Paul Anka was born at Ottawa, Ontario Canada on July 30, 1941, of a Lebanese-Canadian descent. At a young age, he already showed an interest in music, he learned to play piano. At 13 he formed his singing group called the Bobbysoxes, and at 14 he is already writing his own songs. Without his mothers knowledge he keeps on joining at the amateur singing contest. At the age of 15, he traveled to Los Angeles hoping of getting an audition. That audition resulted to his first single, the “Blau-Wile Desert Fontaine” under the Modern Records.
In 1957, Anka auditioned at Don Costa from BBC-Paramount Records. Costa was impressed with the young singer’s material including the song “Diana”. Diana was recorded shortly thereafter and it became a big hit making Paul a teen sensation in the late fifties.
Paul also wrote songs for other notable performers such as Connie Francis, Buddy Holy, Barbra Streisand, Mitch Miller, The Dobbie Brothers, Frank Sinatra “My Way” and Tom Jones “Shes a Lady”.
Paul also appeared on several movies, including The Longes Day for which he wrote the title song that earned him an Academy Award Nomination. Also he wrote the title themes for “No Way Out” and “Atlantic City“. The theme song of The Tonight Show being hosted by Johnny Carson was also his composition. His Italian composition “Ogni Valta” won at the San Remo Song Festival. During the 1990’s, Paul was made Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He was inducted into Songwritters Hall Of Fame in 1993.
Paul Anka’s Hit Songs includes Lonely Boy, Put Your Head In My Shoulder, Crazy Love, You Are My Destiny, It’s Time To Cry, {You’re} Having My Baby, Puppy Love, One Man Woman/One Woman Man, I Don’t Like To Sleep Alone, Times Of Your Life and Hold Me Till The Morning Comes.