All About Paul Anka

Paul Anka cemented a place in the pop music world as a teen idol with his classic hits "Diana," "Puppy Love," "Lonely Boy" and "Put Your Head on my Shoulder." But that was merely the opening act for the Canadian crooner. Six decades after his debut recording "I Confess," he is a musical icon, fit as the proverbial fiddle and in demand worldwide.

His extensive 2015-2016 concert tour in this country and abroad showcases songs from his rich catalog.

"We do our homework before we leave home," he said. "We acknowledge the musical tastes in every city we visit by playing their favorite songs and even re-doing arrangements. Wherever I perform, I travel with 25 musicians, some who have been with me for years. Occasionally, we pick up a symphony orchestra to join us on stage."

While still a youngster, Mr. Anka knew exactly what he wanted to do. He set his sights on music by studying piano and theory and honed the craft of writing by seeking advice from his high school English teacher. He even worked as a cub reporter on the local Ottawa newspaper.

"I applied what I learned in class and at the paper to writing lyrics," he said. "I achieved a lot for my age. Even at 15, I had confidence in my lyrics because they expressed the honesty of adolescence. From the age of 21 on, after composing 'The Longest Day,' I had a lot more confidence. I knew it was important to diversify. If I didn't have a hit record, I kept working naturally and grew from that experience.

"When composing, I may get a melody structure by using dummy words. Melody is the foundation of the song and once I get the foundation of a melody, I sit at a piano to refine it. Because love is the strongest emotion, many of my songs are about love."

From the outset, his love songs captivated fans. "Diana" catapulted to number one on the charts when he was only 16. It was inspired by an "older" girl in his church choir, while "Lonely Boy" echoed the despair of many dateless youngsters. Maturity did not diminish the focus on love in his songs, some of them showcased in his album "Love Songs,"

Mr. Anka spent his early years in Hollywood acting in movies with fellow teen idols Annette Funicello, Mickey Rooney, Tuesday Weld and Mel Torme. While playing an Army private in "The Longest Day," a 1962 film about the D-Day landing at Normandy that also featured teen crooners Fabian and Tommy Sands, he convinced the producer, Darryl F. Zanuck, to let him compose the title song.

Showbiz luck was often on his side. For several years, he lived and worked in Italy and France. While there, he took a fancy to a tune he heard on French radio and was subsequently granted permission to use the melody for English lyrics. It became "My Way," Frank Sinatra's signature song.

A chance meeting with Johnny Carson in London led to his composing "The Tonight Show" theme, just as friendship with Tom Jones evolved into writing that British crooner's biggest hit, "She's a Lady." For Buddy Holly, his chum and frequent touring partner, he wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore."

Although he usually shuns writing commercials, he made an exception for Kodak and composed "Times of Your Life." Its lyrics were inspired by his memories of childhood and family.

"There's no substitute for hard work," he said. "Creativity is the dynamic force in life. I was self-sufficient and people subliminally gravitate to creativity. I learned in Vegas from the best."

While performing there, he became good friends with many noted artists and capitalized on their advice and example. In 1978, he became a partner in Jubilation, a discotheque named for one of his hits.This was but one successful project stemming from his friendships.

His CD "Duets" pairs his vocals and arrangements with earlier recordings by Dolly Parton, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Willie Nelson, Patti Labelle and others. He expressly composed "I'm Not Anyone" for Sammy Davis, Jr., and also wrote "This Is It," sung by Michael Jackson. The original title was "I Never Heard." Through fair means or foul, the song was renamed and credited to Jackson before the mistake was acknowledged.

One of his favorite current singers is Michael Buble, with whom he partners on "Pennies From Heaven."

"I did Michael's first album after learning that he was carrying the banner of American pop music," Mr. Anka said. "I like not only pop singers, but am also a fan of many different artists, such as Coldplay, Sting, Elton John and Adele, so I based my 'Rock Swings" album on music that may become the standards of tomorrow.

Defying age, Mr. Anka's over-the-top energy on stage and off is a tribute to his lifestyle. He recently chronicled his amazing life in his riveting autobiography, "My Way."

"As you get older, you are conscious of how you live, eat, rest and take care of the vocal chords," he said. "I'd like my audiences to remember that somewhere along the way, I made a difference."

Selected albums by Paul Anka: 1970s Greatest Hits; Love Songs; Rock Swings"; Paul Anka Live; "Duets"

Autobiography: "My Way" with David Dalton, St. Martin's Press, New York