Paul Anka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Anka
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Anka performing in 2024
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| Born |
Paul Albert Anka
July 30, 1941 |
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| Years active | 1955–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Anne de Zogheb
(m. 1963; div. 2001)Lisa Pemberton
(m. 2016; div. 2020) |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Jason Bateman (son-in-law) |
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Paul Albert Anka, born on July 30, 1941, is a famous singer, songwriter, and actor from Canada and the United States. He is known for writing and singing many popular songs like "Diana", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder".
Paul Anka also wrote the theme song for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He wrote "She's a Lady", a big hit for Tom Jones. He also wrote the English words for "My Way", a very famous song sung by Frank Sinatra and many others, including Elvis Presley. Paul Anka even worked with Michael Jackson on songs like "This Is It" and "Love Never Felt So Good".
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Paul Anka was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Camelia and Andrew, owned a restaurant. His family came from Lebanon and Syria. Paul's mother passed away when he was 18 years old.
As a young boy, Paul sang in the church choir and studied music. He also joined a singing group called the Bobby Soxers while in high school.
Paul Anka's Career
First Big Hits
Paul Anka recorded his first song, "I Confess", when he was just 14. In 1956, he traveled to New York City and sang for a record company. He sang a song he wrote called "Diana". This song became a huge hit, reaching number one in Canada and the U.S. It is one of the best-selling songs ever by a Canadian artist.
After "Diana", Paul Anka had four more songs in the Top 20 in 1958. This made him one of the biggest teen idols of his time. He toured with Buddy Holly and even wrote a song for Holly called "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". Sadly, Buddy Holly recorded it just before he passed away. Paul Anka gave his song earnings from "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" to Buddy Holly's family.
Paul Anka wrote the theme song for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also wrote "Teddy" for Connie Francis, which was a Top 20 hit. In the 1960s, Paul Anka started acting in movies and writing songs for them. He wrote and sang the theme for the movie The Longest Day, where he also had a small acting role. For his film work, he wrote and recorded "Lonely Boy", another big hit. He was one of the first pop singers to perform in Las Vegas casinos.
In 1963, Paul Anka bought the rights to his early songs. This meant he owned his music, which was a smart move for an artist.
Success in the 1970s
After a few years without a big hit, Paul Anka signed with a new record label. In 1974, he teamed up with singer Odia Coates to record the number one hit, "(You're) Having My Baby". This song introduced Paul Anka to a new generation of fans.
Paul Anka and Odia Coates recorded three more songs together that made it into the Top 20. In 1975, he recorded a song for Kodak called "Times of Your Life". It became so popular that Paul Anka recorded it as a full song, which reached number 7 on the U.S. pop chart in 1976.
Later Career and Collaborations
In 1998, Paul Anka released an album called A Body of Work. It featured famous singers like Celine Dion and Patti LaBelle. In 2005, he released Rock Swings, an album where he sang big-band versions of modern rock songs. This album brought him back into the spotlight and he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2009, Paul Anka announced that the song "This Is It", released by Michael Jackson after his passing, was a song they had worked on together in 1980. After some discussion, Paul Anka was given credit for 50% of the song's copyright. Another song they wrote together, "Love Never Felt So Good", was also found later.
International Popularity
Paul Anka has been very popular in other countries, especially Italy and Finland.
Italy
Paul Anka worked with many Italian musicians. He released several songs in Italian, and his song "Ogni giorno" was a number one hit in 1962. Another song, "Ogni volta", sold over a million copies in Italy. He performed this song at the famous Festival di Sanremo in 1964. In 2006, he recorded a new version of "Diana" with Italian singer Adriano Celentano, which also became a hit.
Finland
Paul Anka has been very popular in Finland since the start of his career. He performed in Helsinki in 1959 and has returned for many concerts over the years. He even appeared in a Finnish film in 1991.
Other Countries
Paul Anka also tried the French music market, singing "Comme Avant" with Mireille Mathieu. He recorded an album in French and even a single in Japanese. In 1993, he sang a duet with Filipino singer Regine Velasquez called "It's Hard to Say Goodbye". He later re-recorded this song with Celine Dion.
Acting Career
Paul Anka has appeared in several movies and TV shows. His first major film role was a small part as an army private in The Longest Day (1962). He also wrote the title song for that movie. He acted in teen movies like Girls Town (1959). Later, he played a casino manager in 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001).
He has also made guest appearances as himself on TV shows like That '70s Show and Gilmore Girls. In Gilmore Girls, one of the main characters even named her dog after him! In 2020, he competed on The Masked Singer as "Broccoli".
Personal Life
Paul Anka has been married and has six children. Through his daughter Amanda, he is the father-in-law of actor Jason Bateman. In 1990, he became a citizen of the United States. His autobiography, My Way, was published in 2013.
Awards and Honours
In 1972, a street in Ottawa, Canada, was named Paul Anka Drive in his honor. In 1981, the city of Ottawa declared August 26 as "Paul Anka Day" to celebrate his many years in show business. In 2004, he was given the title of Officer of The Order of Canada, which is a high honor in Canada.
Images for kids
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Anka in a cameo role for the crime drama television show Dan Raven, 1960
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See also
In Spanish: Paul Anka para niños
