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person_profile-Paul Anka

Paul Anka Age: 83

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

Paul Anka

Date of Birth:

Jul 30, 1941

Country of birth:

Canada

Biography of

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.

Photos of

Paul Anka

Photos ( 1 Photos

Filmography of

Paul Anka

Found 22 Movies in total

Paul Anka: His Way

Self ( Actor )

... 2024

My Way

Self ( Actor )

... 2024

... 2020

... 2019

... 2019

Buddy Holly: Rave On

Self ( Actor )

... 2017

... 2013

... 2011

The Memories of Angels

Self (archive footage) ( Actor )

... 2008

... 2004

3000 Miles to Graceland

Pit Boss #1 ( Actor )

... 2001

Mad Dog Time

Danny Marks ( Actor )

... 1996

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Mr. Lagrange ( Actor )

... 1994

Ordinary Magic

Joey Dean ( Actor )

... 1993

Captain Ron

Donaldson ( Actor )

... 1992

... 1991

Lily: Sold Out

Self ( Actor )

... 1981

... 1977

The Longest Day

U.S. Army Ranger ( Actor )

Additional Music

... 1962

Look in Any Window

Craig Fowler ( Actor )

... 1961

The Private Lives of Adam and Eve

Pinkie Parker ( Actor )

... 1960

Girls Town

Jimmy Parlow ( Actor )

... 1959