Paul Anka

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Paul Anka
Image:PaulAnkaOrderofCanada.jpg
Paul Anka receiving the Order of Canada from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in a ceremony performed at Rideau Hall on Friday, June 10, 2005
Background information
Birth name Paul Albert Anka
Born July 30 1941 (1941-07-30) (age 68), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Origin Ottawa, Ontario
Genre(s) Pop Jazz Rock
Occupation(s) Singer
Instrument(s) Vocals, Piano
Years active 1955 - Present

Paul Albert Anka, OC (born 30 July 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor of Lebanese origin.[1] He became a naturalised US citizen in 1990.[1]

Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hits songs like 'Diana', 'Lonely Boy', and 'Put Your Head on My Shoulder'. He went on to write such well known music as the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Tom Jones' biggest hit 'She's A Lady', and the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra's signature song 'My Way.'

Contents

[edit] Early life

Anka's parents, who owned a restaurant, were of Lebanese Christian descent.[a] He sang with the St Elijah Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Church choir under the direction of Frederick Karam with whom he studied music theory. He also studied piano with Winnifred Rees.[2]

[edit] Career

[edit] Early success

Anka recorded his first single 'I Confess' at age 14. In 1957 he went to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC, singing a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter.[3] The song, 'Diana', brought Anka instant stardom as it rocketed to number one on the charts.[4] 'Diana' is one of the best selling 45s in music history.[5] He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958,[6] making him, at 17, one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain and then, with Buddy Holly, he toured Australia.
Image:Anka2-2.jpg
1960 45 record single of Puppy Love

His talent went beyond singing, writing Buddy Holly's giant hit 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore', the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (reworked in 1962 from a song Anka wrote earlier called 'Toot Sweet' which had been rewritten with lyrics and recorded by Annette Funicello in 1959 as 'It's Really Love') Tom Jones' biggest hit record 'She's A Lady' and the English lyrics to 'My Way' Frank Sinatra's signature song sung by many well known artists.

In the 1960s Anka would begin acting in motion pictures as well as writing songs for them, most notably the theme for the hit movie The Longest Day. From his movie work, he wrote and recorded one of his greatest hit, 'Lonely Boy'. He then went on to become one of the first pop singers to perform at the Las Vegas casinos. Anka returns to Canada several times a year, regularly playing to sold out crowds at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

[edit] Comeback

In 1960 Anka signed with RCA Records, and in the early seventies with Buddah. After more than ten years without a hit record, he signed with United Artists, and in 1974, he teamed up with Odia Coates to record the number 1 hit, 'Having My Baby.' They would record two more duets that both made it into the Top 10. In 1975, he recorded a jingle for Kodak called 'The Times of Your Life'. The jingle, written by Bill Lane and Roger Nichols, became so popular, that Anka recorded it as a full song, and it became a hit a year later.

By the 1970s, Anka's career centered around adult contemporary and big-band standards, played regularly in Las Vegas. On September 6, 1990, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He returned to his home town to buy a part of the Ottawa Senators hockey team. In 2005, his album Rock Swings, comprising big-band arrangements of contemporary standards, provided a mainstream comeback of sorts and saw Anka awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.

In 1999, he visited Lebanon for sell-out performances at the Forum de Beyrouth (The Beirut Forum).

[edit] Recognition

Paul Anka was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame[7] in 1980. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[8]. at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. Anka has also received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame,[9]. in 2005. In 1991, the Government of France honored him with the title 'Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters'. He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada[10] in 2005.

In December 2007, Paul Anka was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In October of 1995, he appeared in Treehouse of Horror VI on The Simpsons.

On the CW show Gilmore Girls, Lorelai named her new dog Paul Anka. He also made a guest appearance as himself in the episode 'The Real Paul Anka', which aired April 11, 2006.

He became infamous among musicians, and more recently, internet users for a mid-1970s after-show tirade which was secretly recorded by a 'snake we later fired' (Anka: Fresh Air interview). The diatribe, in which Anka berates his crew and band members, has spawned a number of in-joke references and quotations, the main ones being: 'The guys get shirts', 'Don't make a maniac out of me', and 'Slice like a hammer.'

[edit] Personal life

He was married to Anne De Zogheb, the daughter of Lebanese diplomat Count Charles de Zogheb, from February 16, 1963 to September 28, 2000[citation needed]. Anka met De Zogheb in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1962. Of French and Egyptian descent, she was a fashion model on assignment and under contract to the Eileen Ford Agency. The couple married the following year in a ceremony at Orly Airport in Paris. De Zogheb quit modelling after they married. They have five daughters: Amelia, Anthea, Alicia, Amanda (wife of actor Jason Bateman) and Alexandra.

Anka also has a son, Ethan, born to his former personal trainer, Swedish-born Anna Yeager.

[edit] Partial discography

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

a. ^  Some sources, like The Canadian Encyclopedia and Time, suggest that Paul Anka is of Syrian descent[1][11] while several other sources, including Anka's official website, suggest that he is of Lebanese descent.[12][13] This uncertainty might be due to the fact that Lebanon was historically a part of Greater Syria.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Anka, Paul. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
  2. ^ Paul Anka bio, History of Rock.
  3. ^ Paul Anka bio, Ticketmaster.com
  4. ^ Canadian Charts from 1957 - 1986. 1050chum.com. Retrieved November 26 2006
  5. ^ Gold & Platinum certification of albums at RIAA. www.riaa.com. Retrieved November 26 2006
  6. ^ U.S Billboard chart rankings. billboard.com. Retrieved November 26 2006
  7. ^ Canada's Walk of Fame inductees. canadaswalkoffame.com. Retrieved November 26 2006
  8. ^ Hollywood Walk of Fame inductees. hollywoodchamber.net. Retrieved November 26 2006
  9. ^ Juno Awards/Canadian Music Hall of Fame winner and nominations. juno-awards.ca. Retrieved November 26 2006
  10. ^ The Order of Canada member list. nndb.com. November 26 2006
  11. ^ Paul the Comforter. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
  12. ^ Leiby, Richard. Paul Anka's Deutsch Treat. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
  13. ^ FAQ. Paul Anka's official website. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.

[edit] External links

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