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Paul Anka
Promotional site only (none) official site
Biography
Born: July 30, 1941 Ottawa Ontario Canada
Anka had been writing and performing his own songs since the age of 12 in his hometown of Ottawa and across the river in Quebec. When he was 14 he visited his uncle in Los Angeles and convinced him to drive to Culver City to talk to Ernie Freeman at Modern Records about a new song he had been working on called "Blau-Wile Deveest Fontaine". Freeman signed Anka as the only white act on the label. That song became the flipside to another song, "I Confess", and was released as a single in 1956 and was only moderately successful but Anka was inspired enough to continue writing.
He took in all the big acts who came to Ottawa and even resorted to sneaking backstage at a rock n' roll revue of Fats Domino, the Platters, Chuck Berry, and Clyde McPhatter. He ran into the show's promoter, Irvin Feld, who blatantly told Anka to get out. He left quietly but made certain that Feld took down his name "because one day Feld would have to hire him to be on one of his shows". He also met and befriended such Canadian acts as the Four Lads, the Diamonds and the Rover Boys.
In 1956 Paul's parents gave him $100 to go to New York to visit some record companies and music publisher's with some of the new songs he had written. In New York he stayed with the Rover Boys at their suite in the President Hotel and they introduced him to Don Costa, a producer from ABC/Paramount. Costa was impressed and Anka recorded "Diana" which topped the charts and sold over 10 million copies. He soon got calls from promoters wanting to send him on tour; ironically it was Irvin Feld who put Anka in his newest rock n' roll tour and eventually became his manager.
With hit records through 1958-60, Anka became a household word, playing in all corners of the globe including being the first North American pop star to play behind the Iron Curtain. In 1959 he appeared in "Girls Town" (with Mamie Van Dorn) and "The Private Lives Of Adam And Eve" (with Mickey Rooney). He also did a set of concert dates at the Olympia in Paris, breaking all previous attendance records. It was in 1959 that Anka appeared in Feld's biggest rock n' roll show of all - it featured Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, Dion and the Belmonts, and others. Fate sidestepped Anka when Feld told him the he wanted him to stay because he'd promised his father he'd keep an eye on him, thus missing the fateful plane crash of February 3, 1959 that killed Holly, the Big Bopper and Valens.
At about this time the constant rock n' roll grind was starting to repress Anka's considerable talents; he was aware that he couldn't be a teeny-bop idol forever, but he was afraid there were few places to play as a lounge act. His fears were unfounded after playing the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas and other, eastern clubs and was the youngest performer ever to play the Copa in June 1960. At this point Anka was 20, a millionaire and had already written over 200 songs professionally.
In the early '60's he began scoring songs for films that he appeared in such as "Look In Any Window" (1961) and "The Longest Day" (1962). During this period he was dating Annette Funicello (for whom he wrote "Puppy Love"), but the tight schedules of their careers made it impossible for them to continue their relationship. Anka finally married Anne DeZogheb (one of Europe's top teen models) in Paris, 1963.
Then all hell broke loose as America was invaded by a new musical phenomenon: the Beatles, who put a stranglehold on many of the other teen idols vying for the dollar of teenage girls and boys across North America. Anka had already expected the winds-of-change and was already catering to a much older, and richer audience. During this period he was performing and writing; he only returned to recording after the British Invasion. It was during this time he wrote the theme song for Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show"
. One of his greatest songs, "My Way", was written for Frank Sinatra in 1966 based on a French song, "Comme d'Habitude" by Claude Francois, which Anka had purchased the copyright to. He has also written songs for the likes of Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., Engelbert Humperdinck, and others. He has also helped out the careers of other artists such as John Prine, Steve Goodman and Odia Coates (Having My Baby, One Man Woman).
In the early '90's Anka became part owner of the new NHL franchise in his birth town of Ottawa. Anka in turn sued the Ottawa Senators in 1992 for $41 million on an undisclosed breech of contract claim. Also in 1992, Anka starred in and wrote songs for the soundtrack of 'Ganesh', which was his first Canadian movie role. In 1996 Anka sued his dentist after having a tooth fall out and into the audience of a show he was performing at Bally's in Las Vegas during his monster hit "Diana". Paul Anka works as the house entertainer in Las Vegas at The Trump Plaza Casino. and lives with his family in Carmel, California
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JAMES MCCARTEN
Canadian Press
Thursday, November 13, 2003
TORONTO (CP) -- Paul Anka stole the show at the Liberal leadership convention Thursday by serenading a grinning, emotional Jean Chretien with a schmaltzy, tongue-in-cheek version of his favourite song, My Way.
