Paul Anka

Early life and musical beginnings

Paul Albert Anka was born on July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, to parents of Lebanese Christian descent. His father, Andrew Emile "Andy" Anka Sr., owned a restaurant called Locanda, and his mother, Camelia, was an immigrant from Lebanon. Anka's early musical education included piano lessons under Winifred Rees and singing in the choir at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral under director Frederick Karam, with whom he also studied music theory. He attended Fisher Park High School in Ottawa, where he was a member of a vocal trio called the Bobby Soxers. Anka recorded his first single, "I Confess," at the age of 14, demonstrating an early commitment to a career in music. His mother died when he was 18, a significant personal loss that occurred just as his professional life was beginning to take off.

Rise to stardom and 1960s success

In 1956, with $100 from his uncle, the 15-year-old Anka traveled to New York City to audition for Don Costa at ABC Records. He performed a song he had written, which became the global sensation "Diana. He followed this success with a string of Top 20 hits in 1958, including "It's Time to Cry" and "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings. Anka toured internationally, including a notable tour of Britain and Australia with rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. In a gesture of respect following Holly's death in 1959, Anka gave the composer royalties from his song "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," which he had written for Holly, to the singer's widow. He also wrote the song "It's Really Love" for Annette Funicello in 1959, which was a reworking of an earlier composition that would later become The Tonight Show theme.

Throughout the 1960s, Anka expanded his repertoire as a songwriter for other artists while maintaining his own recording career. He wrote "Teddy" for Connie Francis in 1960 and composed the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1962, reworking an earlier tune called "Toot Sweet." His most famous compositional contribution came when he penned the English lyrics for the French song "Comme d'habitude," transforming it into Frank Sinatra's signature anthem, "My Way." Anka also ventured into acting and film composition, notably writing and performing the theme for the 1962 war film The Longest Day, in which he also made a cameo appearance as a U.S. Army Ranger. His 1960 hit "Lonely Boy" further cemented his popularity, and he became one of the first pop singers to regularly perform in Las Vegas casinos. In 1963, he took a significant business step by purchasing the rights to his ABC-Paramount catalog and re-recording his hits for RCA Victor.

Chart comebacks and international appeal

After more than a decade without a major hit, Anka's career experienced a significant resurgence in the mid-1970s after he signed with United Artists Records. In 1974, his duet with Odia Coates, "(You're) Having My Baby," reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, introducing him to a new generation. The pair recorded three more Top 20 duets: "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" (No. 7), "I Don't Like to Sleep Alone" (No. 8), and "(I Believe) There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love" (No. 15). In 1975, Anka recorded a full-length version of a popular Kodak commercial jingle, "Times of Your Life," which became a Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 7 in 1976. The follow-up was another hit that Anka wrote for Sinatra, "Anytime (I'll Be There)," which reached No. 33. His last Top 40 single in the United States was in the summer of 1983: "Hold Me 'Til the Mornin' Comes," which included backing vocals from then-Chicago frontman Peter Cetera and hit No. 2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

Anka cultivated a substantial international following, particularly in Italy and Finland. In Italy, he scored a number one hit in 1962 with "Ogni giorno" and performed at the Sanremo Music Festival. His 1964 Sanremo entry, "Ogni volta," sold over one million copies in Italy alone, earning a gold disc. He returned to Sanremo in 1968 with "La farfalla impazzita," though he was eliminated before the final stage. In 2006, he recorded a duet of "Diana" with Adriano Celentano, which hit No. 3 on the Italian charts. In Finland, he has performed frequently since 1959, including appearances at the Pori Jazz Festival in 2007 and 2012 and multiple concerts in Tampere. He also appeared in the 1991 Finnish film Prince of the Hit Parade (Iskelmäprinssi), which featured archive footage of his 1959 performance in Helsinki.

• "(You're) Having My Baby" with Odia Coates reaches No. 1 (1974).
• "Times of Your Life" peaks at No. 7 (1976).
• Italian hit "Ogni volta" sells over one million copies (1964).
• Performs at Pori Jazz Festival in Finland (2007, 2012).
• Records duet "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" with Regine Velasquez (1993).
• Appears in Finnish film Prince of the Hit Parade (1991).

