic (1993)
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show' (1992)
Captain Ron (1992)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)
Prince of the Hit Parade (1991)
Voices That Care (1990)
The Simpsons (1989)
Bill Hicks: Sane Man (1989)
George and the Christmas Star (1985)
Goldener Löwe (1984)
Champs-Elysées (1982)
Lily: Sold Out (1981)
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)
My Way (1979)
Lindsay Wagner: Another Side of Me (1977)
Donny & Marie (1976)
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (1975)
Numéro un (1975)
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975)
III nach neun (1974)
Kojak (1973)
The Midnight Special (1972)
Midi trente (1972)
Cadet Rousselle (1971)
Samedi soir (1971)
This Is Tom Jones (1969)
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet (1966)
Sylvia (1965)
Hullabaloo (1965)
Einer wird gewinnen (1964)
The Hollywood Palace (1964)
Viña del Mar International Song Festival (1963)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)
Lonely Boy (1962)
The Mike Douglas Show (1961)
Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin (1961)
Look in Any Window (1961)
Dan Raven (1960)
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960)
Girls Town (1959)
Let's Rock! (1958)
Kraft Music Hall (1958)
The Dick Clark Show (1958)
American Bandstand (1957)
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)
What's My Line? (1950)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
A Classic Christmas From The Ed Sullivan Show
The Songwriter's Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary... The Magic of Music
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1974
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1941-07-30 (82 years old)
Birth NamePaul Albert Anka
Birth PlaceOttawa, Canada
RelationshipsAnna Anka (2008-07-26 - 2010-01-01)
ChildrenAnthea Anka, Amanda Anka
CitizenshipsUnited States of America, Canada
ResidencesOttawa, Canada
Also Known AsPaul Albert Anka
AwardsCanada's Walk of Fame, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Great Immigrants, Johnny Mercer Award, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Officer of the Order of Canada
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