Anka made his entrance at the Air Canada Centre in true Las Vegas style, moving through the crowd, clapping and hugging female fans and urging delegates to sing along to Diana, a song he later said he wrote in Ottawa some 45 years ago. But it was when he trotted out a customized rendition of My Way, a lone pianist tickling the ivories in the background, that Anka brought the house down.
"My friend, it is my way of saying how much I enjoy and appreciate you, sir. This is for you."
With that, Anka, his perfect teeth shining in the stage lights, launched into a full-throated, lounge-lizard rendition with lyrics showcasing two controversial Liberal policy initiatives: same-sex marriage and decriminalizing marijuana.
"The gays all sing your praise for days and days, though you wouldn't wed one," Anka crooned.
"You guys, you look for highs, you're not that wise; thank you a lot now. It's still a crime, but they don't do time for smoking pot now."
Through it all, Chretien was visibly enjoying himself, smiling throughout the performance and often looking as though he was close to tears.
Anka prodded rounds of applause out of an appreciative audience for both former prime minister Pierre Trudeau - "Give Pierre a hand; he's up there listening," he said - and Chretien's wife Aline, who also earned a mention in the song.
"Yes, you toiled, you remained unspoiled, now you're well-oiled like a machine is," the song went. "And who's stronger than that mighty man? His wife Aline is."
Before he began, Anka said it was a privilege for him to honour a man "I've admired, known and respected for many, many years."
He described visiting Shawinigan Falls to visit an uncle who owned a restaurant that was often frequented by Chretien, and said he had a message for the prime minister from his uncle.
"He says you still owe him $27 on your bar bill, Mr. Prime Minister."
One of his best lines was belted out with gusto as Chretien looked on.
"Your winning ways you would repeat; you were the kid they couldn't beat," he sang. "In 10 more tries, you whipped their guys, and you did it your way."
The lyrics to the special version of My Way with which Paul Anka serenaded Prime Minister Jean Chretien at the Liberal leadership convention Thursday:
We've come, to bid our chum,
Who made things hum, a bon voyage now.
He's cute, smart to boot,
And we salute, our grand fromage now.
Our chief, found us in grief,
With no relief, when first elected.
With him as guide, our national pride,
Was resurrected.
Yes our man, Jean Chretien,
Had quite a span, of years of top man.
And we know, Pierre Trudeau,
Told you to go, and never stop, man.
Yes you toiled, you remained unspoiled,
Now you're well-oiled, like a machine is.
And who's stronger than, that mighty man?
His wife Aline is.
At 29, you drank champagne,
The night you won, your first campaign.
Your winning ways, you would repeat,
You were the kid, they couldn't beat.
In 10 more tries, you whipped their guys,
You did it your way.
Yes, rich folks, and working blokes,
You charm and coax, you were the head one.
The gays, all sing your praise,
For days and days, though you wouldn't wed one.
And you guys, you look for highs,
You're not that wise, thank you a lot now.
It's still a crime, but they don't do time,
For smoking pot now.
A generous heart, a mighty fist,
Once you depart, you'll be missed.
For all the years, you served this land,
Accept our cheers, now would everybody please stand.
And say as one, for all you've done,
We thank you our way.
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La frénésie Paul Anka (archive Radio-Canada
All products available on Paul Anka: Amazon.com
Paul Anka official site
From Steve Harding's website
Karaoke; music and lyrics of My way
From Steve Harding's website
Karaoke; music and lyrics of Diana
Paul anka lyrics
(you're) Having My Baby Anytime (I'll Be There) Lyrics, Crazy Love Lyrics, Dance On Little Girl Lyrics, Diana Lyrics, Eso Beso (That Kiss!) Lyrics, Every Night (Without You) Lyrics, Goodnight My Love Lyrics, Hello, Young Lovers Lyrics, Hold Me Till The Morning Comes Lyrics, I Love You In The Same Old Way Lyrics, I Miss You So Lyrics, I Never Knew Your Name Lyrics, It's Time To Cry Lyrics, Let The Bells Keep Ringing Lyrics, Lonely Boy Lyrics, Longest Day Lyrics, Midnight Lyrics, My Home Town Lyrics, Put Your Head On My Shoulder Lyrics, Steel Guitar And A Glass Of Wine Lyrics, Summer's Gone Lyrics, This Is Love Lyrics, Times Of Your Life Lyrics, Tonight My Love, Tonight Lyrics, Paul Anka Lyrics, Verboten Lyrics, You Are My Destiny Lyrics,
Album Rock and Swing
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