Later career and notable collaborations

His 1998 album A Body of Work was his first new U.S. studio release since 1983 and featured collaborations with artists like Celine Dion, Kenny G, Patti LaBelle, and Skyler Jett. The album included a new version of "Hold Me 'Til the Mornin' Comes," once again performed with Peter Cetera. In 2005, he released Rock Swings, an album of big-band arrangements of contemporary rock songs, which helped lead to his induction on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto that same year. His album Songs of December charted at No. 58 in Canada in November 2011. A significant late-career revelation involved his collaborations with Michael Jackson. In 2009, Anka revealed he co-wrote "This Is It" with Jackson in 1980, later securing 50 percent of the copyright after a dispute with Jackson's estate. Two other co-written songs, "Love Never Felt So Good" and "Don't Matter to Me," became posthumous hits for Jackson in 2014 and 2018, respectively.

Anka also wrote five songs for an album by Don Goodwin and collaborated with a number of Italian musicians, including composer Ennio Morricone and singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti. He attempted the French market with the song "Comme Avant" with Mireille Mathieu and released a 1964 album titled Paul Anka à Paris with six tracks in French. A single was also released in Japanese, titled "Kokoro no Sasae"/"Shiawase e no Tabiji." His duet with Celine Dion on "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" was included on his A Body of Work album after he first recorded it with Filipino singer Regine Velasquez in 1993.

Acting career and television presence

Paul Anka's acting career began alongside his music success in the late 1950s. He made his film debut in Girls Town (1959) and played a peeping Tom in Look in Any Window (1961). His most notable film role was a cameo as a U.S. Army Ranger in The Longest Day (1962), for which he also composed the theme. Later film roles included a yacht broker in Captain Ron (1992) and an Elvis-hating casino manager in 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001). He was the subject of the acclaimed 1962 National Film Board documentary Lonely Boy, a seminal work of cinéma vérité. He also wrote and performed songs for the 1985 Canadian children's Christmas cartoon George and the Christmas Star.

Anka made numerous television appearances, often playing himself. He appeared as himself in the 1958 film Let's Rock and twice on the NBC crime drama Dan Raven in 1960. He guest-starred on Perry Mason in the 1991 TV movie The Case of the Maligned Mobster and played Buddy Maus in an episode of Kojak. He performed a parody of "My Way" on American Idol during its second and third seasons, a performance praised as one of the show's best moments. He appeared on The Simpsons in 1995, singing a song with Lisa Simpson. In 2020, he competed on the fourth season of The Masked Singer disguised as "Broccoli," finishing in seventh place. His early appearance on The Morecambe & Wise Show in 1970 was rebroadcast on BBC2 on Christmas Day 2021 after a lost recording was found.

Personal life, family, and honours

Paul Anka has been married three times and is the father of six children. His first marriage was to model Anne de Zogheb on February 16, 1963, a union that lasted until their divorce on October 2, 2000. The couple met in 1962 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was a fashion model under contract to the Eileen Ford Agency. Together they had five daughters: Alexandra, Amanda, Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia. Through his daughter Amanda, he is the father-in-law of actor Jason Bateman. Anka became a naturalized citizen of the United States on September 6, 1990. He married his personal trainer, Anna Åberg, in 2008 in Sardinia, Italy, and they had a son, Ethan, before divorcing in 2010, with Anka receiving full custody. Åberg was later featured on the Swedish TV show Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wives). In 2016, he married Lisa Pemberton in Beverly Hills, California, but the couple divorced in 2020. Anka published his autobiography, My Way, co-written with David Dalton, in 2013.

Anka has received significant recognition in Canada for his contributions to music and culture. In 1972, a street in Ottawa was named Paul Anka Drive, and the Ottawa City Council declared August 26, 1981, as "Paul Anka Day" to mark his 25 years in show business. The highest honour came in 2004 when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was also inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2005, following the success of his Rock Swings album. These honours reflect his lasting impact as a Canadian artist who achieved global success.

