Paul Anka

Disparaged by critics for his often overwrought vocal style on songs such as "Puppy Love," Paul Anka was unique among late-'50s teen idols in that he was also a successful songwriter. After his string of early hits tapered off in 1962, Anka concentrated on composing film scores (The Longest Day) and writing and performing more adult-oriented works, like the English lyrics to the French song that became Frank Sinatra's theme song, "My Way."

The son of a Lebanese restaurateur, Anka began performing at age 10, singing and doing impersonations. Four years later Anka's father paid for a trip to Hollywood, where, in September 1956, the 15-year-old recorded “I Confess” (backed by the Cadets) for Modern. Anka returned to Canada and later, though underage, worked a nightclub in Gloucester, Massachusetts. In 1957 he won a contest for saving soup-can labels. First prize was a trip to New York City, and in May of that year Anka auditioned for ABC with “Diana,” a song he had written about a girl he knew. Within a year, “Diana” was a #1 hit.

Throughout his career, Anka composed many of his hits, including “You Are My Destiny” (#7, 1958), “Crazy Love” (#15, 1958), “Lonely Boy” (#1, 1959), “Hello Young Lovers” (#23, 1960), “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (#2, 1959), and “Puppy Love” (#2, 1960), the latter two about his relationship with Annette Funicello. In 1962 he purchased all of his masters from ABC and signed with RCA. Although his Top 20 hits ended temporarily in 1962, he continued to record in French, German and Italian and remained a top concert draw around the globe. Like many of his teen-idol contemporaries, Anka briefly essayed an acting career; his film credits include Girls Town (1959), Look in Any Window (1961), and The Longest Day (1962), for which he also wrote the theme song.

In 1970 he signed with Buddah, and four years later Anka’s controversial “(You’re) Having My Baby,” a duet with his protégée Odia Coates, became his first #1 since 1959. Due in part to outcry against the song’s seemingly sexist tone, Anka substitutes “our baby” for “my baby” in concert. In 1983 he made his last foray into the Top 40 with “Hold Me ’Til the Mornin’ Comes.” He has become a fixture on the Las Vegas–Lake Tahoe circuit, where he is extremely successful. Over 400 of his compositions have been recorded, including “It Don’t Matter Anymore” (Buddy Holly), “My Way” (Frank Sinatra), and “She’s a Lady” (Tom Jones). He wrote the Tonight Show theme (originally entitled “It’s Really Love,” and written for and recorded by Funicello). His “Times of Your Life” became the signature song for Kodak films in the mid-’70s. He has amassed worldwide record sales in excess of 100 million copies.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)