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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 40th anniversary in show business, which he
celebrates with a new 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). Anka has also been named the 21st most
successful artist in Billboard’s history (Billboard statistic). He received the honor
of being named one of Billboard Magazine’s most successful artists in history,
putting him alongside music greats Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Since the inception of his career, Anka’s songs have been
performed well over 90 million times (BMI statistic) worldwide. His LP and single sales
collectively number more than 42 million (BMI statistic). With well over 900 songs to his
credit, 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."
Anka’s contributions to the entertainment industry have
earned him numerous awards and special recognition. In addition to performing for 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. Recently, the National Academy of Popular Music elected Anka into The
Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
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, who the song was written for. The list of
performers recording Anka’s songs is an honor role of some of the most talented
artists of all time: Sinatra, Presley, Barbara Streisand, Buddy Holly, Tom Jones, and the
Doobie Brothers. Anka has successfully collaborated with songwriters Davis 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," Anka penned the theme music and
the title 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, 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 to 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 U.S. gaming
entertainment industry, Paul Anka recently signed an unprecedented four-year deal with
Bally’s Grand Resorts in Atlantic City, and with Native American-owned Foxwoods
Casino in Connecticut for over 6 million dollars. In an industry where two-year contracts
are the norm, these contracts acknowledge the drawing power of the Anka name on the
marquee.
Paul Anka has been married for more than thirty-five years to
former model Anne de Zogheb and is blessed with five daughters: Amelia, Anthea, Alicia,
Amanda and Alexandra. Alexandra gave birth to her first child in December 1997. Anka
continues to have roots in his hometown of Ottawa as a co-owner of the National Hockey
League franchise, The Ottawa Senators.
Anka’s timeless musical career rolls on this year as
Sony/Epic Music is releasing his 123rd album. The album of mostly duets will embody
international hits as well as never released new material. Friends that lend a hand are
All For One, Celine Dion, Barry Gibb, Kenny G., Frank Sinatra, Patti LaBelle, Peter Cetera
and Tom Jones among others. However, closest to his heart must be daughter Anthea, joining
him on a moving rendition of "Do I Love You" David Foster, Walter Afanasieff and
Johnny Mandel are co-producing most of the tracks with Paul Anka.
Last fall, Anka appeared in his seventh film "Mad Dog
Time" co-starring Richard Dryfuss and Gabriel Byrne. Also in the works is a sequel to
the critically acclaimed documentary of Anka’s early career, "Lonely Boy."
As an actor, Anka made his motion picture debut in 1962 with the Academy Award winning
movie "The Longest Day," in which he portrayed a GI. He then went on
to appear in a variety of television programs including his initial return to the screen
in NBC’s "Perry Mason The Case Of The Maligned Mobster" for which he
achieved critical acclaim.
Raised in Ottawa, Ontario, 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. Launching his career as an international teen idol at the age of sixteen with
"Diana", 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, Anka cut a distinguished musical niche filled with the wonders of
romance. A roster of 1950’s hits made him a household name with songs like "Put
Your Head on My Shoulder", "You Are My Destiny", "Lonely Boy" and
"Puppy Love." By the late 50’s Anka 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 70’s Anka ushered in
another wave of chart-topping hits: "(You’re) Having My Baby", "I
Don’t Like To Sleep Alone" and "One-Man Woman." His success continued
into the eighties with the David Foster produced hit "Hold Me ‘Til the Morning
Comes," in which he was accompanied by vocalist Peter Cetera.
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