• Married Anne de Zogheb (1963 to 2000), five daughters.
• Naturalized U.S. citizen (September 6, 1990).
• Married Anna Åberg (2008 to 2010), one son.
• Published autobiography My Way (2013).
• Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (2004).
• Inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame (2005).
• Ottawa street named Paul Anka Drive (1972).
• "Paul Anka Day" declared in Ottawa (August 26, 1981).

Cultural impact and business ventures

Paul Anka's influence extends beyond his music into popular culture. In the mid-1980s, a secret recording of him berating his crew for unprofessional behaviour was leaked online around 2004, with phrases like "The guys get shirts!" and "Don't make a maniac out of me!" becoming widely circulated. Lines from this rant were later used by Al Pacino's character in the 2007 film Ocean's Thirteen. On the television show Gilmore Girls, a main character named her dog Paul Anka, a tribute that led to Anka making a guest appearance on the series. His work as a songwriter for other artists, particularly "My Way" for Frank Sinatra and "She's a Lady" for Tom Jones, has cemented his place in the history of popular song.

Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit, Anka co-founded the holographic technology company ARHT Media in 2012. He served on its Board of Advisors, which included notable Canadians like businessman Kevin O'Leary and former prime minister Brian Mulroney until Mulroney's death in February 2024. This venture into immersive media technology highlights his adaptability and ongoing engagement with new forms of entertainment and communication. His career, from teen idol to seasoned performer and businessman, demonstrates a remarkable ability to evolve with the times while maintaining a connection to his musical roots.

Questions about Paul Anka

Did Paul Anka write songs for Michael Jackson?

Yes, Paul Anka co-wrote three songs with Michael Jackson. They collaborated in 1980 on a song originally titled "I Never Heard," which was later released as "This Is It" in 2009 after Jackson's death. Two other songs from their sessions, "Love Never Felt So Good" and "Don't Matter to Me," were released posthumously in 2014 and 2018, respectively, and became hits. Anka secured a 50 percent copyright share for "This Is It" after a dispute with Jackson's estate.

How many times has Paul Anka been married?

Paul Anka has been married three times. His first marriage was to Anne de Zogheb from 1963 until their divorce in 2000, and they had five daughters together. He then married Anna Åberg in 2008, divorcing in 2010. They have one son. His third marriage was to Lisa Pemberton in 2016, which ended in divorce in 2020. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1990.

What is Paul Anka's most famous song?

Paul Anka's own most famous song is "Diana," which he wrote as a teenager and which brought him stardom by reaching number one on both the Canadian and United States charts. It is considered one of the best selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. Anka is also famously known for writing the English lyrics to Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way," originally a French composition. He co wrote several posthumous hits with Michael Jackson, including "This Is It" and "Love Never Felt So Good. His career includes many other notable songs such as "Lonely Boy," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," and the 1974 number one duet "(You're) Having My Baby."

Is Paul Anka in the Order of Canada?

Yes, Paul Anka was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2004. This honour recognizes his significant contributions and service to the country. Other honours include receiving a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2005. His hometown of Ottawa also named a street Paul Anka Drive in 1972 and declared a Paul Anka Day in 1981 to celebrate his twenty five years in show business. These accolades show his status as a celebrated Canadian and American singer songwriter.

What was Paul Anka's role in 'Gilmore Girls'?

On the television series Gilmore Girls, a character's dog was named Paul Anka, a Polish Lowland Sheepdog owned by Lorelai Gilmore. Paul Anka himself made guest appearances as himself on the show. He first appeared in a 2006 episode titled "The Real Paul Anka. He returned for the 2016 revival series, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, appearing in the "Spring" episode. The dog's name was chosen by a series co creator after hearing Anka's Rock Swings album, creating a unique connection between the artist and the show.

What business is Paul Anka involved in?

Beyond his music career, Paul Anka is a business co founder of ARHT Media, a holographic technology startup launched in 2012. The company specializes in creating interactive holographic displays for various applications. Anka served on the company's Board of Advisors, which included notable figures such as businessman Kevin O'Leary and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney until Mulroney's death in 2024. This venture demonstrates Anka's involvement in innovative technology outside the entertainment industry.

Sources and further reading

• Paul Anka (Wikipedia)
• Paul Anka (cshf.ca)
• Biography (paulanka.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.