 Robert Simon, Artistic Director Winston-Salem, NC - Anka Biography - |
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Beginning his career by entering amateur contests
and sneaking into clubs, Paul Anka has gone on to become one of the
greatest songwriters in history. This year marks his 44th Anniversary in show business, which he celebrates with a new live album
for his millions of fans around the world. He has achieved unprecedented
success in every venue: stage, screen, television, and recording. His
musical compositions are internationally known and have been recorded by
the greatest names in the entertainment industry.
Last year he set a milestone by being one of only a few artists in history to have a record on Billboard’s Top 50 charts for five consecutive decades (Billboard statistic). Mr. Anka has also been named the 21st most successful artist in Billboard’s history (Billboard stat), putting him alongside music greats Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Since the inception of his career, Mr. Anka’s songs have been performed well over 90 million times (BMI stat) worldwide. His LP and single sales collectively number more than 42 million (BMI stat). With well over 900 songs to his credit, Mr. Anka’s most memorable are "Put Your Head On My Shoulder," "My Way," and the now famous theme from "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."Mr. Anka’s contributions to the entertainment industry have earned him numerous awards and special recognition.
In addition to performing at the White House and for numerous heads of state, he has been honored by the French government, who awarded him the title Chevalier In The Order of Arts and Letters. He is among only a handful of Americans to receive this prestigious award.
Mr. Anka has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and most recently, was elected into The Songwriter’s Hall of Fame by the National Academy of Popular Music.Paul Anka’s timeless musical career rolls on with his most recent release of "Amigos," a Spanish album of duets with such artists as Ricky Martine, Celine Dion, Juan Gabriel, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Myriam Hernandez and Julio Iglesias. "Amigos" recently went Gold, and an English version entitled "Body of Work" was released by Sony, featuring duets with Celine Dion, Patti LaBelle, Tom Jones, Anthea Anka, and Frank Sinatra. Mr. Anka’s 124th album, "Anka Live 2000," was recorded live during his worldwide tour and features contemporary standards such as "For Once in My life," "Freedom," "Papa," "The Longest Day," "Times of Your Life," "My Way," and many more Anka classic tunes.
Mr. Anka’s latest biographical video project will pick up where the award-winning CBC documentary "Lonely Boy" left off. This project aired on A&E Biography in early 2002 and features past and present career highlights, interviews with various personalities that have interacted with Mr. Anka throughout his longstanding career, and an insider’s view of Mr. Anka on the road during his 2000 world tour.In 2000, Mr. Anka taped a television special for PBS entitled "Night of a Lifetime," celebrating his vast career in show business.
Because of its success, the special has been rebroadcast on PBS. Mr. Anka has also released a two-hour video entitled "Music My Way" which includes his entire show as taped live from the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, as well as historical footage and current interviews with Mr. Anka.Mr. Anka’s most recent film project was "3000 Miles to Graceland" with Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell and Christian Slater, a Warner Bros. Pictures production in current release. "3000 Miles to Graceland" was filmed on location in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Anka worked with the film’s director, Damien Liechtenstein, on the film score. In addition to this project, Mr. Anka’s early material is being used for the independent production of "Table One," which was released in Spring, 2001.Raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Paul Anka developed a talent for songwriting through school courses in English and Journalism. His life would forever be altered, however, on a trip to New York with a song he had written for a girl four years his senior. "Diana" launched Anka’s career as an international teen idol at the age of sixteen with sales totaling over 20 million copies worldwide.
Before he turned 18, Anka had five Top-20 hits. Influenced by great R&B performers of the day including Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, and by the welcome arrival of innovators Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, Mr. Anka cut his own distinguished musical niche filled with the wonders of romance. A roster of 19502 hits made him a household name: "Put Your Head On My Shoulder," "You Are My Destiny," "Lonely Boy," and "Puppy Love." By the late 50s, Paul Anka had established himself as a prolific and successful singer/songwriter, with appearances on "American Bandstand" creating further fame.In the wake of the British Invasion, the music of Paul Anka remained timely, ushering in such classics as "A Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine" and "Love Me Warm and Tender."
In the 70s, Mr. Anka ushered in another wave of chart-topping hits: "(You’re) Having My Baby," "I Don’t Want To Sleep Alone," and "One-Man Woman" His success continued into the 80s with "Hold Me ‘Til the Morning Comes" with vocalist Peter Cetera, produced by David Foster.An indication of his versatility shows in his most beloved song "My Way." It has been recorded not only by the likes of Elvis Presley, but also Sid Vicious and, most notably, Frank Sinatra, whom the song was written for. The list of performers recording Mr. Anka’s songs is an honor roll of some of the most talented artists of all time: Sinatra, Presley, Barbra Streisand, Buddy Holly, Tom Jones, and the Doobie Brothers. Mr. Anka has successfully collaborated with songwriters David Foster, Carol Bayer Sager, Richard Marx, Michael McDonald, Michael Jackson and many others.
Paul Anka’s contribution to television is the most recognized theme song in history. When Johnny Carson made his debut as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1962, the Anka-written theme was there too. Since the debut, the theme song has been performed over 1,400,000 times. Many memorable film and television programs bear the hallmark of Anka’s unmistakable musical signature. In addition to writing the theme music for "The Longest Day," for which Mr. Anka was nominated for an Academy Award, he also penned the theme music and the title song for the motion picture "No Way Out" starring Kevin Costner. His theme song for Louis Malle’s "Atlantic City" took top honors at the Venice Film Festival.
Throughout the world, the music of Paul Anka is loved and its creator admired, in no small part due to his own adaptability. In addition to a host of American hits abroad, Mr. Anka has recorded more than ten albums in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Italian, composing songs culturally tailored to each country. Having lived in Italy from 1964-1966, Anka claims a special love for that country and its people. To date he has sold more than 15 million albums and over 3 million singles of the Italian song "Ogni Volta." Seen in this light, Anka’s international celebrity is easily understood – a combination of his own hard work and his music’s universal appeal.Solidifying his position as a top name in the US gaming entertainment industry, Paul Anka recently signed an unprecedented three-year deal with The MGM/Mirage Hotels in Las Vegas, and with Native American-owned Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.
In an industry where one-year contracts are the norm, these contracts acknowledge the drawing power of the Anka name on the marquee.Paul Anka is blessed with five daughters: Amelia, Anthea, Alicia, Amanda, and Alexandra. Alexandra gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in December 1997 and gave Mr. Anka a grandson in February, 2001.Fans are welcome to visit www.paulanka.com to check the tour schedule and purchase Paul Anka merchandise. They are also welcome to e-mail Mr. Anka at fan@paulanka.com, or send a letter to Mr. Anka at 10573 West Pico Blvd., Suite 159, Los Angeles, CA 90064.